Free Blind with Love by Becca Jameson

After all, they had just met hours earlier. Why would he assume she would be in his life forever? It had seemed so…perfect, their evening together. So…right. Like some divine being made them for each other. Where was she?
    “Nothing.” Defeat creeped into Margo’s voice. She sounded just as worried as Chase. “Mom and Dad will be here soon. They took the first flight out this morning.”
    Chase had turned away, barely listening to his sister. Thank God she couldn’t see his eyes. They would be misty.
    He felt like an idiot. Had it only been a one-night stand to her? She had seemed so…into him. Hadn’t she?
    “Do you want some more water?” Margo was moving around the room, keeping herself busy. He knew her well.
    “No, I’m fine.” Liar .
    “How about something to eat? They brought your lunch about an hour ago. You’ve barely touched it. I’m sure your stomach is settled now. Surely the anesthetic has worn off.”
    “No.”
    He couldn’t talk to her right now. He silently pleaded with her to stop jabbering. “I think I just need a nap. Could you…?”
    “Right. Sure. I’ll just go down to the cafeteria for a while.” Margo’s voice got stronger as she spoke. She reached for his hand. “I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe it was all just a little too fast for her. Maybe she just needs some time.”
    “Whatever.” Chase was through talking right now. He slunk down into the bed and turned on his side, away from her. Was there a window on that side? Would he be able to at least see the light coming in tomorrow when they removed the bandages? God, he hoped so.
    “Chase…Chase…” Voices were calling to him from far away. Where were they coming from?
    Chase moved to sit up and started to remember. Oh, yeah, the hospital. The surgery. The bandages. Kristen…
    “Are you awake?” His mother’s voice yanked him back to reality.
    “I am now.”
    “Sorry, baby. I was worried about you. We’ve been here for hours and you’ve been asleep the entire time. You were having a nightmare.” Cynthia Edwards’ soft voice reached out to soothe Chase’s precarious nerves.
    What had he been dreaming about? He had no idea, but whatever it was left a hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach.
    “Mom…”
    “Right here, honey. And Dad, too.” His father’s hand gripped his shoulder on the tail end of his mother’s sweet words. “Are you okay? Do you need anything?”
    “I’m fine, Mom. Just waiting. They say tomorrow they can take the bandages off.”
    “I heard. Margo told us.” His mother bustled about, smoothing out the blankets covering his body. He had the urge to ruffle the whole lot when she pulled her hands away. Did she think smoothing his blankets would also smooth his life? Of course not. She probably had no idea what had just happened to him Friday night. No idea his world felt upside down because he’d met the woman he was sure he wanted to spend the rest of his life with…and she had left without a trace. As the hours ticked by, he became more and more convinced she wasn’t interested. The night had not meant the same thing to her it had meant to him.
    “Where’s Margo?” Maybe she knew something.
    “We sent her home. She looked tired. I think she must have stayed up all night with you. A nice man came by and took her home. Ryan? I think that was his name. She didn’t mention she was seeing someone new.”
    “Yes.” Chase didn’t feel like going into details, but he was relieved, and truth be told, a bit jealous, that Ryan was with Margo. At least one of them hadn’t been abandoned the morning after.
    * * * *
     
    Sunday morning came too fast. After only a few hours of sleep Friday night, Kristen spent all of Saturday hurrying around in preparation for her flight to Chicago. She didn’t know when she might be able to come back to her apartment, but she wasn’t willing to let go of it yet. She just wasn’t ready for that kind of finality. Instead she arranged for her mail to