“Um, a friend is in town and I thought I’d show her around.”
She studies me for a bit, before saying, “Okay, tell Tate I said hello.”And just like that, she’s gone.
I pick up my phone from the nightstand to check the time.Quarter past seven.Meaning I have to get going if I’m going to be in front of her Airbnb by nine.There are also six unread messages, all from Jan.
Jan: Levi.
Jan: I specifically told you not to do anything stupid and yet there you go...
Jan: Do you know how long this is going to take to clean up?
Jan: Levi!
Jan: I’m going to call Gabriella and see if we can get her out there.
Jan: Also, karaoke?What are you, five?
I punch out a text message that I’m sure I’ll regret.
Levi: Do not call Gabriella.Do not send her out here.I’m done playing your game and if that means I lose then that’s ok because I’m a singer, not an actor.
Send.
I throw on a pair of jeans from my drawer and a Vols button-down jersey.Feels appropriate for showing off the greatest state in the country.I walk to the small mirror at the top of the dresser and finger-comb my hair back a couple times before settling on a hat.
Ping.
I roll my eyes.I’m not dealing with Jan’s antics today.I tuck my phone into my back pocket and head out the door.
The second I step outside, I’m slapped with the chill of winter.California has obviously coerced me into thinking I could leave without a jacket in the middle of December.I take a step back in, stopping at the coat closet.When I open it, I spot my old letterman’s jacket.I pull it out, admiring the red wool and the white leather sleeves.High school feels like a lifetime ago.I put it back and start flipping through the rest of the jackets.I land on a black denim jacket with a shearling lining before braving the cold again.Despite coming home not that many hours ago, my truck has thick frost over the front windshield.Once inside, the cold seems to seep right through my jacket and jeans.I start the car, turn all the knobs to hot and start the defroster.Dang, it’s cold.Far colder than it was last night, that’s for sure.I make a cup with my hands and exhale hot air into them before rubbing them together.
Ping.
I pull my phone from my pocket to put Jan on silent, but it’s not Jan.It’s Tate.
Tate: Morning.
Tate: Are we still on?
I type out a quick message before heading her way.
Levi: Hey.Sorry.I ignored it because I thought you were Jan.Yes, on my way now.Bring a jacket.
