Page 85 of Strays
CHAPTER NINETEEN
We Need To Talk
Iknow she sends the same thing to all of us the second I look around and see Shane and Jay staring at their phones. We leave the court and get into the truck without a word. As much as the thought of having her close again floods my chest with relief, I’m scared too.
When we get home, I finally reply.
We need to talk.
Her answer is immediate.
I know. Can we talk when I get there?
No. Need to talk now.I send back.
Then, silence.
We wait, the three of us sitting on the couch, eyes fixed on the phone, but the reply doesn’t come. I’m just about to put the phone down when it rings. It’s her. I press speaker before picking up, so Shane and Jay can hear too.
“Hi,” I say.
“Hi,” she replies.
It’s the first time we hear her voice in almost a month. She sounds normal. Not angry, not crying. I think that’s a good sign. But I don’t know what to say.
“You said we need to talk now…” she presses.
Nohow are you, noI missed you,just business. I realize I’m even more hurt than I thought I was.
I go straight to the point, just like she did. “Yeah. Luc pressed charges. We’re going to trial. Thought you should know that before you decide to come back.”
“I know,” she sighs. “Jenna told me.”
That stings. I don’t even know why. Maybe it’s just the fact that she had a conversation with someone else while she gave us nothing but four-word texts.
“And are you still coming home? Like, for good?” Shane asks.
“Hi, Shane,” she says gently. “Yeah. I’m coming home for good.”
Relief washes over me, but there’s a flicker of anger too. I know it’s not fair. I know I shouldn’t feel it toward her. But I do.
“When are you coming?” I ask.
“Tomorrow.”
“We’re going to D.C. tomorrow,” I say. “We have to be at MAB Monday morning.”
“Oh,” she pauses. Then: “I can go to D.C. instead. Meet you there.”
“That works,” Jay says.
“Hi, Jay,” she replies. “I’ll check flights and let you know when I can be there.”
And that’s it. After almost four weeks, she’s finally coming back to us.
An hour later, she texts again.
Landing at Reagan National, 1 p.m.
