Page 11 of Behind the Cascades
"That'll be good. Mind if I come home too? I promise to not complain about Hayes the whole time."
"You better be there. I'll bring the wine; you bring the snacks." Red flags go off in my mind when I realize her voice lacks the lightness it normally carries.
"Everything okay? You sound off."
"Yeah, just tired. I gotta get on set. See ya this weekend!"She hangs up the phone before I can say anything else. Her telltale sign something is wrong and she's not ready to talk about it. Odessa has always been an outstanding advice-giver but she hates to be vulnerable herself. She has that in common with Hayes. The two of them shut down when they need to process their emotions and I know that I need to give them the space to do so, but I can't help but feel a bit helpless in the meantime.
I stared at the dark screen of my phone for a little while after we ended the call. Replaying what Odessa said about Hayes, wondering what she has going on that has her sounding so down, and trying to decide what to do with the rest of my evening. I've been living alone for a few years now but never have I felt this lonely.
Instead of calling Hayes out on his lack of communication, I take Odessa's advice—choosing faith in our relationship over doubt. I send him a quick "I miss you" text and add a picture of us from Vegas that I haven't ever shown anyone. Our first picture as a couple—a selfie of us in bed. Everything is covered but you can clearly tell what we have been up to. It's the happiest I've ever seen Hayes look and I'm hoping it'll remind him of that as well. The pep talk that Odessa just gave me was enough to keep me from spiraling into a mess of self-doubt, but I still feel the pang of sadness in my chest when he doesn't respond right away. Leaving things unsaid and unsettled is not my style, but I trust that Hayes will come around in his own time. I'll give him the space he needs, knowing that our connection is strong enough to withstand a little distance.
Sighing, I leave my phone on the table and start cleaning my apartment. It's minimalist, with barely any furniture, but I never minded before. I've been focused on finishing school early, working, and, Hayes, not decorating an apartment I hadn't planned on living in for very long. Now that my planshave changed, I make a mental note of all the things I should buy to add a little more personality to the space. Maybe a colorful rug, some throw pillows, and a couple plants could liven up the place. As I scrub the floors and dust the empty shelves, I can't help but feel a sense of determination to make this apartment feel like home.
First things first, I need to go through my bedroom at Connie's this weekend and find some things to bring here. I swear every square inch of that room has memories in it—from family photos from before my parents died to new ones of Hayes and me, it's like a walk down memory lane every time I step foot in there. It shouldn't be surprising that I've felt so unsettled in this apartment; I don't have anything personal here. Connie's house is still "home" to me, despite that I haven't lived there in a few years. It's where I go on the weekends when I'm feeling alone or down. Connie and I always had a strong relationship, but living with her alone for so many years really solidified it. She became my best friend and if I'm being honest with myself, a crutch to deal with the loneliness. That's something I need to work on while Hayes is gone—being okay with feeling lonely and finding ways to fulfill that void on my own.
Chapter Eight
Hayes
Friday, April 28.
Weeks and weeks of emails, texts, and long phone calls had led up to this moment. I had Charlie convinced I wouldn't be able to make it to see her before I deployed next week. Somehow, by the mercy of God and the US Navy, I was approved for a four-day weekend to see my girl.
The second I was off work on Thursday, I was heading to the San Diego airport to catch my overnight flight to Atlanta. One more flight will have me in Columbia, where my mom and Odessa will pick me up. She happened to be in town, which is perfect for the second big surprise I have planned.
Everything so far has gone exactly as planned, and I'm in my old truck heading to Charlie's work to surprise her. She was able to visit for spring break, but that already feels like a lifetime ago. Leaving for a year is going to be harder than we both anticipated.
I stand outside her swanky office building and lean against her front bumper on the Ford Explorer we picked out together.We spent hours searching online for the right fit, and I flew out here to help her test drive cars last year. As I wait for her to finish work, memories flood through my mind. Her trips to see me, my visits home, and the weekend in Vegas that changed everything. Any free moment I've had, which aren’t many, I’ve spent with her. Every good moment I've had somehow involves her. She's become my everything. My soulmate. The one my heart beats for.
I run my finger over the smooth tin in my pocket. The box normally only has mints in it, but right now it’s holding something considerably more cherished. We’ve only been officially dating for a little over eight months, but I’ve never been as sure of anything as I am of Charlie. I don’t want to leave without promising a future to her. She deserves it all, the ring, a house, kids. I want to be the one to make all of her dreams come true.
She walks out and waves goodbye to a shorter, blonde woman. The woman smiles back and turns to go in the opposite direction. Assumedly, her coworker Ava.
I bide my time, waiting for her to see me. The smirk on my face only grows wider as I watch her dig in her purse, completely oblivious to me waiting for her.
"Hey, Sunshine!" I hollered, getting her attention, when I finally couldn’t handle it anymore.
Her gaze snaps up, and she drops her purse at the sight of me.
Sprinting across the parking lot, she leaps into my open arms and encircles her legs around my waist.
No words. She only seals those perfect lips to my mouth while I hold her to me.
"What are you doing here?" She mumbles along my lips.
"Had to see you before I left. I’m sorry I’ve been so distracted the last few weeks, I wanted to get everything done and I was afraid I’d ruin the surprise if I said too much.”
She nods, kissing me again before I set her down and jogged over to pick up her forgotten purse.
Bringing it back, I hand it to her. "Should we drop your car off at home and grab some dinner?"
She kisses me once more and nods. "Let's go."
We head to our usual Thai place, just down the road. Not only is it our favorite, but it’s also quick and still close to her apartment. We sit next to each other in a booth by the window, and I pull her close to me. There aren't enough hours left in the weekend for her to be anywhere but right next to me.
"Is it okay that I surprised you? I’m not interrupting anything, am I?" I ask, trying to gauge her reaction to me ruining whatever weekend plans she may have had. Normally, she isn’t a big fan of surprises, either. She’s all about the buildup of anticipation and the excitement that comes with it.
She grabs my thigh and flashes her pearly whites at me. "You're the best surprise. If all my surprises were you, I'd never want to know what's coming again.”
