Page 77 of Only Be Mine

I changed upstairs, pulling on the lingerie I knew he liked underneath my clothes, letting it give me something to look forward to. A promise. An apology I hadn’t finished offering.

I came straight home from the fitting, the dress still vivid in my mind.

The dresses were stunning. Sleeveless lilac gowns, made to swish and flow soundlessly as each girl stepped and swayed down the aisle. They were absolutely perfect, just how I had imagined them; simple and elegant

I’d stood there, watching Amy and my sister Sarah, thinking how strange it was that something meant for a beginning could already feel like a memory.

I told myself John would want to hear about it. About how close we were now.

That was hours ago.

From the moment I walked in, the house felt quieter. Not peaceful, but empty.

I checked the clock on the microwave. Then the one on my phone. Then the one on the wall, as if one of them might disagree.

Still nothing.

I tried to laugh it off, pacing the living room. He probably ran into Seth. Or needed longer to cool off. Or decided to grab a beer.

John wasn’t careless. He just… lost track of time sometimes.

I called his name.

Nothing.

I moved through the house again, slower this time.

Living room. Kitchen. Bathroom.

Each space felt untouched, frozen exactly as I’d left it hours earlier. No shoes kicked off near the door. No jacket draped over a chair. No half-finished anything.

“John?” I called, keeping my voice light. Casual. Like this was normal.

The sound didn’t travel far.

I checked his office next. The desk was neat. Too neat. His laptop was gone, but that meant nothing, he took it everywhere. The window above the desk was still cracked open a tad, just like always.

I went upstairs.

Our bedroom was empty. The bed still made from that morning, the comforter smooth, my pillow exactly where I’d left it. The bathroom light was off. His toothbrush dry.

A faint pressure settled behind my ribs.

I went back downstairs and looked out the front window just to prove something to myself.

His truck was there, parked in the driveway, angled slightly crooked the way he always left it when he was in a hurry.

My heart stuttered.

I stood there longer than I meant to, keys cold in my palm, staring at the truck like it might explain itself if I waited long enough.

“Okay,” I whispered. “Okay.”

I checked my phone again. There was a text I hadn’t noticed before.

My breath hitched as I opened it.

John: I love you Cate. See you soon <3