Page 43 of Starting Back
“You did?” I held my phone away and went to my messaging app. Sure enough, three unanswered texts from my cousin stared back at me from the other night and yesterday.
I’d forgotten I’d put my phone on do not disturb the entire day to get the most out of every minute with Kristina, and the night before I had been too into her to care about anyone texting me, family or not. I’d probably missed other calls too, but I didn’t feel like fishing around to find out.
“Sorry about that. I was out all day yesterday and had my phone on do not disturb.”
“Out?”
I held in a groan, picturing the sly grin across his bearded mouth. Gabe was ten years older than me, already grown and out of my aunt and uncle’s house by the time I moved in, but he was the closest thing I had to an older brother.
When I was finding my way after my parents’ death, he was the one to set me straight whenever I’d stumble, kicking my ass when needed, while my aunt and uncle would step back to give me space.
It was a three-person job to handle me for many years, and all this time later, he was still the pain in the ass who reeled me in when I needed it.
“I met someone and took her out for the day. I turned my phone off so we’d have no interruptions.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“I see women, Gabe. I’m not a monk.”
“Oh, I know that, but being that into one to ignore everything for two days, she must be something extra special. Good for you.”
“Shewassomething special. She’ll be on a flight back to New York the day after tomorrow. We had some fun, and then I had to go to work. Don’t make it a big deal.”
“I wouldn’t,” he scoffed, chuckling like the smug bastard he was, “if you didn’t sound like someone ran over your puppy. If you liked her that much, why didn’t you ask to see her again?”
“Because she has two kids at home. Long-distance wouldn’t work, and after two days, it was ridiculous to even suggest it.”
“I’m not saying propose marriage. But if you like her this much, it wouldn’t hurt to chat back and forth after she leaves, no?”
“I can’t give her anything real. And after what she’s been through, that’s what she deserves.”
“Can’t or won’t? Come on, primo.All right, I won’t press on that, but if she’s leaving soon, why waste time at work? Stay with her until she leaves if you’re so attached to her.”
I groaned and sank my head deeper into the pillow.
“Well?” Gabe pressed as I tried to come up with an answer. With him, it was always too damn pointless to lie.
“Because why delay the inevitable and make it worse? Plus, I can’t just blow off the second half of a shift.”
“How many times have I heard you say that you’re covering for this one or that one? Cash it in. If you don’t, you’ll regret it. Fight me on it, but you know I’m right.”
“Fuck off, Gabe,” I muttered as my cousin’s hearty laugh filled my ear.
“Thought so. A woman who can get you this out of sorts isn’t someone you just had fun with. Stop worrying about what makes sense. Just go with it.”
Just go with it.It was what I’d asked Kristina to do when we first met, but fear was holding me back now.
“Are you really okay with never seeing her again?”
“No,” I answered so fast I surprised myself. “But it can’t work when she goes home.”
“But she’s not home yet, primo. You can look back on these past few days with fondness or regret. Up to you.”
SEVENTEEN
KRISTINA
“Ilove coming to the Keys. I can’t believe you’ve never been here.”
