You Belong With Me (31 page)

"Yes. Sorry I haven't been down there. I've been a little busy." She smiled and pointed to the sleeping baby on her shoulder. He smiled at her.

"I had a producer friend of mine meet me for drinks about two weeks ago. He wound up bringing a friend of his with him who works for a record label overseas. They think I have what it takes to be a solo artist, so I signed a deal with them last week."

"Carter!" She yelled in a whisper for fear of waking up the baby. "You have known about this for a week and didn't tell me. You asshole!"

He laughed as she whispered the cuss at him.

"I'm sorry but I needed to get all my affairs in order. There's a lot to do before I go. I have to sell my car and make sure mom was ok."

Lyla looked at him confused. "Wait. What are you saying? Are you moving away? Overseas?"

"Yep. For at least a year."

It was Casey's day off and she decided to help Lyla pack some stuff. Lyla's mom had taken the baby over night so she could finish packing for her new house. They sat on the floor of Casey's spare room and each took an empty box and started packing them with clothes.

"You are very quiet today," Lyla said.

"I'm ok."

Lyla snickered at her. "No, you're not. Spill it bitch." That made Casey laugh.

"OK. Fine. There is something I have to tell you and promise me you won't be upset."

"I can't promise something like that. I'm damaged goods, Case. Who knows how I'll react. Quit beating around the bush and just tell me already!"

"I'm moving to London."

Lyla dropped the article of clothing she was getting ready to pack and looked at Casey with her jaw agape.

"Say that again? Maybe there's something wrong with my hearing. Did you say London as in England, as in British, tea, crumpets, Royals, and all that shit?"

"That's the one." She peered up at Lyla afraid of what she was going to say next.

"But how? And why?"

"We had a seminar at work last week and there were a group of doctors from England who are recruiting American nurses to come and share their skills with other nurses in London. There will also be English nurses who will come here to work as well. They asked who was interested and I..."

Casey paused and looked down at the box she was packing.

"You what Case?" Lyla said in a sad tone.

"I needed a change. A big change. So I jumped at the chance. They pay to fly all my stuff there. They give you a flat and pay for some of your utilities including the first months rent. I got a pretty big sign on bonus too."

Lyla didn't say much. She just continued to pack.

"You know how I love all things British and when am I ever going to have another opportunity to do this?" The room was silent and Casey felt sick in the pit of her stomach.

"Ly? Are you ok?" Casey asked quietly.

She shed silent tears and wiped them with the back of her hand. Casey inched closer and grabbed her hands.

"Listen to me Lyla. I was a girl who came from a broken home. I have a mother who could give to shits about me, I worked hard, got good grades, got a fantastic job, and bought a home. I made something of myself. Unfortunately, over the past year I am not the same person."

"Because of Carter?" Lyla asked.

"You are seriously asking me that question. You have to understand Lyla, he broke me. He called me a fucking whore and then acted like a jealous lunatic when you were giving birth. You don't treat people whom you claim to love like that. It's not fair."

"So, are you taking this job because you have always wanted to live in London or are you running away from him?"

"No, I'm not running. I'm just trying to erase things from the past, start over. I have to start with what Carter and I had."

"Case, erasing yourself from somebody’s life is not as simple as walking out the door."

Casey got up from the floor and paced around the room. She pulled back one of the sheers to look out the window. She fought tears but in the end, they won.

"I just... I just didn't expect to fall in love with him. It hurts. It hurts everyday of my damn life. I haven't gone more than two days without talking to him in nine years until recently. Not hearing his voice has been the hardest. It's getting a little easier over time but I wish it was different. It's not and I need to move on. I just need to find my way back to me cause I'm pretty sure I don't know who
I
am supposed to be." Lyla got up and walked over to her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"You are Casey Colbert. I'm damn proud of who you are. You are a wonderful friend, nurse, and Godmother to Alexandra. I just don't understand why you need to go. I'm going to miss you so much and it will be hard without you here."

