"Look, I'd get him to give you a call, but he's gone. Like gone, gone. I figured you already knew about this."
"What are you talking about?"
"I can't believe you broke up with him, Sarah. Wow. I didn't see that coming. He was in a foul mood when he came out of that office. Foul. I asked him where you were and he told me that you dumped him—although he didn't use those exact words, of course. He finished the paperwork and cleared out his office of all of his personal belongings, which I believe amounted to a fountain pen and an extra black shirt. He said he was going to the airport."
My stomach turned over. "The airport?"
"I figure he's going back to Europe. Now that Haven's gone, and you're moving on, there's nothing to keep him here anymore. Are you okay, sweetie? Amy said you and Veronique had a talk earlier and I guess I can tell that it didn't exactly go well, did it?"
Thierry had left for the airport. He was gone. Shock quickly spread over me.
"It…" I tried to swallow. "It went fine. But it made me realize a lot of things about me and Thierry. And yeah, it's over."
"Sorry."
"Don't be." I was speaking at a normal level now and my throat ached with every word.
"Look, I want to help you through this, I do, but I have ten tables who need service glaring at me right now. I'll see you in the morning, okay?"
"Okay."
"Chin up. It might feel sucky now, but in the long run it's probably the best decision. You guys were really different. I guess opposites don't always attract after all, huh?"
"You're right." I sniffed. "See you later."
I hung up and put my hands over my face and sobbed until I was all out of tears and felt utterly exhausted. The proverbial bed had been made and now I had to lie in it. Thierry was gone and Gideon was still here waiting for our appointment with destiny.
I felt for a tissue, but the box next to the phone was empty so I reached to turn on the light. It didn't work. I stood up and walked over to the floor lamp next to the sofa, stubbing my already-blistered toe on the coffee table as I went.
I swore loudly.
Could the night seriously get any worse?
I felt at the wall for the light switch, but it didn't work either. I'd shut the lights off before I went to bed, so they were working. Was there a power failure? Had we blown a fuse?
I heard the floorboards creak and I froze in place. They creaked again.
Somebody, other than me, was in the house.
It wouldn't be George since he was still at the club. Then who? Was it Gideon? Had he followed me home and broken into the house? What was he going to do? Or, even worse, was it another hunter? I'd been bodyguard-free on my walk home, and somebody could have picked up my trail and slipped in through a window.
I didn't care who it was, my survival instincts kicked in and I knew I had to get out of there. I made a beeline to the front door, turned the lock, and put my hand on the knob.
Somebody grabbed me firmly from behind. Before I could scream, a hand came over my mouth and I clutched at him, clawing at his arms and imagining my death a thousand different ways. But if I was going to die, I was taking whoever it was with me. I waited to feel a sharp wooden stake at my throat, but there was nothing.
"Shh, Sarah. It's okay."
My eyes bugged. I released my death hold on his arms and he removed his hand from my mouth. I slowly turned around to face him.
"What is going on?" I managed in a hoarse whisper.
"Is that new?" Thierry asked, referring to my amazingly stylish Wal-Mart nightshirt. "I don't think I've ever seen that before."
It was dark in the house so I could barely see him, even taking my improved vampire vision into consideration.
"Shh." I peeked out of the curtain to the outside. Gideon was nowhere to be seen, but I wouldn't expect him to survey the house from a visible location. "George said you went to the airport."
"Obviously that's not the case."
I could barely breathe. I wanted to tell him everything in a rush of words but I held back, too stunned to think rationally. "I figured you'd never want to see me again."
He cocked his head to the side. "Those actually were your words, not mine."
"You shouldn't be here."
He moved closer and studied me. "You've been crying."
I shook my head. "Allergies."
"I came here because there are a few things that must be said between us before I will accept once and for all that our relationship is over. That's why I'm here."
I glanced out of the window again.
"What are you looking for?" he asked. "Or, should I say, who are you looking for?"
I blinked. "You shouldn't be here."
"Why not?"
"I told you that this was over, Thierry. I…" I swallowed hard. "I still mean it."
"I don't think you do."
I sucked in a quick gasp of air at that response. "Then you're wrong."
His gaze grew serious. "Who is responsible for this, Sarah? Who is coercing you to say these things to me?"
This was bad. Very, very bad. I'd already had second thoughts about telling him everything. It was too risky. Was I willing to put the lives of my friends and family in jeopardy just so I could tell Thierry I hadn't meant all the cruel things I'd said to him?
I shook my head. "It's me. All me. And I don't know why you're here. You obviously accepted it when I told you the first time and didn't care one way or the other. It's better that way. You and I are through and it's never—"
Placing a hand on either side of my face, he leaned over and kissed me. I gasped against his lips before wrapping my arms around his waist and opening my mouth to his. After a moment he broke it off and stared down at me.
"We're through?" he said softly. "Are you so sure about that?"
I cleared my throat. "I can't help it if you're a good kisser."