Page 112 of Hot Mess Express
ANTHONY
“Happy one-month-i-versary!” I sing at the phone.
Bridger smiles handsomely back at me, his face almost filling the whole dang screen. “I think you’re off by a week or so.”
I frown. “A week or—? Huh? What’re you goin’ by? Our first date? Like, the one at Nadine’s right before you left? No.” I wag my finger at the phone. “We became a thing when you took my dang virginity at that motel.” I pause a second. “Just realized how gross that sounds. Wish I could take back sayin’ it that way.”
“Nope, too late,” he teases me.
“I lost my virginity … in a motel …?”
“Why’re you announcing it like it’s news?”
“Just never said it out loud. Why am I only now realizin’ …?”
“Hey.” He smacks his lips at me. It never quite looks like a kiss when he does that, but it’s cute as fuck and always brings me right back to him. “I just noticed you’re wearing it.”
I sit up suddenly, having forgotten, and hold my phone back, showing off how his denim jacket fits on me. “You like it? Keeps me nice and warm. Though, this time of year, it isn’t really needed for the warmth. Kinda sweating in it, to be honest.”
“You can take it off, y’know.”
“No way.” I hug myself with my free arm. “When I wear this, it’s like you’re huggin’ me or somethin’.”
Bridger smiles.
It makes me feel just as good as it hurts me to see that smile.
I must show something in my eyes, because his smile I like so much goes away. “Aww, you miss me, huh?” he asks, sounding all sad and mushy about it.
“Nah, not even a little,” I mumble back.
His smile returns. “That’s actually the reason I’m calling, since thisisn’tour one month thing. I might have some good news. Very good news.” He comes in closer where I can only see his eyes. “We might be planning a trip back to Spruce in just one more month.”
I lift my eyebrows. “You serious? That soon?”
“Gladyouthink it’s soon, because a month sounds like forever away to me.”
I smirk. “Aww. Sounds likeyou’rethe one missin’me.”
“Of course I miss you.” His face turns serious, his eyes shining in the dim lighting of his bedroom in Kansas. “Miss you like crazy, Anthony. Wish you were right here.” He slaps his bed next to him.
I bite my lip and lean back on Juni’s couch, phone raised in the air as I gaze at him. “How’s your brother and mama doing?”
Bridger glances off to the side. “A lot better than I expected,” he admits. “My brother’s thriving with the school he teaches at, all his kids love him, the other teachers, too. Recently told me about a kid in one of his classes who … struggles. He recognizes something in that kid, thinks maybe there’s a problem at home.” He shakes his head, appearing emotional for a moment. “It’s a good thing my brother’s there for kids like that, recognizing the signs. And then there’s my mom,” he goes on, his mood lifting as he laughs. “She’s got a whole army of women friends around her now, I don’t think any man’s got a chance of hurting her ever again.”
I grin at him through the phone. “That sounds perfect.”
“It is, it is,” he agrees, nodding at me. “Better than I could’vehoped.” His lips droop in thought. “Almost like they don’t need me anymore.”
“Of course they need you,” I throw right back at him.
Bridger sighs, chuckles strangely, then looks off again. “After I got discharged, I was sure my whole life would make sense. Have a job lined up. Help out my mom and little bro again, like I used to back in the day. But my brother isn’t so little anymore. And my mom …” He laughs to himself. “Once told me she’s stronger than she looks. She wasn’t kidding.”
“You got a purpose here,” I tell him, “right here by me, sittin’ on this couch and holdin’ me tight …”
“Oh, I want nothing more than to be right there, you’d better bet.” He looks away again. “But I’ve gotta figure myself out first, Anthony. I’m no good at your side otherwise.”
I want to argue with him, stubbornly insist that all he needs to do is come back here to Spruce and all the answers will fall into his lap—one of those answers being me.
