“Don’t worry, Dad knows better than to say something in front of Jude,” Sadie says and goes over to the sink to rinse her bowl. “You know he just wants to feel like you’ve got someone to take care of you.”
“Jesus, what is this, 1842?” I gripe and open the cabinets, looking for a bowl and cereal since I have no idea where anything is in this house. “I can take care of me. He doesn’t hound you like that about men.”
“I’m not his Little D,” Sadie responds, and when I turn to glare at her again she laughs. “Dix, you are his baby. And you were a sick baby. He’s always going to want to have someone looking out for you. Deal.”
“I wasn’t sick. I was a preemie.” I always have to correct everyone in the family. “I just needed more time to cook.”
“The preemie thing had them coddling you to begin with, but then you had to turn out the most like Jude, who he adores.” Sadie rolls her eyes in jest.
“I’m nothing like Jude.”
She laughs. “You two not only look alike, you’re both insanely driven, unbelievably hardheaded and could tie for gold in the sarcasm Olympics.”
Sick of watching me hunt for the bowls, she turns and opens a cabinet next to the sink and hands me one. Then she points to what looks like a door to another room. “Pantry. Walk-in.”
I walk over and open it. Wow, it’s already fully stocked. I grab the Lucky Charms instead of the Cinnamon Toast Crunch and pour a heaping bowl full. When I step out of the pantry Sadie already has the milk in her hand. “So, were you with the goalie last night or what?”
“Shh!” I command and sigh before taking a mouthful of cereal. “Yes. I was. But I won’t be again. They called him up.”
“Already? Really?” She looks appalled. It’s kind of hysterical. “Did you at least get to orgasm again?”
“Yes. Four times.” I chew and swallow another spoonful of cereal. “Four glorious times.”
Sadie looks skeptical. “And now you’re both going to walk away? From all those free and easy orgasms. Just like that?”
“Yup,” I reply flatly. “He needs to focus on his career, and I need to work on getting the promotion.”
“Okay,” Sadie says slowly, running a hand through her tangled bedhead. “I trust you know what’s best for you, Dix. I guess.”
“Thanks,” I reply and finish my cereal. I glance at my watch. It’s almost three in the afternoon. I should get going and check on Zoey. I rinse my bowl and hand it to Sadie, because Jude or whoever designed this kitchen gave the dishwasher a front panel that matches the cabinets, and I’m not about to hunt around to try to figure out where it is.
“And even if you’re as big an idiot as Jude, he eventually figured it out, and you will too,” Sadie adds as she pulls down the dishwasher door next to the sink. “Or die alone with a lot of cats.”
“I’m allergic to cats,” I remind her.
“Then let’s hope you figure it out.”
I flip her the bird over my shoulder as I walk out of the kitchen. I head back into the den, grab my purse off the couch next to where my mom is now sitting and kiss my dad on the cheek. “I’ll be back for dinner. I’m just heading over to see Zoey.”
“Invite her too, baby,” my mom says. “I made a giant lasagna. Just need to pop it in the oven.”
“I’ll invite her,” I promise.
“Oh, and your phone rang. A Bieber tune,” my dad tells me, and I want to laugh at the fact he knows what a Justin Bieber song sounds like, but that ringtone is just for Elijah.
“Thanks,” I say and head down the hall and out the door. As I wait for the elevator I look at my phone. Sure enough I have one missed call from Eli. My heart flutters and aches at the same time, especially when I see he left a voicemail.
The whole ride down in the elevator I vacillate on whether I should listen to the message. But I can’t not. So as I step outside I hit the button to listen to my voicemail.
“Hey.” His voice is low and extra scratchy and deep, and hearing it makes me feel good. “I’m in Vancouver. I have a flight to Quebec City in half an hour. I’d say call me back but I know you won’t. I get it. I don’t even know why I’m calling except to let you know it’s going to be hard to pretend I don’t think you’re the most incredibly sexy and amazing woman out there. You’ve left one hell of an impression on me, sweet Dixie, even if I’m not allowed to act like it. See you in a few days when we get back from the road trip.”
I’m filled with such a light, airy happiness I feel like I could float. It’s the worst possible reaction because we’re still doomed. Our flame was extinguished before it even got to glow. But damn, I can still feel its warmth, and it’s nice to know he can too.
13
Elijah
Eli leads us out!” Levi calls out to the team as we make our way down the tunnel toward the awaiting ice.
