Page 21 of Homesick

“Umm why?”

“Just trust me, okay?”

I agree and slide my phone across the bar. It was late afternoon on a Wednesday and the bar was empty. It had been a few days since Sheila entrusted me with the Rustic Inn’s social media pages. I was still getting the hang of the voice I wanted to use for their pages, but so far, I had started posting regularly on Facebook and expanded to an Instagram page.

The Instagram page has slowly begun to amass followers, which was surprising. Both pages still had a long way to go, but I could see my small efforts taking shape. It was dead tonight, but once Thursday night rolled around, there wouldn’t be an empty seat in the place.

I try to peek over Emma’s shoulder as she messes around on my phone, but every time I try to look at the screen, she swerves like a ninja to avoid my gaze. “Emma, what are you doing?”

“Okay, perfect,” she says before sliding the phone back to me. I pick up the phone and I’m met with a decent looking man who is almost thirty and a single dad. He’d be a great match for Emma, but not me, I think surveying the man’s dating profile.

“I’m not using a dating app,” I frown as I put the phone back down on the counter. “I don’t use dating apps when I’m home because it’s like one big smorgasbord of old classmates, teachers, and even family sometimes.”

A shiver grazes my spine when I think back to the one time I saw my mom’s second Cousin Jerry on the app. That was the time I decided to change my settings to include more ages, which I’ll never do again thanks to Jerry. Cousin Jerry really needs to invest in a bigger bathing suit . . . that covers more.

“Oh, come on! At least let me swipe a little. I love this kind of stuff!”

I shoot her a confused look, but she quickly corrects herself. “Not like that. I mean it’s nice to look for other people. I love being a mom and wife, but sometimes it’s nice to live vicariously through others.”

“Fine. But don’t get too swipe happy, okay?”

It’s harmless, I tell myself while stepping away to do some last-minute cleaning before my shift is over. As I’m putting away some clean glasses, I hear Emma yell, “oh shit!” I panic and immediately run to the bar where she’s staring down at my phone absolutely petrified. I pick it up and see a notification flash across my screen saying you’ve matched with Blake!

I slowly set the device down on the counter and take a deep breath. I try to remind myself that Emma is my best friend, and she probably didn’t mean to ruin my life with one swipe.

“Emma, please explain why you just matched with my ex-boyfriend after I just gave a whole speech about avoiding him.”

Her lips start to curl into a nervous smile, and she laughs awkwardly before replying. “It was an accident! I was trying to snoop on his profile and BAM! Here I’ll unmatch it really quick.”

I throw my face into my hands and let out a muffled scream of pure frustration. “This is great. Just great.”

“Relax, I undid it. I can promise you that I’m the last person that wants you two back together. It’s completely fine.”

I look up from my disheveled state and stare at her relaxed state. A few seconds go by and a thought pops in my head. “Wait, you said we matched. That means he swiped right on me first, correct?”

Emma’s face turns at the same realization, and I swear all the color drains from her face. “Oh . . . well. Umm . . . I’m sure that doesn’t mean anything. He was probably just messing with you.”

Huh, I hadn’t thought of that. Before I can even dissect what that means, I practically jump out of my skin when my phone starts buzzing. I’m picturing Blake’s contact popping up on my screen, but I’m relieved when I see it’s my mom.

“Hey Mom, what’s up?”

“Hey, hun. I’m sorry to bother you while you’re at work, but your brother had an accident on the farm today.”

Before she can continue her sentence, I begin picturing everything that could go wrong on the farm and my breathing starts to become uneven. I feel my heartbeat begin to speed up and I have to find something in the room to focus on before I lose control. I turn to Emma and use her as my focal point. “Wha-what happened?”

“Before you panic, he’s fine. Well, he’s going to be fine. He was chasing after a loose cow and stepped in a gopher hole. He fractured his fibula, and the doctor says he’s going to need to be off his feet for around six weeks. He’s not taking it very well, but at least he doesn’t need surgery.”

“Mom, you know how bad my anxiety is. Can you try to lead with ‘he’s fine’ next time?”

“Yeah, you’re right. This call went much better than the one with Ashley. I thought she was going to faint through the phone. Anyway, can you stop over there on the way home? Maybe bring him some pie or something to cheer him up?”

“Yeah sure, Mom. I’ve got to go, but I love you and I’ll talk to you later.”

I hang up the phone and quickly catch Emma up on that roller coaster of a phone call. By the time I clock out and head to my car, I’ve forgotten all about the dating app fiasco.

* * *

“One slice of apple pie for yours truly,” I announce while placing the dessert in front of my helpless older brother.

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