“I am so sorry, Caroline,” Jackson told her. She didn’t respond right away, but he could hear her breathe.
“Who was that?” she asked.
“That was my roommate, Tommy. I’ve known him since we were kids. He can be a real jerk,” Jackson explained.
“I feel like such an idiot right now,” Caroline admitted.
“No, Caroline. Please. It’s Tommy. He’s the idiot, not you. Don’t listen to him,” Jackson pleaded. “He’s a love-hater.”
The phrase “love-hater” coming out of Jackson’s mouth made Caroline burst out into laughter. “So, who else do you live with?”
Jackson was thankful she seemed less upset. “Alex. I’ve known him since I was a kid also.”
“Is he a love-hater too?” Caroline asked through her laughter.
Jackson laughed. “Nah. He’s a love-lover, for sure.”
Caroline continued to laugh and then stopped abruptly. “Oh! I keep meaning to ask you if you have a Facebook page?”
“I don’t,” Jackson responded.
“Seriously?” she asked with surprise. “Even my parents have them!”
“Well, they are clearly cooler than I am,” he laughed. “But it’s not really my kind of thing.”
“Why not?”
“I guess I’d rather keep in touch with people the old-fashioned way. You know, either in person or on the phone.”
“I get it.” Caroline sounded disappointed.
Jackson added, “Plus, that site seems to breed a lot of drama. I hear Tommy and Alex talking about it all the time. Who needs that?”
Caroline nodded her head in agreement. “That is totally true.”
“You’ll just have to settle with talking to me on the phone, through email, and text messages. Think you can handle it?”
“I guess we’ll see.”
Jackson stifled a yawn.
“Oh sorry. Am I boring you?” Caroline teased.
“Tremendously,” he responded. “I hate to say it, but I really need to get some sleep or I’ll pay for it in the morning.”
“This time difference thing sort of sucks,” she moped.
“Goodnight, Caroline. Sweet dreams.”
“You too,” she whispered softly. “’Night.”
Jackson leaned his head into his pillow and as he fell asleep, Caroline consumed his every thought.
****
Caroline hadn’t intended to keep in touch with Jackson on a daily basis, but with Clay working most nights, it m
ade talking to him easy. The time difference didn’t hurt either. By the time Caroline got in from work, Jackson had long been home, studying or relaxing.