Tossing my phone to the side, I decide it’s time to get my ass in gear. I need to shower, grab something to eat, and get to the bar. I’ll need to get the deposit ready for the bank tomorrow and look over the inventory. That’s something I do twice a week, which prevents having to keep a lot of money in inventory and not really knowing what I’m going to need. I place an order twice a week with my supplier, who luckily for me has next day delivery.
I park behind the bar next to Olivia’s car, unsure whether she’s here or left it here last night. Grabbing my phone, I check for messages. Nothing yet from Jamie. She’s been on the road for about two hours now. I would’ve thought I would’ve heard something from her.
I’m not going to text her while she’s driving—not yet, anyway. I’ll give her a little more time.
Unlocking the back door, I hear music as soon as I step inside. I assume that means Olivia is here, but I’m still cautious as I walk through the empty room toward the back office and inventory room. I find her sitting at the desk, bobbing her head to the music, what I assume is last night’s deposit laid out in front of her.
“Hey.” She grins. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” I say, taking off my coat and laying it on the chair.
“I heard you had a late night. David is helping his dad with something, so I decided to give my big brother a hand.”
I groan. “News travels fast in this town.”
“Whit was just excited. She’s really rooting for the two of you. We all are.”
“Explain to me how it could work.” It’s a question I’ve asked myself a million times since I dropped her off this morning.
She shrugs. “That’s not up to us.”
“My life is here, Liv. Our business is here.”
“It is, and hers is in Chicago. The question is where is your heart?”
“Heart? Jesus, Liv, I’m not in love with her.”
“Not yet.” She grins.
“Okay, old wise one. How exactly am I going to fall in love with her when she’s six hours away?”
She shrugs again. “That’s all you, big brother, but it’s going to happen.”
“All right, crazy girl. How was last night?” I point to the money laid out on the desk, changing the subject.
“Good. An average Saturday night. And to think, you weren’t here,” she gasps dramatically.
“You got them jokes,” I say, sitting in the chair across from the desk.
She grins. “So when are you seeing her again?”
I check my phone for messages and nothing. “I don’t know. The wedding, I guess.”
“Did you all not talk about it?”
“No.”
“Michael Alan Wallace, you slept with her and just let her leave like it was nothing?”
“Whoa, hold up.” I hold my hands in the air. “I didn’t sleep with her.”
“She spent the night at your house.”
“She did. She slept in my bed next to me, but I didn’t have sex with her,” I grumble.
“Interesting,” she says, leaning back in her chair.
Before I can ask her why in the hell she finds that interesting, my phone pings with a message.
Jamie: Stopping for a bathroom break and snacks. A road trip is nothing without snacks.
I smile.
“Is that her?”
I don’t answer her as I type out a reply.
“It is. She’s texting you. You know she really shouldn’t text and drive.”
“She’s not. She’s at a gas station, bathroom break,” I say, going back to my message.
Me: I agree. What’s your favorite?
I keep my phone in my hand before giving my attention back to my sister. She’s grinning like a fool.
“So what’s she saying?”
“Nothing, I just… fuck, Liv, why do you have to be so damn nosey?”
“It’s my job as your little sister, so spill.”
“I told her to check in, okay? It’s a long drive for her to be doing on her own.”
“Aw, you’re worried about her.”
“I just… she’s a beautiful woman driving six hours on her own. It makes sense to have her check in.”
“And what happens if she doesn’t?”
A million different scenarios of why she wouldn’t, of what could prevent her from checking in, invade my mind and my chest gets tight. “I go look for her.”
Liv claps her hands. “This is better than I thought.”
“What are you going on about?” I ask when my phone pings again.
Jamie: Combos. The pizza-flavored pretzel ones. You?
Me: Beef jerky. A road trip must.
Jamie: I can honestly say I’ve never tried beef jerky.
Me: What? How is that possible?
Jamie: Just not something I’ve ever tried.
Me: We must fix this. Next time I see you, you’re eating some jerky.
“Earth to Mike,” Liv says, waving her hands in the air.
“What?” I ask, reluctantly pulling my attention from Jamie.
“You, that’s what. You like her.”
“Of course I like her. What’s not to like?”
“It’s more than that.”
I shrug. “We’ll never really know since she lives six hours away. My life is here, my roots. Hers are in Chicago. We’re at an impasse.”
“Did you discuss it?”
“Fuck! No, we didn’t discuss it. We hung out, talked, got to know each other a little. Fell asleep and now she’s on her way back home. End of.” I stand from the chair. “I’m going to start on inventory.” I grab my clipboard and head to the stock room, leaving my sister and her interference behind.
My phone pings.
Jamie: I can’t wait. Getting back on the road. Check in later.
Me: Be safe.
I shove my phone back in my pocket and get busy. I take my time going through items that I already know we both need and don’t need, not wanting to deal with Olivia and her questions. I know she’s coming from a good place, but it’s pointless. Jamie and I are from two different worlds. She’s not going to move here, and I won’t leave Kentucky. This is home. I’ve never been that guy, the one who wants to get out of town, see what else is out there. I’m good here; small-town living is who I am.
“Hey,” Liv says from behind me. “I finished the deposit—it’s in the safe. I also did a walk-through, and the closing staff did good. Everything’s done.”
“Thanks.”
“Mike,” she says softly. With a sigh, I turn to face her. “I’m sorry, I just want to see you happy. You deserve that. You work so much; I worry about you.”
Now I feel like a dick. Tossing the clipboard on a stack of boxes, I hold out my arms. She doesn’t hesitate to step into a hug. “Love you, little sister, but I can handle my love life.”
“I know.” She sniffs. “I’m just really happy, you know? David is so good to me, and I want that for you.”