Casey pulled her in for a hug. They rocked back and forth.

"Listen, you and Alex can come visit me anytime. Nikki and Noel won't be too far from where I'll be living. It will be like a mini reunion when you come and I'll drag their asses back with me when I visit. I'll be home for as many holidays as I can and I'll come home for vacations. We can video chat all the time so I can see how big Alex is getting. It will be fine."

Lyla broke the hug.

"When are you leaving?" She asked.

"You move Saturday, I leave Monday."

"Wow, that's fast."

"I have to go to formal training and stuff before I start work. My passport just came in so I'm all set. I'm leaving all the furniture and having most of my other things shipped."

"Well, can we at least go out for a couple of drinks tonight then? I'm baby-less and I need to have a good time."

"Sure. I'm good with that."

The girls got ready and Lyla suggested they have one last night at Beach Bums. The air was warm and the humidity clung to their skin but the stars were out in full effect. The smell of the salty air was something Casey would miss. The warmth, the weather, the sunsets, walking along the beach. Especially sand dollar beach. She thought about walking it one last time, but the memories that her and Carter shared there would be too painful. A reminder of how things went terribly wrong. If she did walk it, she knew in her heart that it would just be another set back. When they got to Beach Bums, they had seen a few people that they knew. Beach Bums was packed to capacity. Casey hadn't seen it that way in a long time. There were wall to wall people. They went to the outdoor bar and strolled up and ordered beers. They spent time talking with each other about Casey's new job and what exactly she would be doing. They discussed Alex and all of the new things she was doing. Lyla had spotted a guy who she used to date after she and Tommy had broken up, so she told Casey to grab her another beer and to meet her over in the spot where she had seen the guy. Casey walked to the bar and knew the bartender.

"Hey Ed. How are you?" Casey asked.

"Casey! Great to see you. It's been a while. You here to see Carter?" She looked at him puzzled.

"Carter? No, Ed. We haven't spoken in months. It's a long story. Why would he be here?"

She then heard the roar of the crowd instantly freezing as her mind raced to it's only conclusion. She was afraid to turn around to see why the people were cheering. Casey closed her eyes tightly and took several long, cleansing breaths. Then she heard his voice. Carter.

"Hey everybody. Thanks so much for coming out tonight as I begin my new solo career. It's been a long road but the show must go on." He grabbed his Corona and lifted it to the sky.

"I miss ya, Tommy. Cheers, buddy." The crowd lifted whatever they were drinking and followed Carter's actions. He began to play The Lumineers
Ho Hey
and as soon as she heard his voice, she spun around. It was like she had never heard him before. His voice rang into her ears and straight to her heart. She tried her best not to look at him but it was a pointless battle. The guitar was strung around the front of him and he sang into the microphone with the same intensity she had seen so many times before. But this time was different. He was alone. There was no Jake, no Tommy. Just Carter. He looked different to her now. His hair was longer and his black, thick hair was spread around his head in curls. His body looked more thin but there was still a broadness to his shoulders and chest.

His presence sent shock waves throughout her body. Her hands shook and her mind was going a mile a minute. She had loved this man. He showed up in her life and it was so unexpected. Their love was that way. Unexpected. When Carter sang, he sang with his whole soul. Her eyes focused on him as he made the crowd feel his charismatic ways. It was easy to get lost in Carter but so hard to figure out how he pulled at her with just his voice. She stood there and he looked up and spotted her leaning against the bar. Their eyes locked. Blue on blue like they had so many times before. When they loved each other with all that they were and all they could be. He continued to sing but his face took on another look. If she could read his mind it would say how full of regret he was. His eyes burning with the displeasure of hurting her so many times. The lyrics were those of undying love and devotion and she had that once with him. He sang the words like the meaning was directed to her but Casey needed to move on. If she didn't go now, she knew that there was a chance she could break again and she was on the path of healing. She broke her gaze from him and he instantly felt the loss of seeing her eyes. She felt the emptiness engulf her as she made her way over to Lyla. Carter followed her with his eyes intently.

