“Great. Whit found her dress and then Kinley, Jamie, and I all got ours as well. It was actually pretty easy.”
“Whit’s never been one for all the frill,” Mom says.
“No, she hasn’t. The three of us got matching dresses, and unbelievably we agreed unanimously. After that, we just spent the day shopping for us. It was fun.”
We spend a little more time talking and just catching up. I love these dinners. We were raised on the idea that family is important, and I enjoy spending time with mine. Liv, David, and I clean up while Mom and Dad head to the living room. Checking my phone, it’s a little after seven and still nothing from Jamie. It’s a six-hour drive, but she should’ve been home by now. Especially if she only made the one stop.
“Maybe she hit traffic,” Liv says when she sees me check yet again.
“Maybe.” I frown at the phone in my hands. The next hour drags as I keep it in my hand, fighting the urge to look for a message that I know is not there. “I think I’m going to head out.” I stand and stretch. “Thanks for dinner.” I lean down and kiss Mom on the cheek, then offer my dad my hand for a firm shake.
“You want leftovers?” Mom asks.
“Nah, I’m good. Thanks though.”
I say a quick goodbye to my sister and David, then head for home, driving the entire way with one hand, keeping my phone in the other. Once inside, I go straight to my room and lie down on my bed. Her scent surrounds me. It’s hard to believe it was only earlier today that she was sleeping next to me. Seems like so long ago already.
I light up my screen to check for a message at the same time it pings.
Jamie: I’m home.
Finally. I hit Reply, then decide I’m going to call her instead. Without giving it another thought, I tap her name and place the phone next to my ear. She picks up on the first ring.
“Hey,” I say, clearing my throat.
“Hi,” she says softly.
“You run into traffic?” I ask.
“Yeah, just right outside of town. I didn’t think I would ever get home.”
Me either. “Glad you’re okay,” I say honestly. I’ll keep it to myself that I was really starting to worry about her.
“All is good. Hey, let me call Whit real fast. I told her I would. I texted you first and don’t want her to worry.”
“Okay. Talk to you in a few.”
We say a quick goodbye and suddenly all is right again. Not just because she’s okay, but she told me first. Childish, I know, but it makes me smile nonetheless.
I hang up and take a deep breath. He sounded concerned and then relieved that everything went okay with the drive. I do have to call Whit, but I could just as easily have sent her a text while talking to him on speakerphone. I need the time to wrap my head around this. Him.
He called me.
“Hey,” Whit says on the first ring. “You just getting home? I was starting to get worried.”
“You’re not the only one, apparently,” I mumble before I can stop myself.
“What?”
“Mike told me to text him when I got home. I did and he just called me.”
“That’s a bad thing because…?”
I take a breath. “It’s not, I guess. I just… I’m not used to guys like him. He’s a lot to take on,” I confess.
“Are you taking him on?” she asks seriously.
“I-I don’t know.”