“What’s so funny?” my Aunt Carol asks.
Pulling a mug down, I say, “The three of you—plotting.”
“Wanna be our driver?” she jokes.
“Sorry, ladies. You’re on your own.”
“Are you still heading out this evening?” my mom asks.
“Yeah. Even though the bar’s gonna be dead, I let most of the staff take time off, so I need to be around.”
I take my coffee and go sit with the kids as they watch with excitement when they see a cartoon character they know float by. I sit back on the couch and wonder about her, remembering what Jase told me the other day before I saw how upset she was after talking with her mom.
“Her parents are ass**les to her. They treat her like shit and she doesn’t deserve it.”
I wonder how she’s doing. I wonder how bad her parents really are. I wonder if they’re the reason why she’s so closed off. I wonder why I’m wondering so much, but I can’t shake the fact that I need to know. For some reason, it bothers me, and I can’t let it go.
I pull out my cell and go back and forth on whether or not I should take this jump. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve never done this before. I’ve never wanted to. But now . . . Fuck it, I’m jumping.
Punching out a text, I send it to Mark.
Can you send me Candace’s number?
I sit and wait. No response. I’m hoping he’s busy with his family, and not asking Jase what they should do to keep me away from her. Fuck.
My phone starts vibrating with an incoming call, and when I pick it up, I see it’s Mark. I answer the phone as I step outside.
“Hey.”
“Hey, man. How’s everything going?” he asks.
“Good. You?”
“Really good. Jase is with my mom, cooking, so I wanted to give you a quick call.”
“Okay,” I respond, waiting anxiously for what he has to say.
“I just wanted to lay it out there for you. Jase loves Candace in a way that’s hard to explain. He worries. I do too. She’s had a hard time this school year, and I don’t want to see her get hurt.”
“I’m sure you’ve heard things about me—”
“So you know where I’m coming from,” he interrupts.
“It isn’t like that,” I tell him.
“Good.”
Before we hang up, I get her number and store it into my phone. When I go back inside, I don’t text her. I hold off. Instead I distract myself with the kids. I spend most of the day putting together puzzles and playing dolls with Maddie and Bailey.
After we all eat and I’m lying in my bed, trying to nap off my food coma, I stare at my phone. Looking at the numbers that are my connection with her. It’s a little after six o’clock. The day is nearly over, so I fight against my apprehension and type out my text.
Got your number from Mark. Wanted to see how your Thanksgiving went. –Ryan
Lying there, I stare at the screen, waiting. I start questioning if that move was too bold for this girl. It’s a move I’ve never had to question in the past. My moves have always been pretty blunt, so the fact that I’m worried about a text is unnerving. And then my phone buzzes with her reply.
I think we managed to fall into the universal tradition of holiday drama. : )
That bad?
I respond, naturally wondering what happened.
Kinda. Now I’m home with no food.
She’s already back at her house. She wasn’t supposed to be back for a couple more days, so whatever happened was bad enough that she bailed out early.
“Ryan!” I hear my mom call from downstairs. Setting the phone down, I go to the top of the stairs to see what she wants.
“What’s up?” I call down.
“I need to run out and get some Pepto tablets for Connor. When are you planning on leaving?”
“I’ll just head out now, if that’s okay?”
“It’s never okay,” she teases.
I grab my phone and make my way downstairs. I feel like I’m rushing, saying goodbye to everyone, just so I can text Candace back. But once hugs are exchanged, I walk out with my mom.
“What are the plans for Christmas?” she asks.
“Same as always. I’ll be here on the twenty-third.”
“You drive safe, you hear,” she tells me.
“I hear.”
“Call me so I know you made it okay.”
Nodding my head, I tell her I love her before hopping in my car and pulling out of the driveway. Before I’m even at the main street, I have my phone out and text her back while I sit at the red light.
Sorry, saying bye to everyone. About to head home myself.
Did you have a good time with your family?
Yeah, I did. Ate way too much. Feel like I need to hibernate.
LOL. Drive safe. Is it pouring where you are?
Not too bad. Try and have a good night.
Thanks.
I toss the phone onto the passenger street and drive the four hours that it takes to get home, all the while thinking about her.
Chapter Thirteen
I’m up early and just got off the phone with my mother. They haven’t even made it home yet. They’ve been out shopping all night. It’s almost embarrassing. I find myself rummaging through my kitchen, and something about eating so much yesterday has me craving another heavy meal.
I jump into the shower to get ready and remember what Candace texted me last night.
I’m home with no food.