Ishouldhavedinnerdone already.
I would have, but this day has been a shitshow from the start. First, I lost the ticket for the dry cleaner. I found it, thankfully, after an exhausting panic search. Looking for a tiny slip of paper is hard enough without also freaking the absolute hell out over it. It’s like once you get to that level of freak-out, nothing makes sense, and you can’t evensee, let alone think critically enough to realize that it’s probably just in the junk drawer. For the record, it was.
Damien would have been upset if I had lost it. It’s happened once before, and it was a whole big thing. I mean, I get it. It’s understandable to get mad when your fiancé loses the slip for your suits, valued at thousands of dollars. I couldn’t even be mad at himfor being upset. I think if the roles were reversed, I would be too.
That wasn’t even the worst of today. The worst of today was that after I got Damien off to work, I decided to take a nap. Beforehand, my phone did an update but didn’t turn back on, so my alarm didn’t go off. Between oversleeping and panic-searching for the ticket, I didn’t make it out the door to run errands until the afternoon.
No big deal. I should have still had plenty of time, but the store didn’t have Damien’s favorite type of steak, and I had to drive clear across the city to get it from a different store. Then what should have been a quick stop at the farmer’s market a block from our house turned into yet another drive across the city because, wouldn’t you know, they didn’t have any fresh bell peppers.
Now, it’s a mad dash to freshen up and make myself presentable. I debated the merits ofnotdoing that and just starting dinner, but I know Damien deserves me at my best when he gets home.
He also deserves to have dinner waiting for him, but what can you do? It’s one or the other today, unfortunately.
I’m grabbing the cutting board in the kitchen when my phone buzzes.
Damien
Got held up at work. I’ll let you know when I’m on my way home. I hope you haven’t already gotten dinner started, love. It would be a waste for it to be cold before I even get home. See you soon.
Relief pours over me. Good. No need to stress about getting dinner done yet, then. It’s probably a good thing my day has been shit. If it hadn’t been, I would already have dinner almost done, andit would be gross by the time he got home. I slide the cutting board back into its drawer. Maybe this day won’t end up all bad. And I even have some time to call Austin. As long as he’s not busy.
The last time I tried to call him, he was at work and couldn’t answer. We’ve tried to keep in touch over the years, and we did for a while. We do still talk, but we’re a far cry from the wide-eyed sixteen-year-olds who thought we’d be best friends forever.
Time has been a real bitch. And so has life. Austin’s a firefighter, and he loves it, but he also works long hours that leave him exhausted. And with how busy I am with Damien, it’s hard for us to find a quiet moment to talk.
I make my way into my bedroom and sit down on the edge of the bed. Pulling my phone out, I dial Austin’s number. It’s the same number he’s had since we were kids, and I’ve had it memorized for a decade. I couldn’t tell you my number from back then, but I still know his.
“Hey, Luca,” he drawls.
“Hey. I had a few and wanted to catch up. Is it a good time to talk?”
“Always.”
I smile, leaning back against the headboard. “What’s new?”
Austin laughs. “Oh, you mean other than my best friend in the world not making time to talk to me anymore?”
“Pouting isn’t a good look on a grown man.” I can almost picture it in my head. It’s been years since I’ve seen Austin in person, but there are some things you just don’t forget. A six-foot-two man pouting is one of those things. “Besides, I’m not your best friend anymore.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Of course you are.”
I almost roll my eyes. A couple of years ago, Austinbecame besties with a guy he works with. I’m happy for him. He needs friends who aren’t a plane ride away. Not that I’ve been to visit anytime in the last few years. “Nah. We both know Jasper is your best friend.”
“Is that jealousy I hear?”
“You wish.” I miss this. The easy camaraderie. The easy conversation. I need to make more time to talk to him. “Besides, it’s really hard to replace the guy who used to hold your hand when you peed in the woods because you were afraid the squirrels would take your nuts.”
I’m met with silence. “Luca Jackson Pierce. I’ll hang this phone up right now. I was six years old. Six.”
A laugh bursts from my chest. “Okay, that’s fair. Does Jasper know?”
“No, and that’s a secret you and I will take to the grave. But really, what’s up? It’s been so long since I’ve heard from you. Do you and Damien have a date planned yet for the wedding?”
My chest gets a little tight. “No, not yet. I’m hoping we’ll get something worked out soon, though.”
Austin hums. “Well, let me know when. I’ll make sure I can request time off work and book a plane ticket.”
I swallow down the lump in my throat. “Yeah, I will.”
