Page 59 of The Significance of Moving On

But a promise is a promise. “Count of three?” I ask.

He nods and we count together. “One. Two.Three.” On three we break and roll our separate ways. It sucks to be him because I’m still on winter break. I don’t actually have to get out of bed yet, but I will to make him breakfast—coffee and oatmeal to keep him warm. Plus, I want to be near him.

Casey kisses me before he leaves for work and I stand on the porch waving him off like an idiot because snow covers every unprotected surface and my feet are getting wet. After he yells at me from his truck window to “get my ass back inside” I walk to the bathroom to shower.

Before getting dressed I sit down on the couch still wrapped in Blue Hawaii and Budweiser around my head, and flip open his laptop to check my emails. There’s nothing too important, Pam and Ann telling me they’re back safe, one from a college I’d applied to asking for more information. But then there’s one more, and it’s from Daniel. I don’t even know how he got my email address in the first place, so I click on it. I mean, what could he possibly have to say to me?

Heard you partied pretty hard.

Glad you’re okay.

Daniel.

He heard we partied hard? Oh really, had he? Because I thought he’d been there with us. My mistake. Beyond pissed, I hit the reply button flushing all semblance of caution down the metaphorical toilet.

Yeah, thanks for sticking around.

You’re a real standup guy.

Chantal.

After I hit send, I delete his message and log out. Right then my phone chirps alerting me to a text. It’s from Demetrius.

Demetrius:You still got a home?

Me: Yes.

D:?

Me: He kissed me in public.

D: Bout damn time.

Me:?

D:Call Kels later.

Demetrius only got girl, as he calls it, with Kelsey. But he’s always real with me. Always. There’s actually way more I want to say to him starting with thank you. But it just doesn’t feel right over a text message.

How do I even go about thanking Demetrius for what he’s done for Casey and me? Once he gets back from Florida, if he ever comes back, I’m not sure he won’t end up in Connecticut just to be closer to Kels until she graduates. But if he does come back, I have to do something special.

While contemplating that next move, I slip off Blue Hawaii and dress quickly, picking out a long-sleeved T-shirt and my comfy yoga pants. Hopefully this constitutes an unsexy enough outfit to show Casey that I’m not trying to seduce him.

Right as I finish making the bed there’s a knock at the front door which makes me jump. I’m not expecting any visitors. Jesse, of all people, stands on the porch looking very Jesse-ish with his bangs hanging in his face and that big cheese-eating grin of his, the infectious one, where even if you never meant to, you automatically smile back.

To think he trudged out in this weather? “Hey, what are you doing here?” I ask.

“Casey isn’t by chance still around, is he?”

“No. Sorry. He’s already gone to work. Come on in. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I tried calling his cell but he didn’t answer.” He stomps the snow off his boots before moving inside the house and walks over to sit on the edge of the sofa.

“He’s probably out helping someone. Tow season.”

“Not gonna lie.” Jesse shakes his head and chuckles. “I don’t miss it.” Then he pauses for a beat. “How’s it going with you and Case, then? If I may ask.”

“Oh yeah, I owe you this.” And I step forward giving Jesse the biggest hug I can possibly give him without slipping into uncomfortable territory.

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