53. Days

Genre: Paranormal romance, drama

Type: Series
Characters: Leigh, Eloise, Krisis, Devon
Prompt:77. Days

Word Count:  666 +

Warning: language

Rating:  M- (coarse language, adult situations, nudity. N.B-Applies to the whole series)

Summary: Leigh reaches out, but breaks Krisis' heart

77. Days

________

Bridgeport, Champs Les Sims
present day

Several days after her hasty departure, Leigh forced herself to make contact with Devon and Eloise. Because she didn’t have her cell phone with her, and she didn’t want to impose on Jesse and Shaun’s kindness, she decided to make a collect call to her home line in Bridgeport. 

The breakfast condiments sat untouched on the breakfast nook. She couldn't stomach food, but  these last few days, Jesse and Shaun had made a point of forcing her to eat something. She was grateful her self proclaimed 'food police' were not around this morning; she would get away with just a glass of water for breakfast.

She wrung her hands and bit her nails as she waited for the operator to connect her. She knew it was nighttime in Bridgeport and chances were Devon and Eloise were working late, or they'd gone out. No one stayed home on a Friday night in Bridgeport. But a small part of her kept hoping someone was home; if she didn't get through now, she wouldn't have the guts to try later. 

After a few beeping sounds on the other end, and being placed on hold several times, their lines connected at last. She guessed either Eloise or Devon had finally agreed to accept the call.

She gripped the phone tightly in her hand, and braced herself for Devon’s anger. She knew he’d have endless questions, but not before he gave her a piece of his mind. The phone rang a few times before Eloise picked up on the fifth ring.

“Starlington residence!” She sounded like she had a cold, or she was crying, or both. If it was tears Leigh heard in her friend’s voice, she hoped it wasn’t because of her. But she knew better. She’d left both of them on the lurch, with a lot of confusion and little explanation…

“Hello!” Eloise cried again, this time she let out a long frustrated sigh.

“It’s Leigh.” She spoke up quickly, sensing her friend was about to hang up.

There was a long painful pause before Eloise burst into loud sobs. Leigh joined her moments later. They both cried hard, gripping their phones tightly, wishing it was each other they were holding on to.

“Thank God you’re okay,” Eloise managed to squeeze in, in between her broken sobs.

“I’m sorry,” Leigh told her softly. She wasn’t sure what she was apologizing for though.

“It’s okay. Just tell us where you are and we’ll come and get you. We are worried about you. Krisis is going out of his—” Eloise didn’t get to finish her speech because it was at that moment Krisis walked into the room, and he knew in his gut she was talking to Leigh. He held out his hand, and she handed him the receiver.

“Love, tell me where you are, and I’ll come and get you. I don’t know why you left, but I know that Dear Krisis letter you left me is bullshit!” He murmured into the phone. Silence on Leigh’s end.

 “Come home please,” He pleaded again, wishing he could hold her in his arms again. He heard her sharp intake of breath, listened to her hesitate on her end before breaking his heart without uttering a word.

“What did she say?” Devon barked at him, as he replaced the receiver.

“Nothing!” Krisis replied. He stood in the middle of the room, feeling the devastation overwhelm him.

“What do you mean nothing? Did she say where she is? This is your fault! It’s been a week, I want her found!” Devon growled some more, staring him down, trying to drive him over the edge.

But Krisis walked away. He wouldn’t be drawn into his pissing match. He understood his fear and worry all too well. They were all on edge, but having a go at each other would not bring Leigh back.

They’d  hardly slept these last few days, phoning everyone they could think of, canvassing airports and bus stations, and they’d found nothing. Absolutely nothing. No one had seen her, no one knew where she was and it didn’t help that none of them could retrace her steps on her last night in Bridgeport.

“At least she’s fine,” Eloise cut in; quickly stopping what Devon was hoping would become a war.

“What did she say to you? Did she say anything at all?” Krisis turned to her.

The pain in his eyes cut her to pieces, and she wanted to lie, tell him Leigh had said she loved him. Just to bring him some comfort. But she knew he could read thoughts, and lying to him wouldn’t help.

“She didn’t say much,” she replied truthfully.

“Does your phone have a caller ID?” Krisis turned to Devon next. The other man nodded. Reading Krisis’ thoughts, Devon quickly scribbled the number of the last call received, and handed him the slip of paper. Krisis was out of the door before Eloise had a chance to tell him it was a collect call, and they might not be able to trace it.

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