Page 36 of Home in the Country
“I still love you too.”
“We’ll tell Briggs together tonight, and we’ll just take it one day at a time, okay? I’ll cut the time with my parents short and it will all be fine.”
“Are you sure? You haven’t seen them in a while.”
“It’s by design.” He chuckles and I wipe the last of the tears from my eyes.
“You should still see them.”
“I will, just won’t be as long.”
“And now I think you’ll be getting here right after my parents go to visit Jade.”
“That’s a bummer, but at least I know that I’ll be able to pop in and see them when they get home.”
While surprised by our sudden pregnancy and marriage, my parents had been supportive. I’d been through a lot, and they’d recognized my need to distance myself from everything.
In that way, Tanner had been the perfect partner—the perfect person to help me heal.
“Are you even listening to me?” Tanner asks.
“I zoned out.” He clicks his tongue in annoyance. “What did you say?”
“I said just because I’m delayed in getting there doesnotmean that you get to put off telling what’s his face.”
“Otto. You know his name is Otto.”
“Ah, see, you do know who I’m talking about. Pull up your big girl panties, preferably ones that are more than your basic cotton ones—”
“Hey, what’s wrong with those?”
“Cotton doesn’t give you confidence, Fallon Jane. Lace says I’m sexy and sophisticated and also please give me orgasms.”
“This conversation is weird.”
“Only if you make it weird.”
“We’ll call you later, okay?”
“Okay. Don’t worry about it, Fallon. We’re going to figure it out.”
I give him a noncommittal answer and then hang up the phone and return to the mess at hand.
Unfortunately for me, the day only gets worse.
12
FALLON
OTTO: Did you get the flowers?
FALLON: You shouldn’t have sent them
FALLON: We need to talk
Ireread the messages that caused me to be standing in the middle of the field at the Brew Q ’n Boogie. My response had been harsh but necessary, because things are changing between Otto and me, and I’m not ready.
More importantly, Briggs isn’t ready. My parents and Tanner weren’t wrong, but they’re not right either and it’s just a lot.
