The Fire he Ignited in Me

Chapter 16

I can't find her anywhere. Anabelle is missing.

I've checked her house several times and even stayed on her driveway waiting for several hours

yesterday. Richard says she hasn't dropped by to bring any food to the firehouse which is strange

for her.

I really f****d up. I ran her off. At least her furniture is still Inside, otherwise I don't know what

I'd do. Maybe she's staying with a friend? That has to be it.

It's only been five days. I'm sure I'll run Into her soon, small town and all.

With a sigh, I put the seventy pound dumb bells back on the rack and wipe the dripping beads of

sweat off my forehead. All these issues with Annabelle have caused me to spend twice as much

time in the gym. I can't tell if I'm getting bigger, but I'm definitely more sore.

I pick up the white rag and rub it along my chest to collect the swimming pool that started to

form amidst my bicep curls.

"Hey do you think d-"

I stop mid-sentence seeing that the once active Lucas has stopped doing situps and decided to

take a nap on the yoga mat.

Shaking my head, I pick up the weight ball he was using and put back on the rack. The kid's been

in here a lot lately too. It's surprising. I thought he'd be avoiding me or something after that day

at Annabelle's house.

My eyes light up with an idea and in my mind, I can't do any harm with this one beneficial task.

I wave my hand over Lucas face, but his breathing remains deep and soft snores tumble out of

his nose on occasion.

Unplugging his headphones from his device, I swipe and mentally thank God there's no

password.

Contacts...

I find Annabelle under the nickname Belle and for obvious reasons, it makes my blood boil.

That's my name for her.

Ignoring the urge to change it, I click on it and look through the conversations starting at the top.

There are a few greetings, a Meetup, and the latest, Annabelle telling Lucas that she's out of

town.

So she told him, but not me. This is followed by Lucas asking if she wants to sext or do it over

video chat to which Belle thankfully declines or I may have lost my s**t.

She doesn't say where she is and Lucas doesn't ask. He doesn't ask because he doesn't care.

I care. I'm the right one for her. I was ignorant before, but I have a clear mind now. Nothing will

get in the way of this because I know for certain that Annabelle and I are meant to be. I wouldn't

break the standards for such a large age Gap for anyone else and I most certainly haven't felt a

connection like this since... Well... Ever.

I just have to wait for Annabelle to come home and then I'll apologize. I'll promise to do better

and all will be right in the world.

Putting Lucas's phone back and plugging the headphones in again, I let the workout room so eat

the last of the muffins in the basket that Annabelle brought over the day I lied to her.

I'll never make that mistake again and I certainly won't ever miss another one of her heavenly

food deliveries again. Not if my appetite has anything to say about it.