Page 79 of When Fate Breaks
“I miss you.”
The night surrounding me has suddenly gone dead silent. I glance up at the full moon, blowing a deep breath out of my nose. The pinching feeling in my throat that I never wanted, the one that inevitably comes with feelings and missing someone you can’t be with, makes its debut for the first time since I last saw Blake.
“Just three more months,” I say steadily. “We’ll be up there for Thanksgiving.”
Blake blows out a breath of his own, then whispers, “I’d give anything to have you here sooner.”
I swallow, pushing away the rush of feelings trying to cloud my thoughts and already impaired judgment. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too.”
I look down at my old cowboy boots I’ve had since the eighth grade, trying to focus on counting up the scuffs on their worn leather rather than counting up the minutes until I’ll see Blake again. Now’s not the time. I still have three more years of school. He’s just getting started on his life. We can’t go there. Not yet.
“Goodnight, Blake,” I breathe.
“Goodnight, Evangeline.”
* * *
“Annie,you’re welcome to stay here all day, but I’m leaving for work in five minutes.”
I sit straight up in bed, wiping the sleep from my eyes to see the baby pink walls of Leah’s bedroom and Leah standing up, curling her blonde hair in her waitressing uniform in front of her vanity.
“You have work the morning after your birthday?” My voice comes out groggy, a yawn interrupting my train of thought. “Why would you do that to yourself?”
“Um, it’s not exactly morning, hun,” Leah chuckles, meeting my gaze in the reflection of her mirror.
“Huh? What time is it?” I ask, reaching for my phone. When the bright screen lights up I have to momentarily shield my eyes. When the homescreen comes into focus, I read it once, and then read it again.
Saturday, September 1st. 12:45 p.m.
My stomach drops a little.12:45 p.m? Seriously? First of all, how did I even physically sleep this late? Second, my dad was supposed to pick me up at noon. I pull down my notification tab and the weird feeling in my gut twists even further.
No new messages.
None from Dad checking in or explaining why he’s late. But also…
Nothing from Blake.
NoGood Morning.
Maybe he’s still asleep? He was up late last night too…but something in me seriously doubts that. Though Blake isn’t exactly a morning person, I can’t remember ever waking up before him.
I run my hands through my hair, replaying our conversation from last night. Was I a jerk to him? He was being so vocal, packing on all the flirtation and making advances. Saying he missed me.Crap. I didn’t say it back, did I?
God, Annie, you suck.
I start to type out my ownGood Morningmessage to him and then pause.
Is that the best idea?
Nothing’s changed on my end. Our relationship can’t advance any further than it currently stands. Not right now. I can’t get needy and clingy the second Blake actually listens to me about keeping things casual. Backtracking on my own ground rules will just lead to confusion and more heartache that could be avoided if we just play it cool until our time comes. I can’t lead him on. Not that it’s really leading him on but–
Ugh.
Blake is my friend.
Liar.
