The giddiness unfurling in my chest feels anything but normal. I scroll through his messages, and when I see the eggplant emoji, I choke on a laugh. It’s the “miss you already” that gets me.
After deleting several half-witty replies, I know I can’t do this without coffee. Jameson trots beside me as I pad down to the kitchen, phone in hand, trying not to grin like a total lunatic.
“Good morning!” Allie sings. “How did you sleep?”
Leo gets up to pour me a cup of coffee. “The beds are socomfortable here.”
“I need you. I have an emergency on my hands.”
“What’s up, babe?” Allie asks.
They both look at me, concerned, when I set my phone down and pull up Duke’s texts. Once they read them, they exchange looks.
“How is this a crisis?” Leo asks.
“Because,” I say as I get Jameson’s breakfast ready. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Is the eggplant throwing you?” Leo asks.
“I think so …”
“So, you send back the peach, obviously,” Allie says.
“Did you actually read this?” I ask, tapping on my phone. “He misses me … he misses me already. I mean … how do I …” I set Jameson’s bowl down and he dives in headfirst.
“My darling, you’re spiraling,” Leo says. “It’s too early for that.”
“You could, you know, start simply and just say ‘miss you too,’” Allie offers.
I sit down and grab my phone and coffee. “Is that too simple? Do I leave a kissy face emoji or … no that’s too much. Smiley face? Not enough …” I glance up to see Allie and Leo staring at me with wide grins. “What?”
“You’re in love and my heart is bursting,” Allie says.
“That’s a horrible thing to say. I’m not. I just want to sound?—”
“Dear, if you weren’t in love with this man, you wouldn’t care about how you sound.”
“Damn. You’re right.” I set my phone down and bury my head in my hands. “Oh God, this man makes me feel like a teenager around him.”
“Oh, that’s the best kind of feel,” Allie says.
“Just have fun, Roxanne. You’re leaving in two weeks. Enjoythis man while you can. Soak up the attention and bask in his glow.”
Jameson flops down at my feet, snoring softly after his breakfast. That sudden comfort prompts me to pick up my phone and text what I feel.
Who cares, right?
Because yeah, I’m leaving in two weeks.
I’m just having fun.
Nope.
I just can’t fool myself. I’m so in love it’s ridiculous.
I craft my response while Leo rises to top off our coffees. I’m a writer, damn it. How hard can this be?
Don’t mock your brother’s billboard, you might be featured on one before you come home.
