No matter what, she couldn’t say she wasn’t at least fond of Eli. They’d come to a quiet understanding about each other, it seemed, and Sarah didn’t want that to go away because of an ex-girlfriend who clearly didn’t understand the “ex” part of that statement.
She still wasn’t quite sure what had happened between the two of them to break them up in the first place and certainly didn’t understand what had happened last night, but Eli’s quiet utterance of thanks as they’d pulled away from the 4H building had been enough to tell Sarah she had done the right thing.
Scooping Eli into a hug and running her fingers through her hair in a soothing manner had been a very pervasive thought in her mind. Sarah shook her head as she sighed. She had one week left atIndigo, and she couldn’t go dreaming up fantasies with cowgirls she’d never see again, although it certainly was fun to dream, something she had been doing quite often since she’d arrived.
It was near one o’clock when she’d finished a small lunch and headed upstairs for her guitar. She needed to do something with her hands, and as much as she wanted to go out into the fields and find Eli, she was pretty sure Eli wanted the time to herself.
With her guitar in hand, her notebook of chicken scratches next to her on the couch cushion, and her hair pulled back into a haphazard pony that barely held it anymore without strands falling out, she went to work on finishing her song.
Sarah lost herself in her music, like she did most anytime she was creating something. When she hit the last chord on her guitar and her voice echoed through the den, a tear dripped down her cheek. She knew she’d hit it perfectly. Everything about the song was on point, at least for now.
Wiping her hand across her cheeks and pressing her fingers on the bridge of her nose, Sarah let out a shuddering breath. It would be perfect when they could add in everything else—piano, perhaps some stringed instruments. She’d work on writing that music later. Until then, she was satisfied with what she had.
Taking the risk, Sarah reached for her phone and called Kara. She knew Kara had a flexible work schedule, which often meant she was available to take calls at random times of the day, but she also never knew when Kara would be with a client. Luckily, Kara picked up on the first ring.
“You’ve been quiet.”
Sarah snorted. “Not a whole lot to do out here, you know. Not to mention, there isn’t very good cell phone service either.”
“So it was a good choice then.”
“Yes, yes, I think it was.”
Kara paused. “You seem lost.”
Nodding, Sarah curled her feet up under her on the couch as she leaned into the arm and stared out the window, wishing she would see Eli’s old farm truck coming up the road. “A bit, yes. It’s been a busy few days.”
“Tell me all about it.”
“You’ve got time?”
“For you? Always.”
That made Sarah smile. Kara was always there for her, no matter what. Rubbing her hand along her thigh, her fingertips brushing over the skinny jeans she loved to wear, Sarah wasn’t quite sure where to start. Once again, the image of Eli and Bridget entered her mind unbidden, but she pushed it away, knowing if she did share about that, Kara would think something else was going on.
“I learned to drive a stick shift.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, I’m not. By the way, I have no desire to ever own one. That is way too complicated.”
“Yeah, but you’re one step closer to riding bikes with us now that you at least understand the concept of a clutch.”
Sarah smiled. “Maybe someday I will let you teach me how to ride a motorcycle.”
“Not someday, Sarah. When you get back. Come on, it’ll be fun.”
“I’m leaving almost immediately after I return.”
“Then we’ll make the time.”
“Yeah.” The faraway tone was back in her voice, she knew. Her derailing of the conversation had only taken her so far because no matter what she did or how she tried to distract herself, she could not get Eli off her mind, and she wondered briefly what she was doing out in the fields that day.
“Have you done any writing?”
“Oh, a bit. I wrote a song about a cow.”
“About Buddy?”