“You’re going to get through this weekend. And if you want to leave, we’ll leave. No questions asked.”
She propped the phone up on something so I could still see her and started chopping something.
“Dallas basically said the same thing. That he rented a car so he can get out anytime he wants. We’ll have another getaway if we need it.”
That was something.
She shook her head. “But let’s not talk about the wedding. I’ve been thinking too much about it. Tell me something good.” Her words were more of a command and I didn’t hate it as much as I should have.
I thought for a moment. “Something good… Well, I just hit 15k followers on my Pilates account. And I have roasted brussels sprouts in the oven for dinner, and I bought a new pair of yoga pants and they accidentally sent me two pairs. There, that’s three good things.” They were in my opinion anyway.
Vail kept chopping and glanced over at me. “I like those. They’re so simple. I mean, not the followers, that’s amazing. I know you’ve worked so hard.” I had, but it was really nice to hear someone actually say it. I didn’t need praise, but hearing someone acknowledge how hard I worked felt good. Really good.
“Need more?” I could find more for her. I could go all night if I had to.
She grinned. “Yeah, give me more.”
“Your kittens. They’re good. And your house is definitely good. Especially how easy it is to get onto the garage roof to see the stars. Blueberry cheesecake is good.”
She let out a moaning sound that nearly made me gasp.
“Oh god, I want blueberry cheesecake now. I might have to put in an emergency order.”
I was never going to get that moan out of my mind. It was lodged permanently in my skull. Never to be forgotten.
“I feel like we’re writing new lyrics to that song. You know, the one the nun sings to the kids?” I couldn’t have predicted that Vail Winthrop would make aSound of Musicreference, but here we were.
“Whiskers on kittens are pretty great.”
Her laugh was soft. “Yeah they are.”
* * *
Vailand I talked for a long time that night, about good things and silly things and inconsequential things.
“Why is it that I always wear out my voice with you?” she asked, her tone low and raspy. I knew she was going to need to stop talking to me to conserve her voice, but I didn’t want her to. I wanted to fall asleep to the sound of her.
“Because I’m the only person you talk to, other than the kittens.”
She was laying on her couch, her phone held right in front of her face.
“Ouch.”
“Sorry. But we both know it’s true.” I would suggest that Vail get some actual in-person friends, but she was a grown woman. If she wanted friends, she could find some. Hell, she could have mine. I’d share.
“I know. I don’t think I’ve ever really had a friend before. Not a real one anyway. Allegra only wanted me to have friends as a transaction.” She didn’t normally call her mother by her first name. I wondered at the change but didn’t ask for an explanation.
“I know. I remember.”
She yawned, her jaw cracking. “I’m sorry.”
“We should probably get to bed.”
I wished she was here with me. Standing next to me while I brushed my teeth. Fighting over who was hogging the blankets. Watching as she braided her hair for the night. Making fun of her pajamas.
We hadn’t even kissed, but I wanted all of that. To see her good nights and her good mornings. This wanting her was like a persistent ache in my chest that only got worse the longer I knew her.
Once the wedding was over, I could deal with all of it. I just had to keep it together until then.
