If You're Gone Read Free

my father’s car, which he had loaned me for the evening.
    “I hope riding around in your dad’s sedan isn’t ruining you for my truck,” Brad said with a smile.
    “Nope.” I shook my head. “I love your truck.”
    I handed Brad the keys, and he held the passenger door for me as I climbed inside, slipping a towel onto the bucket seat to protect the leather from my wet skin. We spent most of the drive in silence as I watched the little red numbers change on the LED clock, knowing we would be hard pressed to make my ten o’clock curfew.
    “I hope I hear you through the speakers one day,” Brad said over the ballad that played softly on the radio. “You’re a better singer than half these people.”
    “Only half, huh?”
    “You know what I mean,” he said with a grin, reaching across the seat to squeeze my hand. “I’m your biggest fan.”
    I laced my fingers between his and smiled to myself. “You’re sweet.”
    “Hey, you’re going to be late if we go to my house first,” he told me, with a nod towards the clock. “I’ll take you home and then I can walk from there.”
    Brad’s home was less than a mile from my own, a few blocks up the quiet street where both Anna and I lived, in a newly developed neighborhood stacked with prestigious two-story homes.
    “Are you sure? It’s so dark out,” I said, gazing out the window at the black sky full of twinkling stars.
    “You worry about me too much,” he laughed and took his eyes off the road for a moment to glance at me.
    That’s because I care so much about you , I wanted to say, although ‘care’ wasn't a strong enough word. But I held my tongue and grinned at him. I wondered if he knew what I was thinking.
    He parked Dad’s car in its usual spot, beneath a tall evergreen tree in our driveway. 9:58 pm blinked on the clock as he turned off the humming engine. Brad opened my door for me and we walked hand in hand up the sidewalk to the front door. The house was dark except for the small porch light that had attracted dozens of tiny, white moths. Open fields filled with fireflies enveloped the brick ranch home-our own little piece of paradise, as my mother had referred to it since I was young.
    “I had a great time with you tonight,” Brad said as we climbed the steps.
    “Me too.” I ran my fingers up his forearm. “Will you text me and tell me you got home okay?”
    He smiled. “My phone’s dead. But don’t worry. I’ll look twice before I cross the street.”
    “Yeah, yeah.” I rolled my eyes.
    “I’ll call you tomorrow. I’ll pick you up at seven for the movies, okay?”
    “Sounds great,” I said. “I’ll even let you decide what we see.”
    “Don’t tease me,” Brad said with a laugh, jabbing at my hip bone. We shared a love for movies in every genre, but he always let me have the final say in film selection.
    “I mean it! There are several romantic comedies you can choose between.”
    “You’re lucky you’re so cute.” He grinned. “I’ll get the truck cleaned up in the morning. Thanks for the perfect night.”
    There was that word again. “My pleasure.”
    He pulled me towards him and we shared a quick goodnight kiss; it was simple with closed lips in case a family member peered through the peephole.
    “Lillian?” Brad said as his lips left mine, still holding my face in his hands.
    “Yeah?” I whispered. I held my breath, hoping this moment might be the one I had been longing for.
    He opened his mouth to speak but then shook his head. “Never mind.”
    “Are you okay?”
    “Never been better.” He smiled before planting a wet smack on my cheek. “Good night.”
    I slipped my key into the lock and waved to him as he descended the steps.
    “Good night!” I called out, grinning. I realized it didn’t matter he hadn’t said the words. They were written all over his face.
    Inside the entryway, I eased the door shut behind me, using care to click the latch quietly into place. To my right was the living room,