Take care of myself, huh? Yeah, that’s what I’ve always done.
I can do it again.
I have no choice but to do it again.
WAYNE
The spontaneous trip I went on with the guys turned out to be lackluster, as have most things in my life lately. I haven’t been able to shake the notion that I’d be having more fun if Katie were here.
Sure, that’d trash the whole idea of a dude’s-only-getaway, but fuck it. It hasn’t amounted to much on its own.
Camping was fine, but it was kind of boring without excessive amounts of liquor or enough weed to smoke the entire forest out. Aaron brought a few six packs, and that was it. For aweekof camping with all four of us.
I spent half of the time out there bored and watching the leaves rustle overhead.
It was nice, I guess, but I was expecting some good old-fashionedfun. Instead, I sat and listened to my three closest friends talk about the joys of married life and fatherhood. I’ve never had less in common with a group of people before.
I even egged them into heading down to Vegas for a few days, but that was more insufferable than I thought Vegas knew how to be.
Well, to be fair, it was Vicky who was insufferable. Apparently, Cody posted something about our plans online, andVickyjust so happenedto be in town. She was all over me, asking questions about how work was going and how much I’m making these days. Usually I don’t mind bragging about my job if it’ll get me laid, but I have no interest in impressing my ex. I hardly managed two minutes away from her the whole time we were there, and I was incredibly relieved to say goodbye to the strip, and her along with it.
I scroll past the near endless texts from who I can only assume is Vicky—I didn’t save her number, and I have no plans to do so. Whatever she has to say to me, I don’t want to hear it. Especially not after this weekend.
I’ve had women come onto me that I haven’t been interested in before, but they can usually take a hint. Vicky seems fucking incapable.
My heart twinges in my chest when I see that I only have two texts and one call from Katie. I didn’t realize I wouldn’t have service while we were camping, and I just didn’t check my phone while we were in Vegas. I expected more, I guess. Did she not miss me? I’ve spent this whole time basically pining for her.
Was I just a fling to her? I thought we were getting closer to the territory of having something… well, maybe notserious, but at least something real. Can something be real but not serious? Either way, I thought what we had mattered, and I really thought I would hear more from her.
Maybe things will go back to how they were now that I’m back in town.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and all that.
Not fond enough to pick up when I call, though. The dial tone rings in my ear until Katie’s voicemail beeps at me, informing me she’s not available.
“Hey, sugar,” I say as I toss my bag into the back of my SUV. “Uh, it’s me. I’m heading back to town. Give me a call when you get this.”
I stopped off at a motel for the night, too exhausted to drive straight through, but it’s still early. If she doesn’t have much going on at work, she might not even be up yet. And if she does have a lot on her schedule, well, she’s busy.
I’m sure she’ll call me before I make it back home.
The scenery flies by as I drive, shifting from unfamiliar GPS-required roads to very familiar ones I can navigate with my eyes closed. Even by the time I pull into the driveway of the ranch, though, my phone still hasn’t rang. I check it after I park, anyway, part of me stupidly hopeful that I just didn’t hear it.
No notifications.
I try not to wince at the sting.
She’s probably here, anyway. I’m sure Dad is working her to the bone. She even leaves her phone in the office some days, so she probably doesn’t even have it on her. I’m sure she’ll be just as thrilled to see me as I am to see her.
I sling my bag over my shoulder before heading into the house. Jenny’s in the kitchen, nose in her coffee cup while she pores over something on her laptop.
“Welcome home.” Her words are dry and uninterested, but it’s better than the cold shoulder. “I’ve got new contracts I need you to look over.”
“Can I get settled in first?” I ask, annoyed. “Let me get my stuff set down and go say hi to Katie, at least.”
Jenny looks up from her computer at that, one thin brow arched as she rakes her gaze over me.
“Oh, so Katie’s a priority now?” she asks snidely. “Or are you just looking for excuses to fuck off again?”
