Stone ignored her question and looked over to Bogs. “Make it happen, I want the next available flight.”
Ethan had finished his call and now joined his brothers and sister in the living room. He didn’t say a word, he just stood and observed.
“Wait a minute, hold up, Stone. Is this about last night? Because everything’s done, Trent took care of it.” Roxanne got up from the couch and walked over to Stone. Her confusion was obvious, as well as her concern.
“Exactly, the job is done, it’s time to go home.” Stone turned toward the hall. He needed to get away from their eyes and their questions.
Bogs called out, “So am I changing all the tickets?”
Stone stopped and balled his fists. He answered without turning around. “Just ours, Sadie’s not coming.” He continued down to his room with Roxanne’s voice fading into the back. “What? What happened?”
Stone grabbed his bag from the closet and started packing his clothes from the dresser. He packed all four drawers and headed to the closet when he noticed Ethan standing in the doorway. Stone scowled at him. “Not talking about it, man.”
“Okay.” Ethan’s tone was low and calm.
He stood there for the next few minutes while Stone grabbed his things from the closet and loaded them into his bag. Neither one of them said a word. Stone grabbed everything from his nightstand, tossed it into his bag and zipped it up. He was done.
Stone turned to Ethan, who was still standing silently at his door just watching.
“Not talking about it.” Stone growled in anger.
Ethan nodded. “I heard you the first time, Stone. You don’t want to talk about it, I know.” Ethan walked into the room and stopped a foot away from him. Stone glared at him.
“Do you believe in what we do?”
Stone jerked back slightly, his brows scrunched. “You know I do, what the hell kind of question is that?”
Ethan nodded again, his face completely calm. “So do I, along with everyone in that living room. Everyone we work with, work for, they too believe in what we do. They understand.”
“I know what you’re getting at and I told…” Stone snapped.
Ethan held up his hand. “I know, you don’t want to talk about it.” He turned to walk away but stopped when he reached the door he looked back at Stone.
“It’s none of my business but I’m going to say it anyway. You’re making a mistake.”
Stone glared back at Ethan.
“You know I’m right.” Ethan walked out the door and Stone was left staring at the empty space.
He clenched his teeth to almost the point of pain, his whole body tensed in anger. He grabbed the lamp from the nightstand and threw it against the wall. “Fuck!”
****
Monday was a blur. She moped around her place trying to keep herself from driving over to Stone’s. She cleaned everything—her closet, the cabinets, and the fridge. By the time four o’clock rolled around her trailer had never been so clean.
Sadie sent Stone four text messages.
Sadie: Please talk to me.
No response.
Sadie: Stone, please, I’m sorry.
No response.
Sadie: If we could just talk, please call me.
No response and no call.
Sadie: I miss you
No response.
It was over, all over something so trivial. She wanted to know but she didn’t need to know. If he wanted her to know about his business, he would have told her. But she knew deep down it wasn’t just the fight. She had been foolish to think he would stay. Stay for her. He was leaving tomorrow. He had needed to end it. She just gave him the out. He got off easy, she thought.
She told herself it was a stupid idea but she did it anyway. She drove over to Stone’s place. She yelled at herself to turn around, calling herself pitiful. He doesn’t want you anymore. It’s over. Turn around now! But she didn’t, the heart wants what it wants. Sadie had become her mother. Even that thought didn’t have her turning around.
Sadie was parked at his apartment staring up at his balcony. None of the trucks or cars were in the parking lot but there was a light coming from the apartment. She should just go home. This was bound to end badly for her. She didn’t even know what she was going to say to him. She should go home but she didn’t.
Sadie walked through the garden and up the stairs to the second floor. On the landing, she saw Ethan and Roxanne’s door closed but Stone’s was open. She edged toward the doorway when a big tall man with his back to her almost slammed into her. She jumped out of the way as he muttered, “Excuse me.” He and another guy were removing the soiled couch. The other man nodded at her and she watched them take it down the stairs. The door was still open.
Sadie peeked in to see a woman with jeans and cowboy boots and a ponytail holding up her red hair. She looked around the apartment quickly.
“Sadie?” a soft voice asked. Sadie looked up to see it was Jill from the other night.
“Yeah. Hi Jill.” She smiled nervously as she looked around again.
“They’re gone?” She hoped she sounded indifferent but her face must not have covered her sadness too well. Jill look surprised and then uneasy.
“Yeah. Stone didn’t tell you? They left early.” She looked extremely uncomfortable as she spoke.
Sadie shook her head. He left early. He couldn’t get away from her fast enough.
“Oh. T asked me to let the movers in for the new couch. Damn, I’m sorry, Sadie, I feel awful. Are you okay?” She sounded genuinely concerned.
Sadie nodded and took a deep breath. It was over and done. No more tears. It was time to move on. She planted a smile on her face.
“I’ll be fine, Jill. Thanks! Hey, come in and see me at the diner and I’ll hook you up with a free lunch.” She tried her best to sound normal, even chipper.
Jill’s smile told her
