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“Why does he get the cool name?” He sounded so offended.
“DAD!” I said with a loud laugh.
“All right, okay, boring old Dad it is,” he chuckled.
Mom cut in. “You are anything but boring, dear. Now, let’s let her get back to her day. I have a client, and you need to get to the hospital.”
We finished the conversation, and I wasn’t any better off because laughing with them again made me miss them even more. I feel like I’m choosing between families, and I don’t know if I can do that.
I texted Liza and Pops to let them know the new plan for leaving. I told them I would ask Link to try long-distance for a while, maybe even ask him to come with me eventually, depending on how the conversation went. I know moving might be too big of a step so soon, but I know I need to go home for Callie. I also know that I am falling in love with their son. It’s not ideal, but I can do it for now, and we can figure out the rest as we go along.
They were thrilled that I was doing what was best for me, obviously a little sad, but they also said they would be hiring more people so they could spend time visiting me once I left. It made my heart swell that I wasn’t the only one willing to make sacrifices for this new family dynamic to work.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Lincoln
Icouldn’t get Aubrey off my mind; not unusual lately, but I was more worried for obvious reasons. I thought maybe another opinion might help me calm down a little.
Me: Hey, you busy?
Elijah: Nah, not really. What’s up?
Me: Come to the school at one o’clock and help me. I need to talk to you.
Elijah: Is this a trick? Is this really Link? You never ask for help.
He sent it with a laughing-crying emoji, so I know he was joking, but it still pissed me off. I rolled my eyes, but he was right. Although he’s my closest friend, we’re not really that close. It was probably the first time I’d ever asked him for something. His teasing wasn’t worth it.
Me: NVM, forget I even asked.
Elijah: I was joking, dickhead. I’ll be there. Need me to bring anything?
Me: Maybe some vodka.
Elijah: I can do that. I got you.
Me: Bro, I was kidding. I work at a school, for Christ’s sake.
Elijah: Uh… yeah, I was kidding too.
I was finishing up with the teacher in the next room when I saw him walk into the hall. I held up my finger to signify I needed a second, and he nodded to acknowledge he saw me.
I walked into my classroom and he was sitting in one of the seats with his feet on the desk. “So, what’s this secret mission you need help with?”
I grunted because I was already pissed off at his smugness. “I never said I had a secret mission. I just asked you to stop by.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, cut the bullshit. What’s up? What do you need?”
I wasn’t quite sure how to start because, again, I never asked for help from anyone. It took me longer to get the words out than I’d like to admit. Elijah just kept staring at me, waiting for me to talk.
“Well, it’s Aubrey.” I sat down behind my desk, and he just stared some more. When I didn’t keep going, he sat up and looked a little concerned.
“What about her? Is she okay?”
“She’s okay…I think. She’s just acting weird, and I feel like she’s hiding something from me. My mom mentioned giving her space like she knows something I don’t, and I don’t know whether to leave her alone or keep bugging her about what’s up.”
The smugness returned to his face, and I knew he was about to break my balls.
