Page 14 of Jingle Bell Jilt
“I just assumed.” He looks at me like I might be crazy. “You’re in Orlando. Isn’t that why you picked this location? Because it’s close to Disney?”
I relax, now feeling more like an idiot than suspicious. “Oh, yeah. I guess I hadn’t considered that.”
“I’m going to go hop in the shower. You don’t have to decide this minute, but you’re welcome to stay.”
I smile and nod. “Thanks, I appreciate the offer.” I look at my phone as if that will give me the answers I’m looking for. “I’ll definitely think about it.”
He takes the stairs two at a time, leaving me alone in the kitchen-family room. I pull up the airline app on my phone and pull up my return flight. How much will it cost to change? That is part of the reason I came to Orlando in the first place. I didn’t want to eat the cost of the plane ticket if I canceled (Yeah, lesson learned to purchase insurance). It was nearly as much as the original ticket to change it to a different location. Plus, there is the issue of the previously mentioned theme park tickets that are non-refundable.
I sigh. But maybe it’s worth the money to just put this whole dreadful week behind me.
My phone rings and I flip it over so I can see the screen. It’s probably Maggie because I haven’t called her like I said I would. My breath catches in my throat. It’s Nathan.
I stare at my phone, frozen. Should I answer it? I don’t think I’m ready to talk to him yet. Maybe I should—
My mind is made up for me when the ringing stops. Maybe he’ll leave a voicemail.
I open my screen and watch the corner for the little tape reel to appear. But when it doesn’t appear, my heart beats faster. Why didn’t he leave a message?
Instead, the text notification appears. Nathan’s name is at the top. Seriously? He hung up before leaving a message so he could text me instead? Who does that?
Granted, I would probably have just sent the text in the first place. But who takes the time and effort to dial the number and wait for it to ring and then doesn’t leave a voicemail?
I pull up the message.
Nathan
hey babe Im at your place and youre not answering the door I just want to talk but ur making this weird just come open the door
I roll my eyes at his text with no punctuation at all. It’s one of the things that has bugged me since we first started dating. Like, how hard is it to add an apostrophe? And periods are just a no-brainer.It takes too long to punctuate. How did I not see what an idiot he was sooner?
I read it again, and this time process the words. I’m the one making it weird? He totally blew off our WEDDING and he’s claiming I’m making it weird?
Another text pops up.
Nathan
Come on shay just open the door so we can talk
There’s a part of me that’s curious about what he has to say. What’s his excuse for not even leaving a note? This is the first I’ve heard from him since the rehearsal dinner, and this is not even a sorry-I-left-you-at-the-altar message? (Technically I never came out of the bride’s dressing room, but it’s just semantics).
I set my phone to the side but continue to stare at it like maybe it will strike me if I turn my head.
Evan comes down the stairs and the thought that he might be shirtless again makes me look up from my phone. His hair is damp and his shirt is sticking to his back, like he didn’t fully dry off. That’s a rather pleasing image. I long blink to try and dislodge those thoughts.
The sticky shirt defines his torso. If I hadn’t already seen it bare, I’d be impressed. Eh, who am I kidding? I’m still impressed.
He smiles at me, but it slowly fades. “Is something wrong?”
I shake my head, as my phone rings again. I glance over to see that it’s Nathan. Again.
I look back at Evan. “Feel better?”
He nods, but his eyes flick to my phone vibrating and ringing on the countertop. “Are you going to answer that?”
I shake my head. “Nope.”
“Okay…” He draws the word out.
