My Boyfriend Carved Jack-o’-Lanterns For All Five. Except Me Chapter 05

My Boyfriend Carved Jack-o’-Lanterns For All Five. Except Me Chapter 05

At 7:10 PM, Leo called me.

The phone was off.

He frowned. Tossed it on the table.

“Throwing a fit again.”

The four-person set was already served.

But there were five chairs.

The one closest to the aisle was added at the last minute.

Caleb checked the time. Irritated.

“Ten more minutes. If she doesn’t come, forget it.”

Daisy bit her straw. Quiet.

“Is Caleb mad about the festival tickets?”

Julian shook his head.

“She’s not the type to hold grudges.”

None of them touched their forks.

Because every dinner before, I was the one who poured water.

Reminded them who couldn’t eat spicy. Who was allergic to peanuts.

The waiter brought dessert. Asked.

“Ms. Lyra, the reservation holder. Not here yet?”

All four froze.

Leo checked the booking.

It was made half a month ago. By me.

Even the four-person set had been changed last minute. By Daisy.

Eight o’clock. I still hadn’t shown.

Caleb couldn’t sit still. Stood. Headed for the door.

“I’ll check her dorm.”

The dorm manager told him.

I’d left that afternoon. With my luggage.

“She’s not staying here anymore. Everything’s packed.”

Caleb stood downstairs. His face darkened.

He called the leasing agent.

The apartment was cancelled. No renewal.

Leo rushed home. Pushed open my door.

Half the closet was empty.

The laptop, documents, clothes I wore most. Gone.

But in the drawer, neatly placed.

Everything they’d ever given me.

Leo picked up the faded hairpin.

Remembered. It was my tenth birthday. He’d saved up to buy it.

I wore it for years.

Then Daisy came into the family.

He bought her a whole box of hair accessories.

My old hairpin. Never noticed again.

Caleb found the couple bracelet. In the deepest corner.

He gripped it. Veins bulging on his hand.

“Where did she go?”

No one knew.

Julian searched everyone’s Instagram.

Leo called school teachers. Daisy sat, texting me.

Over and over.

[Caleb, where are you?]

[We’re all worried.]

[Please come back.]

No reply.

Until Julian remembered. I’d mentioned a job in New York.

They rushed to the airport.

The last flight to New York had left. Twenty minutes ago.

Caleb stood outside the gate. Dialed my number. Again and again.

The mechanical voicemail. Finally, panic.

“How could she leave without a word?”

Leo stared at the distant sky. Didn’t answer.

Because I had said.

I wanted to go to New York.

They said family should stay together.

But the “together” they planned. Never had me in it.

Caleb opened our chat.

Typed a long string of accusations.

Deleted everything. Left one line.

[When are you coming back?]

Then he noticed. My avatar was gone.

He froze.

I hadn’t just left.

I’d blocked him too.