“It’ll happen. I’m in no rush to settle down.”
“Love you too,” she mumbles before pulling away. “You need help with anything else?”
“Nah, I got it. Thanks for helping out though. I’d like to see more of that.” I wink at her.
“Yeah, yeah, I guess I deserve that after prying earlier.”
“Glad you see things my way,” I laugh.
“You going to be at Mom and Dad’s tonight for dinner?”
“Yeah. Six, right?”
“Yep. I’ll see you later.”
Inventory done, I head to my office and start up my laptop, then spend the next hour placing online orders with our vendors. With nothing left to do, I lock up and head home. I have a few hours before I have to be at my parents’ and I’m restless, so I do a load of laundry before settling on the couch to watch some TV.
As I flip through the channels, I wonder what Jamie’s favorite movie is. I make a mental note to ask her. I settle for The Fast and The Furious, the first one, keeping my phone in one hand, the remote in the other. The movie ends and I still haven’t heard from her again. Debating whether or not I should text her, I decide against it. I don’t want her to text and drive. Instead, I grab my keys and head to my parents’ early.
“What a nice surprise,” Mom says as I enter the back door into the kitchen.
“Hey, Momma.” I lean in and give her a quick hug. “Liv came in this morning and helped out, so I was done early,” I tell her. It’s a complete lie.
“Sounds like you’re wearing her down, son,” Dad says, joining us.
I laugh. “Maybe. I think she was more interested in being nosey, but we can go with your theory.”
“Nosey?” Mom asks. I knew she would.
“Yeah, Jamie came into town this weekend. She and I hung out last night when the girls got back from dress shopping.” I purposely keep my answer vague.
“How is she?” Mom asks. I know she wants to know more, but unlike my sister, she doesn’t pry.
“Good. She left a few hours ago to head back home.”
“That why you keep looking at your phone?” Dad laughs.
“I’m not,” I defend. “I know I did when I first sat down, but….”
“You are,” he counters.
“She’s supposed to text me when she gets there. It’s a long drive for a beautiful woman to be making on her own.”
“I agree. Glad you’re looking out for her.”
“Oh he’s looking out all right,” Liv says, entering the room.” David chuckles from his spot behind her.
“Hush, you,” Mom admonishes, opening her arms for a hug.
“Are Whit and Aaron coming?” I ask, partly to change the subject and partly because all I need is both Liv and Whit ganging up on me.
“No, they’re watching the kids for Evan and Kinley,” Olivia explains.
I check my phone again—still nothing.
“You heard from her yet?”
“Not since about two.”
“She’s probably just wrapping it up. If that’s the case she’ll call soon,” she assures me.
I know that, but it’s Liv’s fault that I’m obsessing over this in the first place. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. She put the “what could happen” scenario reel in my head.
I let my family distract me as I keep my phone in my hand, waiting for it to vibrate.
“Well, we’re all here, so we might as well eat. It’s ready,” Mom says, pointing toward the big pan of chicken and dumplings on the stove.
We all make our plates and settle around the table to eat. Mom and Dad talk about remodeling the guest bathroom.
“That’s what I spent the day helping Dad with, only it was the master bath. Let me know if you need any help,” David tells my Dad.
“I just might take you up on that,” Dad says.
“What about you?” Mom asks Liv.
“After I left the bar, I went home and did some laundry. Nothing exciting.”
She passes over me, as I’ve already told them about my day.
“How did shopping go yesterday?” Mom asks.
“Great. Whit found her dress and then Kinley, Jamie, and I all got ours as well. It was actually pretty easy.”
“Whit’s never been one for all the frill,” Mom says.
“No, she hasn’t. The three of us got matching dresses, and unbelievably we agreed unanimously. After that, we just spent the day shopping for us. It was fun.”
We spend a little more time talking and just catching up. I love these dinners. We were raised on the idea that family is important, and I enjoy spending time with mine. Liv, David, and I clean up while Mom and Dad head to the living room. Checking my phone, it’s a little after seven and still nothing from Jamie. It’s a six-hour drive, but she should’ve been home by now. Especially if she only made the one stop.
“Maybe she hit traffic,” Liv says when she sees me check yet again.
“Maybe.” I frown at the phone in my hands. The next hour drags as I keep it in my hand, fighting the urge to look for a message that I know is not there. “I think I’m going to head out.” I stand and stretch. “Thanks for dinner.” I lean down and kiss Mom on the cheek, then offer my dad my hand for a firm shake.
“You want leftovers?” Mom asks.
“Nah, I’m good. Thanks though.”
I say a quick goodbye to my sister and David, then head for home, driving the entire way with one hand, keeping my phone in the other. Once inside, I go straight to my room and lie down on my bed. Her scent surrounds me. It’s hard to believe it was only earlier today that she was sleeping next to me. Seems like so long ago already.
I light up my screen to check for a message at the same time it pings.
Jamie: I’m home.
Finally. I hit Reply, then decide I’m going to call her instead. Without giving it another thought, I tap her name and place the phone next to my ear. She picks up on the first ring.
“Hey,” I say, clearing my throat.
“Hi,” she says softly.
“You run into traffic?” I ask.
“Yeah, just right outside of town. I didn’t think I would ever get home.”
Me either. “Glad you’re okay,” I say honestly. I’ll keep it to myself that I was really starting to worry about her.
“All is good. Hey, let me call Whit real fast. I told her I would. I texted you first and don’t want her to worry.”
“Okay. Talk to you in a few.”
We say a quick goodbye and suddenly all is right again. Not just because she’s okay, but she told me first. Childish, I know, but it makes me smile nonetheless.