Page 14 of When There Was You
Eight
After studying for days, I’m bleary eyed and can’t wait to be done with the semester. I’ve just got to push through the weekend, then my exams next week, and I’ll be home free. Sort of. I’m going to be slammed all summer between two part-time jobs and my internship. I’m stoked about the latter, which is for a regional health magazine.
I miss Mick, but he’s right to steer clear and let me focus. There is no focusing with Mr. Phenomenal around. As I rotate my stiff neck, it cracks unapologetically. I reposition my bed pillows, get comfortable, and open my hefty Communications Law textbook to review—again—the material aligned with my final.
Hours later, the phone trills. A glance at the clock shows it’s 8:14 p.m., still early by cramming standards.
“Hey, baby,” Mick’s voice croons in my ear.
I push the book off my lap, unhunching my tight shoulders. “Hi.”
“How goes the studying?”
I recline, stretching long, and nearly groan with the release. “It’s buckets of fun, are you kidding?”
He snorts.
“And I miss you.”
When he pauses, my sixth sense jumps into alert mode. “What’s wrong?”
Mick lets out an audible breath. “Remy’s home.”
I lurch upright, my heart banging in my chest like a caged bird as my legs swing off the bed to the floor. “Where?”
“Piedmont.” His parent’s house.
“When can we see him?”
“I’m heading over there in the morning.”
The implication is clear. He’s going alone. We both know I’m not welcome at the Remington household. “You…talked to him?”
“Briefly—just long enough to make a plan to see him tomorrow and tell him I’m glad he’s alright.”
My head hangs, my forehead sinking against my hand. “This sucks.”For me, anyhow.
“I’m sorry, Jax. I know this hurts. I’ll suss things out, see what I can arrange. But don’t let it derail your studying.”
“Fat chance. It’s already blowing up my brain.”
“This is why I debated even telling you.”
My incredulous huff punctuates the silence. “That’s totally messed up, Mick.”
“You know I would never keep something of this magnitude from you. But can you hang on to your patience a little while longer…and not allow it to fuck up your finals?”
He’s right. “Yeah, sure, whatever,” I mutter.
“Good girl.”
My throat constricts and a few tears slide down my cheeks. “You’ll call me tomorrow?”
“As soon as possible. I promise.”
I sniffle. “Tell him I love him?”
“Of course.”
