Kenzie
Another week of school is just about over. Today I introduced the kids to Genius Hour, and they absolutely loved it. I gave them time to do research in books as well as on the classroom laptops. They did an amazing job. We only have three laptops for the entire class, and they were great about sharing them. I feel like this is going to be a great year. I finish picking up a few things around my classroom, ensuring it’s ready for Monday morning, then I grab my bag and head for the door.
Though I haven’t actually spoken to Remy this week, he has left me a bunch of surprises. He’s been leaving things like cards, notes, flowers, and bears to let me know that he’s thinking about me and not giving up. I’ve only managed to send him text messages thanking him for the things he’s left me, and I usually get a smiley face back. I almost can’t wait to get home to see what I find today.
I climb into my car to drive home, and when I pull up, as usual, there are flowers on my porch. This guy is amazing. I decided yesterday that today was the day we were going to talk. I’m calling him tonight to see if he’s free either tonight or this weekend. I miss him, and I need to stop this fear I have and give this a real chance. I bend down to pick up the flowers to see a handwritten note with them. I quickly open it, but when I do I’m shocked into silence. This isn’t like the other notes he’s left me.
Kenzie,
I have been so torn over how to handle this situation. I’ve wanted to call you all day, but didn’t think it was appropriate since you were at work. Trust me when I tell you this is not any easier to say on paper than face-to-face. I’ve been called up for a mission, and I leave this evening. As I’m sure you realize, I cannot give you any details as to where I’m going, and unfortunately, I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. I have a feeling this particular situation was what you had been fearing this entire time. I’m sorry you have to face it now, but this is my job, and though I care a great deal about you, I also love what I do.
Please keep me in your thoughts, as I’m sure you will be in mine.
Xoxo
Remy
Tears streaming down my face, I run back to my car and jump into the driver’s seat and take off toward his parents’ house. As soon as the car’s in park, I run up the steps to the Bennetts’ house. I have to tell him that I care about him too, and that I’ll wait for him. I don’t want him leaving worried about us.
As soon as Mrs. Bennett opens the door, her saddened face tells me what I fear. I missed him. I begin to sob, and she wraps her arms around me trying to comfort me. “I screwed up,” I tell her through my tears. “I waited too long to tell him that I care too, and now he’s gone.”
“Oh, you sweet girl, he knows you care about him.”
“I wish he would have called me. I know it wouldn’t have been a pleasant way to finish my day, but at least I could hear his voice one last time.” I wipe my eyes.
“Please know Remy had the best intentions when he left you without calling, dear. He was a mess with panic and fear at leaving without talking to you. He truly adores you, Kenzie.”
I pull away, wiping the remaining tears from my eyes.
“And I adore him. I just hope I get the chance to tell him.” I thank her for comforting me, and I head home to figure out my next step. I walk through the door sad and disappointed, and of all nights, it’s a night I don’t need to be at Nana’s, where I can occupy my mind. I plop down on the couch, noticing his little notes on the end table.
Kenzie,
These flowers are nowhere near as beautiful as you are. Hope you’re having a great day.
Remy
Kenzie,
I hope you know that I’m not giving up. You told me you missed me and you needed time, so time is what I’ll give you.
Xoxo
Remy
Kenzie,
I miss the taste of your sweet lips pressed against mine. I hope you’ll come back to me soon. I want to help you get over your fears.
Xoxo
Remy
I press them to my chest and smile as I think about his handsome face. My phone buzzes, scaring me. I jump to check it, and there’s a picture of him with a message below it. I begin to cry all over again.
Remy: I’m sending this because I’m sure you’re done with class for the day. I’m sorry I had to leave the way I did, but I had no choice. I’m thinking about you, and all though this is probably the last message you’ll get from me for a while, I will return to you. That’s a promise.
There’s a selfie attached of him in his uniform with a huge smile on his face. I respond instantly.
Kenzie: I miss you already. Please come back to me.
I stare at the phone hoping for a response, but I get nothing back, so I sit with my phone and the notes pressed to my chest as I cry. Why didn’t I tell him how I felt sooner?
I stand to make myself something to eat while I watch a movie, when there’s a knock at the door. I look to see Lilly standing there with a look of concern on her face.
I open it. She walks straight to me with her arms out. “Keaton told me,” she says, answering my silent question of how she already knew. “Is there anything I can do?” I shake my head. “Want to watch a movie and order pizza?”
I sniffle. “Sure, I was just about to make something for dinner.”
She calls and orders the pizza as I pull two beers from the fridge. When she hangs up the phone, she says, “It’ll be here shortly.”
