Page 24 of Every Heartbeat After

Before I can fall too far into the canon of my own misery, my phone buzzes. I retrieve it from my back pocket, half hoping that a certain blonde has decided to change her mind.

My father’s name appears, followed by a grainy picture of his thumb and, in the background, a largemouth bass. He’s sent it in a group chat with me and my brother that only the two of us ever participate in, but you can’t blame the man for trying.

Dad

Set a personal record today with this guy!

Me

That’s impressive, Pops. Looks like you’re eating good tonight.

Dad

If you hop on a plane right now, I can have him ready in time for a late dinner. Gage is coming by too!

My chest tightens its vise grip on my lungs. I swallow hard, willing the emotion back from whence it came. I’ll have to text Gage separately, to warn him not to hit them up for money. I groan inwardly. How did this become our life?

Me

Not tonight, but soon. I miss you guys.

Dad

Sounds good, son. We miss you more.

I can read between the lines of his text. He’s as close to believing my promise as I am to meaning it.

In a new thread, I fire off a message to my brother. Within seconds he reacts with a thumbs-up. So heisby his phone, he just can’t be bothered to acknowledge our parents unless they’re offering a free meal.

A minute later my phone vibrates again.

Gage

Can you spot me for some groceries? Between jobs right now and money is tight.

Me

When are you not between jobs?

Gage

You’re a fucking prick, you know that?

Apparently no one ever taught my brother about catching more bees with honey.

After I’ve sent the money, I turn back to the room, toss my phone onto the bed, and retrieve my wallet from the neat pile of keys, wallet, and book to read that I left on the desk. Some autobiography of a veteran that I’ll leaf through before dozing off tonight, and every night until I eventually give up and add it to the shelf of would-be-reads in my room back home. All the lives I should be learning from but am sleeping through instead.

With my hand on the door, I hesitate. What if I run into Tess in the hallway? Or worse, what if I don’t?

I shake my head and yank the handle. The hallway is empty, much to my relief. And disappointment.

I’m well and truly fucked.

So I do what anyone would in my situation. I take the long hallway in quick strides, then bear right and continue past the elevator bay, to the restaurant at the other end of the floor and, beyond it, a rooftop bar.

If I’m going to be this close to Tess, yet unable to touch her, I’ll be damned if I’m not soothing the ache with a drink, umbrella not required but appreciated.

ChapterTen

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