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Nathan: MISSED CALL
Oh no, I never meant for him to worry, I just fell asleep and forgot. It’s so late I’m afraid to call him and wake him up, so I send him a text.
I’m home! I’m sorry I fell asleep as soon as I got here. Don’t worry, I’m okay.
My phone pings as soon as I set it down on the nightstand, another text.
Nathan: Call me.
I hit the call button right away, surprised he’s still awake, but eager to hear his voice even if he’s pissed about me not calling him earlier.
“Hey,” he answers immediately, the low timber of his voice giving me butterflies despite all of the ups and downs today.
“Hi,” I respond quietly, hoping my parents won’t hear me talking through the walls. I decide to go outside on the front porch while we talk, needing some fresh air anyway. The darkness of night isn’t so intimidating here with all of the street lights illuminating the neighborhood.
“I miss you,” his admission does nothing to calm the swarm of flutters in my stomach.
“I miss you, too,” I tell him honestly. I want to tell him so badly how crazy I am about him, but I still don’t know how I feel about it yet either. I feel crazy, that’s for sure, but I’m afraid I’m jumping in too soon, and too fast.
“What are you doing right now?” He asks. The question seems odd since it’s the middle of the night, surely he assumes I’m in bed.
“I’m outside on the front steps, I didn’t want to wake my parents.” Saying it out loud makes me feel like a teenager again, sneaking out to make a call to my boyfriend. I giggle at the thought.
“What’s so funny?” His voice seems lighter, happier. I tell him my thoughts, that coming home to my parents makes me feel inherently adolescent.
“I’m afraid my dad will come out at any moment and confiscate my phone. Then scold me for talking to a boy.” I laugh at the thought.
“Do you think he would like me?” His question catches me off guard, I hadn’t even thought of that. In my head, it was always me going back to Nathan, our world still revolving around just us. Meeting each other’s family makes this real, and it makes me happy that he might want that.
“I think he’d like you. My mom will lovvee you,” I emphasize the word suggestively, knowing how my mother is. I imagine them meeting, and how it would go. My dad would give him a firm handshake, acting tough, and my mom would fawn over him, ever the hostess. At the end of the day though, they’d both approve, because they’d see Nathan for the good man he is, just like I have. They aren’t ones to hold back punches, both of them told me not to make things serious with my last boyfriend. They asked me not to move, but I didn’t listen. I never felt super serious about him, but I did move, and look where that has gotten me. Back home, and with a price on my head.
He hasn’t said anything yet, but I can hear noise in the background, like wind or white noise. “Are you in bed?” I ask him out of curiosity.
“No,” giving no further context.
“Thenn, where are you?” My interest is piqued.
“In my truck,” he responds, plainly, still not giving me any information.
“It’s so late. Why aren’t you in bed?” My concern is growing, afraid that he’s out doing something reckless. Like hunting someone, namely a certain Sheriff.
“I had to check on something. Why aren’t you in bed?” He throws the question back to me.
“I slept on the couch for hours and now I’m not tired. Plus, I’m glad I’m getting to talk to you,” I say sheepishly, feeling shy even though I’ve already had sex with the man. Being vulnerable this way is harder, putting my heart on my sleeve in hopes that it’s not crushed.
“I’m glad you’re awake,” he responds. Suddenly, headlights light up the street as a truck pulls down the road toward my parent’s house. A twinge of fear passes through me, constantly unsure of my surroundings and realizing it might not be safe to be outside all alone. I exhale, blowing out the breath I was holding when I recognize the truck.
“No fucking way,” I exclaim. The truck parks on the curb, and Nathan jumps out immediately walking towards me, a big grin on his face. I jump up, my phone long forgotten in the grass, and cross the yard towards him in a run. I don’t care that we’ve only been apart for half a day, I don’t care that I’ve only known him for three days, I’m so happy to see him. I crash into his arms, clinging to him with relief. “Why are you here?” I ask him in disbelief.
“I told you, I needed to check on something.” He cradles my face in his hands. “I got worried when I didn’t hear from you, I needed to know you were safe.” His lips meet mine, kissing me long and hard, his worry pouring out of him.
“I didn’t mean to make you worry,” I say, breathless from his kiss. “But, I’m really happy to see you,” I wrap my arms around his neck, holding him tight.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Nathan
Six hours. That’s how long I went without hearing from her before I said fuck it and jumped in my truck, driving the two-and-a-half hours here to Tennessee. Jesse was able to give me Callie’s parent’s address pretty easily since I didn’t technically know where she lived.
