“As soon as I can get a bag together. I’m driving out.” No need to mention that it’s cheaper to drive.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”
“Brady—”
“I’ll be there, Lennon.”
My lips purse, and my heart surges. I’d told Laine he would remember our pact, that it still applied, but even as I said it, I felt a twinge of uncertainty. We’re adults now. That pact was made with teenage hearts. Back then we didn’t understand commitments to anyone but each other. Now there are jobs and lives and... significant others?
“Thank you, Brady.” There’s relief in my voice.
“Did you think I wouldn’t come?” His voice is low. The rumble of it warms my heart.
“No, no. Of course not. I knew you’d come if you could.”
“I’d be there even if I couldn’t.”
I smile. He’s still so sweet, so loyal. Never one to shy away from a declaration. But the best part about Brady? He means it.
“I better get going,” I tell him. “I need to pack.”
“And call Finn?”
“Yep,” I answer, guilt blossoming in my belly. There’s nothing wrong with me calling Finn and then packing, but not telling Brady my exact reason for getting off the phone makes me feel like I’ve done something wrong.
“So you called me first.” Satisfaction colors his tone.
I groan playfully. “Your name comes first in my contacts.”
“Uh huh.”
I laugh and tell him goodbye, then scroll to Finn’s number. My thumb hovers over his name as his face floats in my mind. His perpetual smirk is the first thing I see. It’s like he knows something juicy, and if you’re lucky enough, he just might share it with you.
I press his name, and the phone rings. Once, twice, three times. He answers on the fifth ring.
“Well, well, well.” He pauses, exhaling a heavy breath. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“What are you doing right now?” I’m asking because his breathing is still heavy, andoh my godwhat if he’s... you know... with a woman right now? He wouldn’t answer in the middle of that, would he? Except this is Finn I’m talking about, and anything is possible with him.
“Working.”
“I didn’t know computers could give you such a workout.”
“Very funny, Miss L.” He pauses again, and I imagine him gulping water from a bottle. “What’s up?”
“My mom died, and I was wondering if you feel like coming to Arizona?”
Finn’s quiet for a moment before he speaks. “You’re in luck, Lennon. I’m already in Arizona.”
Surprise jerks my head back an inch. “You went home... without us?”
“I’m in Arizona, but not in Agua Mesa.”
Oh.
This makes me feel better. On a realistic level, I know he can go wherever he damn well pleases. All three of us can. But that agreement we made is something I hold onto, a symbol of how much we all still matter to one another.
“Why exactly are you in the great state of AZ?” I make my voice casual, trying to fight the feeling of longing that has sprung up in my belly. I feel the girlish urge to twist a phone cord around my fingers and bat my eyelashes. Of course, there is no phone cord to twist because this isn’t the nineties.
