Page 58 of Back in the Country
MARLEE:xoxo
WAYLON:xoxo
“I donotwantto know what that smile is for if it’s about my brother,” Rhea teases when she climbs onto the queen-sized bed.
“Just sayin’ goodnight is all.”
“Mmhmm,” she says, unconvinced, as she turns out the light.
The darkness surrounds us as we each snuggle down and get comfortable. I yawn.
“Hey Mar?”
“Yeah?”
“I love seein’ you so happy. You haven’t been yourself in a long time.”
“I know,” I say softly.
“Caleb always tried to make you something you’re not, and I hated that for you.”
I blink to hold back the tears that threaten, even though she can’t see me in the dark.
“I’m happy you’re home,” Rhea says on a sleepy whisper.
“Me too.”
23
WAYLON
Knock, knock.
”Come in,” I yell, a pencil still tucked behind my ear and my eyes scanning the website up on my laptop. I’ve been working for hours on the material in front of me but still don’t have much to show for it.
“Hey you.” Marlee comes in with a plastic bag from Tap and Table and a couple of drinks. I have no idea why she still knocks—she practically lives with me. She kisses me on the top of my head then makes herself comfortable on the couch. “What are you working on?”
Pulling a sandwich wrapped in butcher paper into her lap, Marlee glances at the papers on the coffee table. Her phone buzzes, and she glances at it before tucking it into her bag without responding.
Weird.
“Who was that?”
“Caleb.”
“What does he want?”
“He’s just being a dick; it’s nothing. So what’s that?”
I stare at her for a moment as I try to push the jealousy down. The rage I feel at knowing he still contacts her is something I hadn’t expected. It is something we are definitely going to revisit, but I’ll table it for now.
“It’s for my final project.” I sigh. A small part of me feels embarrassed telling her about this. Her knowing I am in school is one thing but the fact that I am struggling to put this assignment in motion is another.
“Cool. What’s the project?”
She looks at me with the sandwich suspended in front of her open mouth. My cock twitches despite my earlier irritation.
Marlee takes a bite and then sets her lunch down so she can hand me mine. I use the time it takes me to unwrap the Italian sub and take a bite to debate how much I want to tell her. She’ll want to help, and I’m not sure how that makes me feel. Is that stupid? That sounds stupid.
