For the past week Blake has been cooperating better with Violet during his physical therapy, but I’ve felt that Kasey has been pulling away. I can’t put my finger on it, but every night he’s fallen into bed exhausted and instead of making love to me, he’s held me close and slept.

Our days have been full and I’ve enjoyed my time of being shown the beautiful state of Montana. I just wish that I knew why Kasey was being like he is. The last time we’d been intimate was in the barn and I missed him.

Like now, as I sit on the porch swing, he’s still attentive, and makes sure that I’m comfortable, but something’s missing and I’m afraid of asking him about it.

“Do you want to come with me into town?” he asks.

I want to say yes, but that would involve getting dressed and acting like everything in my world is fine, and my heart isn’t exactly in it today. “No, I’m fine here.” I give him a small smile.

He frowns. “You sure?”

I’m saved from answering him as Mateo appears from around the back of the house. “Hey, are you all packed?”

I freeze at his words and glance at Kasey who looks like he’s been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Kasey winces and slides his gaze to mine before he turns back to his brother.

He’s going somewhere?

“I’m all set,” he answers.

Not willing to stay and listen to their conversation, I shift on the swing and get to my feet. Ignoring them both, I head to our bedroom with my heart in pieces. I feel numb and my tears won’t come as I enter and sit in the chair by the window.

Staring blankly, I don’t understand what’s happened and why he hasn’t spoken to me. We were supposed to be heading back to New York together in another couple of weeks, so why is he going now, and from the sounds of it, without me?

Hearing the door open, I refuse to make this easy for him when really that’s my inclination. I’m not a difficult person to please but he needs to know that he’s hurt me.

“Felicity,” he says softly, reaching for my hand, which I move out of his way. He pauses and finally moves his hand away. “I didn’t mean for you to find out that way.”

“When are you going?”

“First thing in the morning.”

My head whips around so that I’m facing him because I’m too shocked to hide my reaction. “I assume that I’m not going with you,” I say, my voice dull.

“Dammit, Felicity.” He starts pacing. “Coach wants me back early. I’m going to be gone more than I’m home, so I figured you’d be better off staying here with Blake and my family.”

My family…no longer our family…

I dip my head and ask, “Why didn’t you tell me? Or give me a choice? Why did you decide for me?”

“I should have said something to you, but I was worried you’d talk me into taking you so I kept quiet.” He sits on the sill and leaning forward, takes my cold hand into his. “I don’t want to fight with you, okay? I’m trying to do what’s best for you and I think that leaving you here where you’re happy is what’s best.”

I meet his gaze and realize that he really believes that I’ll be happier here without him. I’ve never been as happy as I have been since I found him in New York.

It feels like I’m not wanted and it hurts a lot. Sometimes I wish that I had more experience with men so that I’d know what to say or do right now. As much as I hate being in the city, I want to go with him. It won’t be forever, which made it easier when we’d spoken about living there.

“What’s changed?”

He frowns and looks at me with confusion, so I clarify, “We had plans to head back to the city together.”

“You love it here, and as much as I love you, I don’t want you in the city, which you dislike.”

“I wouldn’t dislike it, because you would be there.”

“Only to sleep.” He sighs.

I’m fighting a losing battle to get him to take me with him, when it’s obvious he doesn’t want me there. His mind is made up. Taking my hand back, I settle into the chair, and continue staring out of the window, ignoring him.

“Dinner’s going to be ready. Um, you coming to eat?” he nervously asks.

I shake my head. “I’ve lost my appetite.”

“Felicity?”

“Please give me some space, Kasey,” I request quietly.

He mutters under his breath and then slams the bedroom door behind him.

My head aches with trying to make sense of the sudden change in Kasey. We’ve been together for less than a month, but we’ve spent all of that time together, joined at the hip. So why is he so keen to be away from me now?

Unsure of how much time has passed, but it’s dark outside when I decide to move into Blake’s room for the night. I want to avoid saying goodbye to Kasey because that will just hurt me all the more.

Gathering my sleep things, I quickly dash from Kasey’s room and quickly enter Blake’s. He gives me a startled look from his position on the bed, which turns into a frown when he notices the nightshirt in my hands.

“What’s going on?”

“I need to sleep in here tonight.”

“You’ve fallen out with Kasey?” he asks the question innocently enough but that’s all it takes to finally bring my tears.

My whole body shakes as my legs give way and I fall to the floor. My stomach hurts with how hard I’m crying and I vaguely hear Blake begging me to get up from the floor and come to him.

I slowly crawl to his bed and as soon as I reach it, Blake hauls me up and into his arms. He tucks me under the covers with him and holds me, letting my tears dry. When I’m completely drained, he wipes my face with his discarded shirt before tossing it to the floor.

“Now talk to me,” Blake begs.

“He’s going to New York tomorrow, and I only found out when his brother asked if he was packed.” I hiccup. “We talked before and I was supposed to be going back with him. I don’t know what’s changed. Why doesn’t he want me there with him?” I sniffle against Blake’s chest. “I’m going to stay in here with you until he’s gone.”

Blake sighs. “Hiding from your problems won’t solve anything. Trust me, I know.”

“I’m staying in here,” I reply. “It will hurt too much to say goodbye to him.”

“Felicity, what exactly did he say? Did he say it was over between you both? Help me to understand what’s really going on.”

“He didn’t say that exactly.” I quickly explain to Blake what Kasey had said, and embarrassingly add, “We haven’t had sex in a week.”

“Jesus, fuck…Felicity!” Blake explodes. “That is seriously too much information.”

“It’s true though…and when it’s usually every night, I can’t help but wonder, you know?”

“Wonder what?”

“If he still loves me.” I quickly cover Blake’s mouth with my hand. “I don’t want to see him before he leaves. I can’t Blake.”

“Okay…Go and change in the bathroom. You’ll be uncomfortable in your jeans.”