Page 45 of Hunted By Them

“Fine, I won’t fly out. But you text me every morning and every night. I mean it.”

“Deal.”

“I do love you, Sage. I know I’m hard on you sometimes, but it’s only because I don’t want you to end up like me. Choosing the wrong man, working three jobs to make ends meet. My life has always been a struggle, and I don’t want that for you.”

“I know, Mom, and I love that you care so much, but sometimes it’s suffocating. I promise, I’m doing this for all the right reasons.”

When we hung up, I tossed the phone aside, drained the rest of my drink, and grabbed another little bottle. The buzz softened the edges of my fury, but not enough.

I needed something else. Someone else. I glanced at the door, but didn’t think they were going to find me here. It shouldn’t bother me, but of course it did.

Beth. Maybe I needed some girl time. If anyone could pull me out of my own head, it was her. I thumbed out a quick message.

Sage: Hey, girl. I know it’s late, you wouldn’t happen to still be awake?

Her reply was instant.

Beth: Please, you know I’m a night owl. What’s shakin’ my love?

Relief loosened my chest. At least one thing in my life wasn’t complicated.

Sage: Honestly…I don’t know. I don’t feel like myself anymore.

Beth: What do you mean?

I tapped the phone on my chin as I tried to think of how to put this, without giving anything away about what had happened.

Sage: I just feel like I’m living a life that I created for others. It was what I thought I wanted because it was what was expected. But since Connor and I split, I’ve slowly started to realize that the world I built isn’t for me.

Beth: I totally get that. Why do you think I took off on that month-long trip last year? Yes, I wanted to travel, but I needed to make big decisions. Mark had asked me to marry him, and in the end, I decided no.

My mouth fell open.

Sage: Why didn’t you tell me? Oh my God, Beth.

Beth: I know…I just didn’t want to say anything at the time. Everyone is so happy in their little bubbles of marriage, kids, and working nine-to-five. I didn’t know what anyone would think if I said I was going to change careers, leave my college sweetheart, and move into a studio apartment above a country bar where I now sing twice a week. Shockingly, I wasn’t a country singer, but it paid well and people seemed to still enjoy my indie rock vibe.

Sage: You bitch! You’ve been keeping all of this from me?

Beth: I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you, bestie. But I kinda needed to see if I could do this on my own before I announced it to the world.

That I understood.

Sage: I get it, and I’m not angry, but damn, girl, you went all out. I’m so proud of you. I know how much you love writing and singing. Every part of my body is crossed for you.

Beth: Thank you, and I’ll tell you all about it the next time we get together. But that’s not why you reached out, so what are you thinking about for your future?

That was a damn good question.

Sage: Well, I think I’m going to move to a small house outside of the city, closer to Yellowstone, actually. And I want to open my own marketing company.

Beth: Wait…you want to live closer to the forest you disappeared into, the one where you can’t remember what happened? Okay, I’m really starting to think you were abducted by aliens. LOL!

Sage: LOL! Funny. No, I’ve just always loved nature and want to get out of the city.

Beth: Makes sense, and do whatever makes you happy, no matter what anyone else thinks.

Sage: Thanks. So, you want to meet up soon?