"Lyla, I have to go and don't ask me to stay because I can't and you know why." She glanced one more time at him and swiftly took off for the exit. When she got to the outside, she leaned against a wall and began to sob. She still heard his voice over the speakers and her sadness over took her when she realized that his voice would forever be in her head and in her heart. No matter how hard she tried to erase it.

When Carter went home that night, he laid in bed, looked to the ceiling and thought about Casey like he did for so many nights. He imagined her face when he was on tour and they video chatted, how she supported him throughout it. She was always so positive and when it got hard, she kept him going, telling him that this was his dream and he worked so hard for it. He always asked her to come along, but it was not her dream. He imagined her strolling, no gliding into her room and climbing into bed with him. She would snuggle up with him and he would pull her into his warm embrace. To this point. He would whisper to her words of love and devotion and no matter what he would never do anything to jeopardize their love again. They belonged together. He was hers, and she was his. She was his last thought before sleep over took him and the first thing he thought of when the sun hit his face in the morning. He would be leaving soon but he took solace in the fact that just for one brief moment he got one last look at her beautiful eyes, her beautiful skin, her blonde waves and her face. Her sweetface.

CHAPTER 17

Seeing London

The move for Casey went more smoothly than she ever thought possible. The hardest part was saying goodbye to Lyla and Alexandra. Lyla and Casey promised to video chat every night they could and Casey would be back in the summer for Alex's Birthday. The hug at the airport between them seemed to last forever.

She never had a close relationship with her mother. When Casey called to tell her she was moving to England, Dara's response was

"Oh, Casey, I really did hope you would change professions. Nursing is so thankless but it's your choice so good luck."

Casey wasn't surprised at her reaction but then again growing up she always felt that her mother resented her and her brother because after their dad had left her mother did nothing but work two jobs to support them. She got over it and she expected the reaction Dara had.

"I swear to God, Casey Leigh Colbert, if I don't hear from you at least on your days off, I will fly across that fucking ocean and kick your ass or arse. I think that's what they call it over there, right?" Lyla jokingly said through her tears.

Casey wiped Lyla's tears away from her face.

"I promise, I will. As soon as I get my schedule and I'm settled. You will know my every move. Nikki and Noel will make sure of it. They are meeting me at Heathrow and taking me to my apartment."

"I know. I talked to them the other day."

Casey looked at her surprised. " You did? You didn't tell me that."

Lyla floated past her comment and made light of it. "Oh yea, um we have been talking about things. Your going to be in good hands, Case."

She heard over the speaker that they would now be boarding passengers, so she had to get going. She bent down and picked Alex up out of her stroller and gave her a huge hug and kiss.

"Now Alexandra, you be a good girl for your mama, ok? I'll miss you so much." She kissed her one last time and gave her back to Lyla. They hugged a final farewell.

"Promise to call as soon as you land, ok?"

She looked at her strong, independent friend and smiled. Lyla had been through so much, losing Tommy, being a single mom, now Casey was leaving. She felt blessed to have her but she knew Lyla would be ok. She picked up her carry on bag and waved to them as she walked to her gate.

Three months had gone by and Casey had settled into her new surroundings and her job which she loved. Nursing was a lot different in England than it was in the states. She had a lot of training under her belt. She did have a crazy schedule, and in her spare time, Nikki and Noel would take her to the popular shopping districts such as Oxford Street and Westfield London. Casey's flat was great. It was small but just enough for Casey. It was a quick ride on the tube to work, and the street that her flat was on, was hustling with people going to and from work. She visited Buckingham Palace with them and when she first stepped foot in front of one of the guards you would have thought she was five and the guard was Santa. She just stared and shook her head at the realization that she was there. Her dream was finally her reality.