Page 72 of When You're Home
He told himself it was better this way. He knew this was how it had to be for them to move on, to really get over the ten years of ups and downs and everything they had put each other through.
He knew better, and yet that didn’t stop him from picking his phone back up and doing the same thing he had done every single night, at least once a night, for the last four weeks.
He unlocked the screen. He found her contact information. His thumb hovered over her name, pausing for a few seconds as he reveled in the hope of “maybe” before he clicked on her number. Then he lifted the phone to his ear.
And just like every other night for the last four weeks, the call went straight to voicemail. She had blocked him, which he discovered the very first night after the party. Rhett closed his eyes and listened to her recorded message all the way through, picturing her face in his mind’s eye. When the recording prompted him to leave a message after the tone, he ended the call.
“Goodnight, V,” he whispered before pocketing his phone and peeling himself off the couch.
Chapter 39
Tori
Shehadbeensearchingforapotwithafittedlidwhenshecameacrossanelectricskilletandinspirationstruck.“Hey,doyouguyshaveawafflemaker?”shecalledfromthespotwhereshesatonthekitchenfloor.
“Wait, you know how to make waffles?” Fielding sauntered into the kitchen. He was wearing dark jeans and a fitted powder blue T-shirt that clung to his arms and chest. The fabric was looser around his waist, and when he moved, Tori could see the tippy-top of the dip of his hips. She wasn’t interested in Fielding that way, but she couldn’t totally ignore the fact that he could rock a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. “Why did I not know this? And why are you on the floor?”
“I’m on the floor because I wanted to make stir-fry for lunch, so I was looking for a pot with a lid. And yes, I do in fact know how to make waffles. I’m in charge of Waffle Wednesday at Camp New Hope each year. I make the best waffles you’ve ever tasted. But step one is having a waffle iron, which I’m guessing you don’t have. Maybe I could bring mine from home this weekend?”
Fielding looked down at her with a grin. “You’re so cute. You’re already thinking about what to feed me this weekend. Have I professed my love to you yet today, Tori Thompson?” He offered his hand to help her off the floor.
“Oh, stop. Go take a cold shower or something.” She rolled her eyes but let him help her up anyway. “I feel like I have to plan ahead to keep up with your appetite.”
She bumped the cupboard closed with her hip. No pot with a fitted lid meant they were having sandwiches for lunch again. Oh well. She didn’t mind. Making sandwiches with Fielding at his house trumped eating a sad to-go salad by herself on campus.
“Damn. Waffles sound so good. Now I’m starving. What can I help with?”
“See if there are any of those good sub buns left that we used on Monday.” She turned toward the fridge to start digging out the rest of the ingredients.
“Hey, wait, so if you’re already meal planning for this weekend, can I assume we’ve got plans?”
Tori considered his question. She knew the boys were having a get-together on Friday night. Not a full-fledged party, Fielding assured her, because Dempsey and Teddy had to work that night, but Jake was coming over, and Anwar and Cole would be home, too.
“Perhaps,” she teased. “But we’re going to need a grocery run if we’re feeding everyone this weekend.” She pulled out the nearly empty bags of lunch meat and held them up for emphasis.
“Agreed. Will you go shopping with me? We can go on Friday since you don’t have class. What’s your work schedule this weekend anyways?”
“I’m only scheduled for Sunday, open to three.”
“I’ve got to work on Saturday night, then again on Sunday morning. That gives us Friday night to party, and all of Saturday to eat waffles.”
“Wait—I thought Fridaywasn’ta party?” she countered.
Fielding rolled his eyes and reached over her head to pull out two glasses from the cupboard. She moved out of his way as she finished making their sandwiches. They moved around the kitchen in sync, a comfortable vibe between them.
“I meant ‘party’ as in the verb—to party. You know… to hang out, to have a few laughs, to have a good time? I already promised you it wouldn’t be a rager. I meant it. You can trust me, Tori.”
“Did you really just provide a dictionary definition for the word party?” she joked. She hated it when he tried to be gentle with her. She much preferred his witty banter and smart mouth. “They really did provide an exceptional education at Archway Preparatory Academy.”
“Shove off,” he laughed. Tori plated their sandwiches, then carried them over to the little table in the kitchen’s eating area. Fielding followed with their water glasses, a few napkins tucked under his arm.
Before she could sit down, Tori felt her phone vibrate in her back pocket. She glanced at the screen. The number was calling from Akron, Ohio.
“Oh, hang on, I want to take this,” Tori muttered, taking a few steps out of the kitchen into the living room. “Don’t wait for me to start,” she told Fielding over her shoulder. “I’ll just be two minutes.”
She stepped another few feet into the living room and perched herself on the edge of a couch as she swiped to accept the call.
“Hello?” she answered.
