“She’s got feelings for you. She wants to talk.”
“Last time I saw her, she called a little cut on her foreheadhideous. She said she wasdisfigured. I can’t imagine how disgusted she’d be over my scars.”
“Seriously, man. Who you trying to protect? Her? Or you?”
Some truth in that question struck him. He wanted to believe in his altruistic intentions in keeping her at bay. It didn’t have to do with his own fear of rejection. She wouldn’t be able to deal.
Phoenix rose from his chair, anger over injuries he thought he’d accepted. His face flushed. “I told you, I don’t want to talk about this.” He strode to his desk and slammed a drawer open, pulling bound papers from it.
“You’re throwing away a good thing,” Caleb said, standing.
“Then you go out with her,” Phoenix said, glaring at his brother.
“I think I will,” he said, and pushed his way out the door. “Bye, Liv,” he called over his shoulder.
How can Caleb have such a different interpretation of what’s possible?Phoenix thought.
CHAPTER 46
YELLOW SUN
Phoenix
THURSDAY MARCH 21
“Mom?”
“Yes, Phoenix, it’s me. It’s a wonder you recognize my voice, given how long it’s been since you called.”
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” he joshed, stretching on his sofa.
“Someday, I’m going to be gone and you’re going to miss me,” came her familiar refrain.
“Aw, I miss you already,” he said. He popped in his air pods so that he could flip through news headlines on his phone while talking.
“Good. Because we’re seeing each other next week.”
“Next week? You coming for a visit?” He sat up, running through his mental calendar.
“Easter with your aunt and uncle and cousins. Have you forgotten?”
“Is it Easter already?” he asked.Isn’t Easter in April?
“March 31st, the earliest it’s been in five years.”
“Oh, okay, thanks for the reminder. I’ll be there. They want us down on Saturday, right?”
“That’s right. I’ll be flying in that day. George is going to pick me up. Are you bringing anyone?” Mom asked.
Unbidden, Orchid came to mind.
“Nope, there’s no one to bring.”
“Not Rina?”
He’d rarely thought of Rina since they parted ways. “Rina? We broke up.”
“Uh-oh. What happened?”