“Thanks,” I tell her, taking a seat on the couch. “Keaton wanted me to tell you that if you need anything while Remy is gone, just reach out to him and he’ll be over to take care of it.”
I give her a small smile. “Tell him I said thanks.”
“Did you get to talk to him at all?”
I shake my head. “I was about to call him to see if we could get together, but I got the flowers that he left on the porch. When I saw the note, I rushed straight over hoping to catch him before he left, but I was too late.” I grab my phone. “He sent me this.” I show her the picture and message he sent me.
“That’s sweet. He really is a cutie. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett make some good-looking kids.” We both begin to chuckle.
I nod. “I really like him a lot. Actually, I think I’ve fallen for him. It’s not like me to fall this hard or fast, but I can’t help it. There’s something about him,” I say with a smile.
Lilly gives me a small smile back. “I know what you mean. I’m being really cautious with Keaton, but I really like him too.”
I take a deep breath, pulling a tissue from the box on my side to dab at my tears, and turn on the TV. “What should we watch tonight?”
I start scrolling through the movies when Lilly says, “Let’s start with one of those comedy specials we love to watch.”
“Oh yeah, good idea.” I pick one and get it started. Lilly and I used to spend all night watching these shows, laughing until our cheeks hurt and our eyelids were heavy. It was one of the things Daniel and I actually had in common too. He and I enjoyed watching them as well, and we actually went to a few live shows together.
We’re both laughing when there’s a knock on the door. Lilly and I jump up to see a pizza guy standing on the porch. He’s a young kid who looks bored with his job. Lilly hands me the two pizzas and signs the slip. We make our plates and hurry back into the living room with fresh beers in our hand to watch the remainder of the comedy show. We’ve already decided which one we’re watching next.
The first comedy show is coming to an end when there’s another knock on my door. I jump up from the couch, and I can see from across the room that Daniel is standing at the door. Looking down at Lilly, I say, “I’ll be right back.”
“Hey,” I say to Daniel.
“Hey, I just wanted to come by and check on you.”
“Why do you need to check on me?” I ask, confused.
“I heard someone at the store talking about Remy having to deploy. I felt bad that he had to just up and leave.” Tears are forming in my eyes, but I’m fighting them back. I don’t want him to see me upset, but they betray me as one slips down my cheek. He opens the door, steps inside, and wraps me in a hug. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I welcome the gesture and wrap my arms around him. He rubs my back and tells me it’ll be okay.
I pull away to find Lilly walking into the kitchen. “Lilly, you remember my ex, Daniel, right?” She instantly gives him a dirty look, placing her hands on her hips. Yup, she remembers him.
She looks him up and down. “What do you want?”
He puts his hands up in surrender. “I just wanted to check on her. I heard about Remy leaving.”
She narrows her eyes at him. “Well, she’s fine. I’m here with her, and she has plenty of people to help her through this, so you can take your happy ass back up north where you belong.”
He sighs, but before he can say anything, I tell her I’ll be back with her in a minute. She gives him one last dirty look, and takes off for the living room.
“Listen, can I take you to dinner this week? I just want to talk.” He lowers his voice so Lilly won’t hear him. I rub my forehead, not knowing what to do. “Please, just hear me out,” he begs.
“Fine, but it’ll have to be Friday because I’m spending most of the week dealing with class stuff, or visiting with Nana.”
“Friday night it is. I’ll pick you up at six?”
“I’ll meet you at the diner up the street at six.”
He looks like he wants to argue, but when I raise my brows in a questioning look he gives up and says, “Thanks, I’ll see you there. If you need anything before then, my number’s still the same.” He turns to walk out the door without waiting for a response. I close my eyes for a second, wondering what the hell I’m thinking. He’s going to think this is a date, and it’s far from it. I shake it off and hurry back to the living room, where I find Lilly tapping her foot with her hands on her hips.
“What?”
“Did you agree to dinner with that prick?”
“Yes, he asked me to hear him out, so that’s what I’m going to do and then I’m going to send him packing, at least then I can say I listened.”
Her expression softens. “Okay, but don’t fall for his bullshit lines. He only came here tonight because he knows you’ll be vulnerable.”
“Let’s not talk about it. We have more beer in the fridge and another show to watch.”
She smiles. “I’ll put on the next show, and you get the beer,”
I smile back at my best friend. “Deal, be right back.”
I come back with another round of beer, and we both get comfortable on the couch for some more comedy. In that moment, I realize just how lucky I am to have a friend like Lilly; someone I can count on to be there for me when I need it.