Jada: You know where to find me.
I smiled as I felt a pull overcome me to do just that: find her and never let her go.
Soon.
Me: I’m working on AH tonight. I have a few things I have to get worked out by Monday.
Jada: I heard Max talking about that. He said it was going to be the death of him.
I chuckled.
Me:He’s just wanting sympathy.
Jada: LOL
Me: I just wanted you to know that I was thinking of you. I’ll try to come by tomorrow, if that’s okay?
Jada: I’d love that. I miss you.
Me: Good night.
Jada: Good night <3
Me: Heart.
THIRTY-FIVE
“You look like hell,” Kari observed the next morning, giving me a once-over and wrinkling her nose. She walked into the kitchen with her teal-and-cream robe wrapped tightly against her. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, and I could tell that Max was lurking around somewhere.
I picked at my toast. “Thanks.”
I hadn’t been able to sleep the night before, a kaleidoscope of images shuffling through my dreams keeping me awake. Memories of Decker at the harbor, Cane on the mountain, my drive to Arizona all rotated, interchanged, and replaced each other into a twisted, jumbled mess.
And that’s exactly how I felt, sitting at the table and watching Kari pour herself a cup of coffee … like a twisted and jumbled mess.Why can’t I be more like Kari? Controlled, determined, put together.
I was none of those things; I couldn’t even keep my damn dreams straight. It was the story of my life. I’d think I had something figured out and then I’d see it was all a ruse or wishful thinking.
Kari sat down across the table and picked up the newspaper. “Let’s do something today,” she said, undoubtedly looking for the travel section. “I want to do something fun.”
Max sauntered into the room, a pair of wrinkled jeans hanging off his hips. He broke stride for half a second to scan my face, before heading to the coffee pot. “You want to do something today? Let’s go to Pinnacle Peak.”
“Yeah, let’s not,” I said, giving him a look.
Kari’s eyes shot up in stark contrast to mine. “Yes. I love Pinnacle Peak.”
Max shook his head at Kari before turning to look at me. “Do you have something better to do, Ms. Stanley?”
“No, actually I don’t. Cane said he may come by today, not that I’m holding my breath at this point.” I wrapped my white robe around me tighter, trying to somehow protect myself from disappointment.
“Why are you so grumpy today?” Kari asked, taking a sip of her coffee.
“I don’t know. I just am.”
“Tell you what,” Max said, “give Cane a call and see what his plans are today. I think you both need some sunshine and I need some exercise.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t want to go.”
“You need to go. So go get your ass ready.” Max looked at Kari. “Asses. Both of you.”
