"What do you mean? She didn't show up?" I called back but there was no answer.
A young girl in the doorway startled me with her sudden appearance. She gave me a kind smile and said, "Skye didn't come to work today, signor."
I grew worried. Skye never missed her sessions. And her phone was off. Shit. Something must be wrong.
"Maria, close the goddamned door and get me my coffee!" Bianca hollered from beyond the hallway and Maria winced before giving me an apologetic smile.
I mouthed a 'good luck' at her and hurried away from the house. It was turning my mood off. Trying Skye's cell again, I got in my car and swore when it went to voicemail. I left a message for her to call me back and then dialled Jasper's number. He answered on the first ring. Of course he did. He would drop everything to talk to me no matter what he was doing. Jasper always had the pessimistic view that every call could be an emergency call. I loved that about him.
"Jasper. Baby, are you home?" I asked breathlessly, rubbing my hand over my chest trying to calm my heartbeats.
"No...I came down to Roskos. Just some advance planning for my show. What's up?"
I closed my eyes and sighed. "Were you at home a while ago? Is Skye there?"
There was a slight pause and then he said, "Doesn't she have a session right now?"
So sweet how he stayed away from her for my sake but stored every detail about her in that shrewd brain of his.
"She isn't at work. She isn't answering her phone. I'm worried."
He was quiet for a few seconds. "Do you want me to go back home and see if she's there?" he asked me in a nonchalant tone.
I smiled. Idiot. I knew he was already bursting to go check on her anyway, but was trying to play it cool. This was getting so much easier now that Armaan had indirectly helped me with my hang-ups. Shit. Armaan. I glanced at the time on my phone. I only had fifteen minutes to get back to work and I had not even eaten anything. Being late was not an option.
"Please do that," I said to Jasper. "Tell her to call me back or just let me know yourself if she's not feeling well or something."
"Yeah, all right," Jasper replied in a subdued tone.
I started the car. "Jasper?" I said quietly before he could disconnect the call.
"Mm?"
I smiled lightly and tapped my fingers on the steering wheel. "Just...take care of her...if she's not okay," I said. "Don't leave her alone. I'll be home in the afternoon and we'll do something, okay. The three of us. I love you."
He did not say anything for a long time and I held my breath wondering what he was thinking.
"Okay. See you then," he said and hung up.
I frowned and sucked on my bottom lip. He was upset. I felt like this whole Skye thing was taking its toll on him. He was more subdued and got tension headaches. Shit. I had to take better care of him. And I would, along with Skye.
Letting out a breath, I turned my car around and headed back to work, feeling happier as I thought about the future.
~~~
Jasper
She wasn't there. She wasn't at the apartment. Not just her but all her things were gone as well. A cold feeling ran down my spine as I searched for her in every room even though my heart already felt her absence. I knew. I just knew Skye had left us for good.
"No!" I cried out, yanking off my tie as the air started to suffocate me. A life without Skye. I could not bear it.
Frantically, I dug out my phone and dialled her number but it was futile. Her phone was switched off. Why? How could she do this?
"Fuck," I cursed painfully as my eyes landed once more on the offensive note on the kitchen counter which I had been trying to ignore till now.
I did not want to face reality but it had to be done sometime.
My fingers shook as I read the words.
I am sorry. I couldn't choose. Please don't make me choose anymore. I love you both. Be happy and keep me in your beautiful memories.
I swallowed multiple times, my vision starting to blur and a severe headache splitting up my brain.
"Skye!" I called out as numbness took over, making me stumble because I suddenly could not feel the floor below me. "Skye..."
I was not sure when the phone dropped from my hand. The last thing I saw was the kitchen counter looming over me before my vision went blank.
~~~
Chapter 34
Cole
"He needs close monitoring and care for at least three months before he regains full control of his body." The doctor's brow furrowed as he scribbled down the prescription for some meds. "It was not a massive stroke so the impairment of some of his abilities may simply be due to a mental block. It's temporary. Sometimes, it has more to do with morale than actual physical incapacity."
I rubbed a hand over my face, taking in every word the doctor said. Stroke. Jasper had suffered a stroke. It was so difficult to accept that but I had to. My lover was currently lying on a hospital bed just a few feet away from me. Shit.
If I hadn't rushed home when I did...
By some miracle, Jasper had accidentally dialled my number or maybe he had managed to do so on purpose before losing consciousness completely. I had not asked. I had been too busy trying to recover from the shock and processing the sudden turn of events.
When Jasper did not speak upon my answering his call or pick up
