Page 100 of I Knew You
She smiled. “Who would I tell? But why doesn’t he coach if he wants to? Does he have bad feelings about football since the injury and the stuff with his Dad?”
“A little. I think it’s complicated.”
I didn’t want to talk about it. Not because of Kallie, but because that subject was one of the leading confessions up to our first fight that day in the woods. Which led to how we made up.
I squirmed in my seat uncomfortably.
“Are you feeling okay?” Kallie asked, referring to my back.
“Yeah, I’m fine. But I’d love to head back soon. Maybe we could pick up?—”
I was interrupted by my phone buzzing in my hand. I looked down and saw an unknown number with the Roanoke area code.
“Answer it. What if it’s the doctor?” Kallie urged, sensing my hesitancy. I put the phone to my ear.
“Hello?”
“Hi! Is this Julianna?” The woman’s voice was bright and warm.
“Yes, it is. Who is this?”
“It’s Melanie. Bram’s sister.”
Panic invaded my system.
“Is Bram okay?” I asked, my gaze meeting Kallie’s wide eyes.
“Oh! Oh, yes. Sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. I just wanted to chat a moment.”
“Okay…” I pressed the speaker button. Kallie silently mimed, clapping like a seal that I’d let her into the conversation.
“First, Bram has no idea I’m calling you. I was able to steal your number from his phone because he leaves it lying everywhere. Men are so weird. Anyway, second, you must come home and fix him. He’s pathetic. And by pathetic, I mean he’s a nightmare. None of us can handle him at work. I even tried to sister him, and he cried.Cried, Julianna. My brother. Bram Winchester cried. I’d never seen him like that before.”
“Oh.” It was the only thing I could say.
“I had to move in with him temporarily because of some housing issues, and he’s so, so sad.”
“I’m sorry, I really am. But what does this have to do with me?” I asked innocently.
“Please don’t act like you don’t know. I don’t have time,” she begged, her little moment of laughter letting me know she was half-teasing. “He’s crazy about you. Do you not know that? He’s been happier since you came into town. Not the superficial happy he shows everyone, like at the MCA things. But truly happy. I can tell.”
I bit my lip. “I…I’m spending time with my friend this week while she’s in town. She’s waiting on me hand and foot, and I?—”
“I know a few more days shouldn’t hurt, but he’s a mess. He’s masking it, but he’s desperate to make up with you. I know he has a lot to say to you that he hasn’t yet?—”
“I appreciate you calling me, and I’m so happy to talk to you again,” I said, interrupting her, “but things moved quickly between Bram and me. I am only just starting to take it all in fully. I will end my week with my best friend. Then I’ll reevaluate. This time apart is good for us.”
I didn’t believe a damn word coming out of my mouth. I was desperate to talk to Bram. The time apart was torture, and I wanted to forget the past. I wanted to speak to him about what we meant. How real was our marriage? How would we decide when to part?
“It was always meant to be temporary,” I tacked on, and Kallie went still beside me. It felt like the air was sucked out of the car for a moment.
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
“Melanie?” I inquired.
“Okay. Just…please don’t make any decisions about the future until you talk to him,” she replied more timidly than before.
“I promise,” I vowed.
