“Do you think Jim will kill me if I tell him I need the next few days off?”
Ethan shrugged. “He hasn’t fired Chuck or Hudson yet. I think you’ll be fine…”
“You have a point,” I said and opened the web browser on my phone to look for the earliest flight possible.
I checked my duffel a few times, making sure I had everything ready. My flight left at seven in the morning, and I didn’t want to take a chance and forget something because I was tired. The ticket hadn’t been as expensive as I thought it would be, but it still took a chunk out of my savings. Wild was more than worth it. Hell, I was worth it. I never did much for myself, and I figured it wasn’t going to kill anybody if I did something just for me. Jim didn’t fire me, didn’t even seem pissed if I was being honest. I suppose he figured he would lose me soon anyway when I moved to Atlanta.
I zipped up the bag and set it on the floor. Momma’s voice floated in through the open bedroom door. I strained to hear her and smiled when I realized she was singing. As quiet as I could, I walked past Jason’s room. His light was off. He had already fallen asleep about an hour ago. Mom was in the kitchen, listening to the radio while she played Solitaire. She usually played Bridge with some of the ladies in town on Wednesday nights, but she hadn’t been keeping up with her friends like she used to lately.
“Want some company?” I asked, as I pulled out a chair and sat down.
“You all packed up?” She placed a card on the table, her attention on the game and not me.
“Just finished…” It was quiet enough between us, I could hear the crickets outside.
“Made some iced tea today while you boys were out.”
Iced tea. Small talk. No eye contact.
This was us now.
We danced around the elephant in the room about as well as a cow in heels.
“Why didn’t you go out tonight?” I asked.
That got her to look at me. The circles under her eyes made her seem older than she was.
“Didn’t feel much like going out.” She let out a long sigh and set down the deck of cards in her hand with a slap. “This isn’t easy for me, Jaxon… but I’m trying. I don’t need those women telling me how to think or feel about my own damn son.”
“You told them?” I asked, not knowing if I should be angry or happy that she wasn’t as embarrassed by me as I’d thought.
“I told Clarice yesterday. She’s never been a gossip.” She spun the ring on her finger. “Guess this was even too juicy for her to keep quiet about.”
I picked at a scratch in the wood of the table. “The whole town knows then?”
“Not the whole town…” She looked at me. “I shouldn’t have said nothing.”
A spark of resentment simmered in my gut. She’d outed me. With the way this town worked, even with Jim in Georgia, he’d find out. Maybe he already had. Probably why he didn’t give a shit that I’d asked for a few days off. When Hudson and Chuck found out, there’d be hell to pay. I was glad I had a ticket out of here tomorrow.
“It’s my business… you had no right.” The flame in my stomach burned out when her chin started to tremor. “Please don’t cry… I didn’t mean to raise my voice.”
She waved me off. “You can raise your voice when it counts, son. I should’ve known better. But that’s the thing… I don’t have anyone in this town to talk to about all of this who won’t have something hateful to say to me.”
“You can talk to me,” I said, my voice wavering. “I know I’ve caused trouble for you, but I’m here. Even if what you’ve got to say might hurt. I’d rather be hurting than have you ignore me all the time.”
“You didn’t cause me trouble, Jax.” She wiped her cheeks. “I just had this vision in my head for my boys… but nothing turned out the way I was hoping. For either of you.”
“Jason might go to that school we talked about... maybe they can help him be more independent. And it might not be who you wanted me to be with, but I’m in love with Wild. I’m happy. Jason is too. Isn’t that enough for you?”
“It’s enough.” She took my hand, her skin soft and thin and the familiar touch settled in my shoulders.
After a few seconds she let go and I couldn’t hear those crickets outside anymore.
“Wanna play Rummy?” she asked.
“I get to deal?”
She started to pick up the cards. “Have I ever told you no?”
I laughed, ready to argue, when my phone rang. “It’s Wild… can I…”
“Go on... I’ll deal the cards while I wait.”
“Thanks…” I stepped into the living room and answered the call. “Hey.”
“God… keep talking… I miss your voice.”
“What do you want me to say?” I asked, smiling like an idiot as I sat on the couch.
I couldn’t wait to have him in my arms tomorrow.
“Anything…” Wild’s voice was muffled.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting into bed, I’m fucking exhausted, and my hand hurts from signing my stupid name…. I need to rethink my signature.”
My shoulders shook as I laughed. “That’s a good thing though… your hand hurting. It means lots of people came to see you.”
The sheets rustled on the other side of the phone, conjuring up thoughts of pale skin and sleepy brown eyes.
“My flight leaves at an ungodly hour tomorrow,” he said.
“Sleep on the plane.”
“I wish… it’s too short of a flight. But it’s first class, I’ll make them bring me a gallon of coffee before we take off.”
“A gallon?” I asked, my smile spreading to my ears at his theatrics.
“Maybe two,” he said as he yawned. “Any news on that job yet?”
“I have an interview in two weeks.”
“Shut up… really?”
“Really… You ready for a permanent roommate?” I asked.
I wanted to get my own place at first, but he refused. Said it would be a waste of money since I’d be in his bed every night anyway. I liked it when he put his foot down and took control.
“No… but I’m ready for my sexy-as-fuck boyfriend to move in with me.”
“What if you can’t write because I’m in your space?”
“Then I’ll go to the coffee shop. I swear I lived there when I wrote Love Always, Wild. I should have had a cot in the back to sleep on, I was there so much. You should be warned… my life is a bit of a hamster wheel… I like small groups of friends and familiar places. According to my therapist, June, it’s because I have abandonment issues and have to have a routine that feels safe.”
“She’s your therapist now?”
“Apparently.”
“Well, lucky for you, I like guys who like small groups of friends and familiar places.”
“I wish you were here,” he said, yawning again. “How many weeks till Thanksgiving?”
I counted in my head. “Six or seven, I think. Wait… Will you be home by Thanksgiving?”