“Then how is it—oh, wait. I did it wrong, didn’t I? I’m seven hoursahead, which means it’s... what, about three a.m. your time?”
“I just said that.”
“I’m making sure you did the math right.”
“I’m literally looking at a clock right now.”
“They say even a broken clock is right twice a day.”
“Was there a reason you called or should we quiz each other on what time it is in Sydney, Australia, right now?” McKenna waited for Bobbi to laugh or make some sort of sarcastic comment in return. “Bobbi?” she said when only silence filled the line. “You still there?”
“Yeah,” she said in a subdued tone. “I’m here. And maybe that’s the problem.”
“Aren’t you having a good time in Italy?”
“I’m having a great time. The vineyard where we’re staying is beautiful. The food is amazing. All the activities leading up to the wedding have been a blast. It’s all been perfect, really.”
“And that’s a problem because...”
“I don’t know. I guess I just miss Oliver and... well, I wish you were here.”
“Ha, me too.”
“So why don’t you come? You can bunk in with me. Staci says you’re more than welcome. In fact, she’d be thrilled for you to attend her wedding.”
“I don’t even know Staci.”
“She doesn’t care. Once I told her what a talented photographer you were, she loved the idea of having you here so she could get even more great photos from the wedding. Plus, then we could spend the next two weeks together here.”
“I can’t just hop on a plane to Italy, Bobbi.”
“You hopped on a plane to Tennessee.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“I don’t need to do any math to figure out what time it is for one thing.”
“I’m serious.”
“About what? I’m not following anything you’re saying.” TheJeopardy!dream was starting to make more sense than this conversation.
“I don’t like being here without you.”
“You’ll only be gone three weeks. You can’t miss me that much.”
“But that’s the thing. I do. I love Staci and all her friends are great, but... well, you’re my sister. My best friend. And, I don’t know, I guess I just keep thinking how much more fun I’d be having if you were here, too. And maybe I keep thinking about what it would be like living this far apart from you all the time. I’d hate it.”
“Well, then I’d say it’s a good thing neither of us has any plans of moving to Italy.”
“You wouldn’t ever think about leaving Nebraska, would you?”
Only all the time. “Why are you asking that?”
“Because I don’t know what I’d do without you, McKenna.”
“Be madly in love with Oliver, that’s what you’d do.”
