At home, the silence is less welcoming than I expected. It’s almost grating, even with Aris trying to fill the space with her chirps and endless energy. I’m restless, despite feeling like I need sleep.
Reaching for my phone, I text Holden.
Me:What are you doing?
Holden:Pigging out on perfect pieces of pineapple pizza.
Me:There were way too many P words in that sentence.
Holden:You’re just jealous of my brilliance.
Me:Mmm… no.
Holden:What are you doing?
Me:Salivating over salacious slices of salami, spicy sausage, and sliced olives over shredded cheese and perfectly seasoned tomato sauce.
Holden sends me a string of laughing emojis.You win.
Me:I always win.
My phone rings, and I swipe to answer his call. As soon as I do, he requests to video chat. I accept, propping my phone up on the couch.
“This is easier than texting with greasy fingers,” Holden says, sitting back on his couch. “Oh, I talked to Caleb today.”
“Yeah? How’s he doing?”
“He wanted my opinion on something.”
I tilt my head. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, he’s just considering a position change at work. Thought I might have some advice about talking to his boss, since I’ve asked for promotions a couple of times.”
Asked and received. His most recent promotion was after his trip to Wyoming. Holden isn’t afraid of going after the things he wants. Including dates.
The thought unsettles me.
“Anyway, he said he’s coming home for Christmas.”
“Christmas?” I choke. “That’s six months away!”
“I know.” Holden’s sadness reaches me easily through the line. He’s never been super close to Caleb, but close enough that the distance bothers him. “I might take a weekend and go see him or something.”
“You should.”
“Come with me?”
The invitation slips out so easily I doubt he actually thought about it. But why would he? We’ve taken trips together before. So why would this be any different?
“It would depend on if I can get time off from work.”
I reach for my soda, cracking it open, then pull up Survivor on my TV, more out of habit than anything. Holden and I have watched all the episodes, and even have a few of them memorized. When he hears the familiar opening tune, Holden grins and reaches for his remote. We watch the newest episode together, and to my surprise, he doesn’t try to fill the space with conversation. We rarely make it through a movie or TV without talking.
It makes me miss him.Why didn’t I go back to his place?
“I really should go,” he says, stifling a yawn.
“Yeah, okay.”
