I’M STARTLED OUT of my slumber by the sound of my phone, and I reach for it blindly. Sure that it could only be one person, I don’t even bother looking at the caller ID before I swipe my thumb to answer the call. Pressing the device to my ear, I mumble, “Lee?”
“Hi, baby.”
Speaking through a smile, I observe, “You made it.”
“Long as fuck flight, but yeah. We’re in Florida.”
“I’m glad.”
“Go back to sleep, baby. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“’Kay,” I agree without protest, already feeling the clutches of sleep pulling me back under. Before I surrender completely, I call out, “Lee?”
“Yeah?”
“I miss you.”
“Yeah. Me, too. Night, Jill.”
“Goodnight, Lee.”
I got a box in the mail today. Know anything about that?
LV: Yeah.
Lee!!!
LV: Don’t open it. Christmas isn’t until next week.
:( That’s not fair.
LV: Can’t argue with the calendar.
No. Not that. I didn’t get you anything. I didn’t know where I could send it.
LV: Don’t want anything.
LV: Except your pussy. Fuck, I want that.
It’s already yours.
LV: Damn right. Not what I meant, though.
I know…
Are you guys still on the road?
LV: Crossed the Ohio border a little while ago.
You have tonight off, right?
LV: That’s the plan. Show’s tomorrow night. A&C laying low tonight.
Call me when you get to the hotel???
LV: Yeah.
K. xoxoxoxo
JS: Are you sure I can’t open it tonight? It’s basically Christmas.
I’m basically a few hours away from you.
JS: Ugh. Point taken.
JS: Low blow, Lee.
In the same boat, baby.
JS: I know.
JS: You aren’t traveling tomorrow, right?
We’ll leave after sundown. Oklahoma City show is two days after.
JS: Right. I can’t believe A&C are spending their first Christmas together on the road.
Doesn’t happen every year, but this is part of the deal.
Besides, I know what he got her for Christmas. She’ll be fine.
JS: What?!?! TELL ME!
Yeah right.
JS: hahaha, please?!?! I won’t tell, I swear.
I trust you won’t. Still not telling. Sure she’ll call you about it.
JS: Fiiiiiiine…
Headed to bed.
JS: Me too. Night, my Lee.
Night, baby.
AS SOON AS I wake up, I jump out of bed and hurry to the small package that’s been sitting on my dresser since the day that it arrived. I don’t bother shaking it, having done that a million times already, always hearing nothing. Ripping open the top flaps, I anxiously peek inside. Sitting in a bed of packing paper is an even smaller box. I pull it out, my stomach fluttering at the prospect of there being jewelry inside, and immediately flip open the lid.
“Oh, my god,” I whisper aloud, tracing my fingertips across the circle silver pendant—the countries of the world raised, giving the piece texture. It isn’t until I take the necklace out of the box that I realize there’s a tiny inscription on the back. I read it over and over, until the tears in my eyes make it too blurry for me to see. Even then, the words are already written on my heart.
Tell me where. We’ll go. – Lee
I’M NOT AT all surprised when my phone starts ringing at seven in the morning, in spite of the fact that it’s only six where she’s calling from. A small smirk tugs at the side of my mouth as I reach for the device, and I answer it without delay.
“You opened it,” I say instead of hello.
My brow furrows when I hear her hiccup, my stomach dropping as it dawns on me that she’s crying.
“Baby? Fuck. What’s wrong?”
“I’m pretty sure this is the second worst Christmas of my life—second only to the first one we spent without mom.”
“What the fuck, Jill?” I mutter, my scowl deepening as my heartrate picks up speed. “What happened?”
She chokes out a little laugh and my worry shifts to confusion before she admits, “It’s starting to hurt really bad. This dull ache of being without you—being able to see you and hear you but not touch you. It’s killing me. Don’t ever think of a career change and join the military, okay?”
Chuckling, I assure her, “Not the plan, baby.”
“Good.” She sucks in a deep breath, blowing it out in a huff before she murmurs, “I love my present. It’s beautiful, Lee.”
“Merry Christmas, Jill.”
JS: It’s FREEZING. Got any Texas heat to spare?
Not really. You wearing something skimpy?
JS: …maybe…
JS: <attachment>
Fuck.
You out with Gloria and Bond?
JS: Hahaha, his name is Sean, Lee. And yes. We just got here.
JS: <attachment>
Be safe.
JS: Of course. xoxo
JS: Tell Britton I said hi!
JS: Mmmm…my man is ringing in the New Year with some of the biggest names in music. I guess if I can’t have him for the occasion, at least I know he’s off somewhere being super cool.
Would rather be with my woman.
JS: My man is at a celebrity house party, and he’d rather be with me…I think you just made me a little wet.
Don’t start.
JS: Hahaha. xoxoxo
Happy New Year, Lee. Saving my kiss for you.
LV: You fucking better.
LV: Text when you get home.
Promise.
CH: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! 18 DAYS!!!!
Eeeep! Happy New Year, babe!
The countdown is SO on!!!!
CH: So excited for you to be with us. Leo is going to be so surprised! It’s going to be awesome. I can’t wait until you see Ashley perform, too! It’s out of this world.
It’ll be the best birthday ever. I’m sure of it.
CH: Love you. Get home safe!
Love you, too, babe!
CH: Hey, Jill—here’s what you need to know for TOMORROW!
CH: A car will be at the airport to pick you up. We’ll already be at the arena, so they’ll bring you straight over. You got your backstage pass, right? I’ll make sure you get in with no trouble. TEXT ME when you get to the arena.
I will, I will, I will!!!! Got my pass. See you so soon!
I’m not going to sleep a wink. I’m too freaking excited.
CH: Something tells me you won’t be getting any sleep for the next few days, hehe.
Sleep is totally overrated ;)
CH: Don’t I know it.
Well, all right, Mrs. Hicks!
CH: ;)