“Mom has him under control. I don’t know what she did, but he hasn’t been back, and Colin, Chase, and Clark have no clue.”
“Did Trent beat his ass?”
“I’m pretty sure he broke his nose,” I said, cringing.
“Good!” she yelled. “Pack your shit! We’re leaving in twenty minutes.”
I complied, throwing together an overnight bag. We threw our luggage into Raegan’s trunk, and just as she began backing out of the parking lot, my phone chirped. I lifted it and stared at the display.
“What?” Raegan said, her eyes dancing between me and the road. “Is it Trent?”
I shook my head. “T.J. He was hoping I could drop him off at the airport tomorrow.”
Raegan frowned. “Can’t his dad or somebody?”
“I can’t,” I said, tapping my answer into the phone. I dropped it into my lap. “So much could go wrong if I did.”
Raegan patted my knee. “Good girl.”
“I can’t believe he’s in town. He was so sure he wouldn’t be able to come home for Thanksgiving.”
My phone chirped again. I looked down.
“What does it say?” Raegan asked.
“ ‘I know what you’re thinking, but I didn’t know until a couple of days ago that I would be home,’ ” I said, reading his text aloud.
Raegan’s eyes narrowed as she watched me tap out a short response. “I’m confused.”
“I don’t know what Eakins has to do with his work, either, but it’s probably the truth.”
“What makes you say that?” she asked.
“Because he wouldn’t be coming here otherwise.”
When we got to Raegan’s, her parents were surprised but happy to see me and welcomed me with open arms. I sat on the navy-blue kitchen counter, listening to Sarah tease Raegan about how hard it was to break her from her blankie, and listening to Raegan tell stories about Bo, her dad. Their home was decorated in red, white, and blue, American flags, and stars. Black-and-white pictures were framed on the walls, telling stories of Bo’s naval career.
Raegan and her parents waved good-bye as I left for my shift. The Red Door’s parking lot was more concrete than cars, and the small crowd didn’t stay long. I was glad I was the only bartender. I barely had enough tips to make the night worth it.
Trenton texted me a half dozen times, still asking me to come over. They were playing dominoes and then watching a movie. I imagined what it would be like to be snuggled on their dad’s couch with Trenton, and was a little jealous of Abby that she got to spend time with the Maddoxes. Part of me wanted to be there more than anything.
When I checked my messages just after close, I saw that Trenton had texted with news that Travis and Abby had called it quits. Just when I didn’t think I could take one more disappointment, my phone rang, and Trenton’s name appeared in the display.
“Hello?” I answered.
“I feel terrible,” he said, quiet. He sounded terrible, too. “I don’t think I can slip out of here tonight. Travis is in pretty bad shape.”
I swallowed back the lump forming in my throat. “It’s okay.”
“No. It’s a lot of things, but it’s definitely not okay.”
I tried to smile, hoping it would carry over into my voice. “You can make it up to me tomorrow.”
“I’m so sorry, Cami. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll see me tomorrow.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow. I promise.”
After we locked up, Kody walked me to my car. Our breath glowed white under the security lights.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Cami,” Kody said, hugging me.
I wrapped my arms around his large frame as best I could. “Happy Thanksgiving, buddy.”
“Tell Raegan, too.”
“I will.”
Kody began texting the moment he walked away.
“I assume that’s not Ray,” I said.
“Nope,” he called back. “It’s Trenton. He wanted me to text him after I dropped you off at your Jeep.”
I smiled as I hopped up into the driver’s seat, wishing I was on my way to see him.
When I got back to Bo and Sarah’s, the windows were glowing. They had all waited up for me. I hopped down out of the Jeep and slammed the door. I’d nearly made it to the front door when a car pulled up to the curb. I froze. It wasn’t a car I recognized.
T.J. stepped out.
“Oh, God,” I said, puffing out the breath I’d been holding. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“Jumpy?”
I shrugged. “A little. How did you know where I was?”
“I’m pretty good at finding people.”
I nodded once. “That you are.”
T.J.’s eyes softened. “I can’t stay long. I just wanted to . . . I don’t really know why I’m here. I just needed to see you.” When I didn’t respond, he continued. “I’ve been thinking about us a lot. Some days I think we can make it work, but then I put those thoughts away when reality sets in.”
I furrowed my brow. “What do you want from me, T.J.?”
“You want the honest truth?” he asked. I nodded, and he continued, “I’m a selfish bastard, and want you all to myself . . . even though I know I don’t have time to spend with you. I don’t want you with him. I don’t want you with anyone. I’m trying to be an adult about this, but I’m sick of holding everything in, Cami. I’m sick of being the bigger person. Maybe if you moved to California? I don’t know.”
“We wouldn’t see each other even then. Look at the last weekend I spent there. I’m not your priority.” He didn’t argue. He didn’t respond at all. But I needed to hear him say it. “I’m not, am I?”
He lifted his chin, the softness in his eyes disappeared. “No, you’re not. You never have been, and you know that. But that’s not because I don’t love you. It just is what it is.”
I sighed. “Remember when I came to California, and I mentioned that feeling that doesn’t go away? It just did.”
T.J. nodded, his eyes floating around as he processed my words. He reached for me, kissed the corner of my mouth, and then walked back to his car, driving away. As the taillights disappeared when he turned the corner, I waited for a feeling of emptiness, or tears, or something to hurt. Nothing happened. It was possible that it just hadn’t hit me, yet. Or maybe I hadn’t been in love with him for a long time. Maybe I was falling in love with someone else.