Cole: Let her know.
Keith: Will do.
Cole makes his way into the living room where Abigail is nursing a cup of tea. She’s been battling a nasty cold and hasn’t been able to sleep very well.
She gives him a warm smile. “Come sit with me, honey.” She pats the seat next to her, and he does without a second thought. “You look stressed. Tell Aunt Abby what’s going on in that handsome head of yours.”
He smiles at the words she has used for as long as he can remember. “I think I may have pushed when I shouldn’t have,” he admits, letting out a long sigh. “We spent the night together, and in the morning, I pushed too hard, saying she should come back.” He shrugs, feeling lost. “I know I made it seem like it would be easier for everyone if she did, and I wasn’t thinking about how much she’s accomplished since she left. Savi kicked me out, Abigail, and gave me back the phone with all of our contacts in it.”
“Well, that explains the radio silence.” Abigail sips her tea.
He runs his hand along his neck. “She’s so stubborn, and I love that, but…” He can’t finish the sentence.
“What if she moves on to someone else?” she asks, finishing his question. He nods, as a shot to his stomach has him in discomfort. “Cole, you know Savannah only has eyes for you, but she needs some time to breathe without someone dictating her every move. Let her walk a little on her own, then she’ll run back to you. I promise.”
“How do you know?”
She sits her teacup on her saucer and takes his hand in hers. “Because I’ve been on this earth a lot longer than you, and I know true love when I see it. You’re lucky enough to have found it this early in life. Most of us wait a lifetime or never find it. Give her space, honey. She loves you. Never doubt that.”
“All right.” He leans back and lets out a long sigh and watches the fire, trying to convince himself that Abby knows best. She usually does.
Savannah
I open my door to find Keith sitting on my couch and staring at his phone, and it makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. He stands, and I know something isn’t right.
“Sit, Savi.” He nods to the chair, and I do. “You leave tomorrow morning for Washington. Pack enough for three days, and I’ll pick you up at seven a.m.” He heads for the door. “I’ll see you then.”
“Umm, okay,” I whisper, feeling the layer of ice that has formed over our friendship.
He starts to leave but stops. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine,” I lie, reluctant to draw on my earlier fight with Cole. He closes the door behind him, leaving me reeling with the thought of seeing The American again.
Sleep doesn’t happen if it was ever even a possibility. I’m running on thirty minutes per night. Once, Jake spent the night after drinking too much, and I managed to get in a solid four hours. It’s just not the same as being wrapped in Cole’s safety net.
At six, I’m packed and out the door, tired of staring at the living room wall. Yes, my place seems homier since Jake helped me decorate, but one could go crazy with how much I’m staring at it. I slip a note under Jake’s door letting him know I’ll be gone for a few days and to help himself to my coffee. We exchanged keys a few days ago.
I take the elevator because I have time and find myself a chair in the lobby. The man behind the desk gives me a nod before going back to playing something on his phone. I count how many times the heater kicks in, how many tiles are on the floor and ceiling, and how many times the man at the desk glances my way. After sitting for forty-five minutes, I can’t take any more. Needing to do something, I open my phone to the only two numbers saved, Jake and Sue, and press call on the second name.
“Savannah?” Sue asks, puzzled. She has a right to be. I haven’t spoken to her in over a week, and no doubt she’s heard about my blow-up with Cole. I’m not trying to be distant with her; I just find it easier to pull away from everyone at the house altogether.
“Hi, Sue. Did I wake you?”
She gives a little laugh. “No, I’ve been up for some time. You know how I love the mornings.” She pauses. “Is everything all right, dear?”
No.“Yes, I’m…”Lost, tired, scared about my trip.“I just wanted to see how you are.”
“I’m fine. I’ve just been battling the snow like everyone this winter. How are you holding up?”
“Fine,” I answer too quickly.
I hear her seat creak. “Okay, so we played the pleasant, do you want to tell me why you’re really calling?”
“I’m scared,” I confess.
“About? Your trip?”
I close my eyes. Of course she knows about Washington. “Yes, and then some.”