“Hey, you’d better head to bed if you expect to fight those dragons tomorrow. Wouldn’t want you to get burned to a crisp.”
“Lately, it feels more like I’m tipping at windmills. Good night, beautiful.”
“Good night, Colin.” Hanging up, I realize that’s several passing comments he’s made about his job. I get the distinct feeling he’s not happy, but he never says anything about fixing it. Well, I think yawning, those windmills will just have to wait for another day.
I don’t hear from Colin at all the next day. I hadn’t realized how much I look forward to his calls until they don’t come. I assumed he was working late again so I didn’t disturb him. By the next night with no contact, I’ve become worried. Deciding I would just check on him, I send out a text.
Maggie: I’m beginning to worry about myself. Without you around, I’m building up an unhealthy level of sarcasm in my system.
After ten minutes of silence, I’ve decided that Colin is tired of our game. I should feel relieved that he’s moved on but all I feel is sadness at losing my friend. I’m brushing my teeth before bed when my phone pings.
Colin: I fear you might have already spiked a fever holding all that sharp wit in.
A smile creeps over my face causing toothpaste to drizzle out of my mouth down my shirt. Whipping it off to put on a fresh one, I answer.
Maggie: Based on the shirt I just took off, I’m starting to drool foam from my heightened state of stifled snark.Walking into my room, I pull another T-shirt from my drawer, tugging it over my head.
Colin: I’m glad I was walking into my apartment before your last text. I would have had a “hard” time explaining my reaction to that visual.I blush, grinning at his response. Apparently, I haven’t lost Colin at all.
Maggie: I really need to get better at my text filter. I would not want to cause a ‘rise’ at work.
Colin: Miss Emerson! Your talent is being wasted in the classroom when it could be shared onstage. Too late though, I’m pretty much hard all the time now.
Maggie: You might be right Mr. Rhett. Maybe we should take our talent on the road.
Colin: Good night, beautiful.
Maggie: Good night, Colin.
I lay still for a few minutes, smiling at my ceiling. Reaching over I find the vibrator I’d left there. “Don’t judge me,” I tell the ceiling. “The first step to solving an addiction is admitting you have a problem.” Colin Rhett is proving to be a huge problem.
* * *
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and my friends begin stressing about my plans for the holidays. Since Mom died, they’ve made sure to include me in their holidays. I love them for it, but this time I just want a quiet day to myself.
I reassure them with promises of plans I’ve made with friends, but really, I’m looking forward to being at home. With all of the fun plans they have, the last thing I want anyone doing, is worrying about me. I knew when my mother passed that I would have to become content with spending holidays on my own.
Grayson and Izzy head for Izzy’s family Thanksgiving with Teddy in tow. I’ve been to one of those, her family is loud but fun. Grayson should be in for quite an experience. Claire flies to Oregon to spend it with her insipid family where I’m sure she’ll spend most of the time hidden in the back of a library. Marcus and Dia have already left for his parents’ beach house.
The most surprising news was Lily announcing she was flying to North Carolina to spend Thanksgiving with Matt’s family, including his four brothers. Their whirlwind romance has kept all of us guessing. I can’t wait to hear all of the details at the next lady’s night.
Colin should already be in Aspen sipping hot chocolate while sitting in a hot tub surrounded by gorgeous snow bunnies. I have no right to be jealous since I’ve pushed him away at every opportunity, but I really itch to scratch their eyes out.
With the words “Happy Thanksgiving” from my students, I watch as they head out the door to their families. I never assign homework over the holidays, making me one of the more popular teachers today.
When I finally get my room cleaned up for the holidays, I drive to the grocery store. I’ve decided to cook a small dinner to enjoy tomorrow. Just because I chose to spend the day alone, doesn’t mean I don’t want to lay groaning on the couch most of the evening from overindulging while watching college football.
I also have a stack of essays to grade which should keep me occupied most of the weekend. I’m trying really hard to keep busy so my holiday isn’t spent obsessing over what Colin is doing. He’s been so busy at work lately, we’ve barely had time to talk. I’m happy that he can take some time to unwind, I just don’t like to think about how that’s being accomplished.
I’m trying to wrestle my groceries in my back door when I hear my phone ringing in my pocket. Yeah, no way I can answer that. The kitchen door lock sticks so by the time I’ve fought it open and thrown my groceries on the counter it’s stopped. A few seconds later, it alerts me to a voicemail that’s been left. Pulling it out, I turn the speaker on to listen to the message while I unload my groceries.
“Hey, it’s me.” Colin! My heart begins to pound just listening to his deep voice. “I just wondered if you were home cooking yet. Lily told me you were spending Thanksgiving with some of your colleagues. Okay, well, if I don’t hear from you tomorrow, have a great holiday. I’ll catch up with you later. Bye, beautiful.”
I listen to it three more times before I realize what bothers me about the message. He sounds tired, very tired. He also doesn’t sound like he’s in Colorado on a slope somewhere. Picking my phone back up, I hit the number one. That’s right, he’s first in my speed dial, sue me.
“Hello, lovely. I didn’t expect to hear from you until next week.”
“Where are you?” I ask, cutting right to the chase.
