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Was it Sunday? Monday? It was important to know. Addison had told him she was leaving at the end of the week.
He didn’t want to think about that now.
He’d also lost track of the fact that his family might be wondering what had happened to him.
He stepped out on the porch, took his cell phone from his pocket and hit the speed-dial button for El Sueño. It was early, but he was counting on the fact that Lissa had always been an early riser.
She answered on the second ring.
“Hi,” he said, “it’s me. Just figured I’d let you guys know I’m still alive.”
“We came to that conclusion on our own, otherwise, we’d have had a call from the hospital or the police.”
“Liss. I’m sorry—”
“It’s okay. You’re a big boy, Jake. We didn’t expect you to check in.”
He rubbed his cheek. The scar under his eye was throbbing. It had a nasty habit of doing that when he did something stupid.
“You’re also an idiot.”
“Yeah. You’d be amazed how many people have told me that lately.”
She laughed. “Wanna bet?” Her tone softened. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“But not fine enough to put down roots here, where you belong.”
So much for a softening of tone.
“Travis around? Or Caleb?”
Her sigh echoed through the phone.
“Trav drove to Dallas. Caleb had an appointment in Austin. Em and Jaimie are gone, too. They both flew back to New York. And I’m out of here in about half an hour.”
Jake ran a hand through his hair.
“Nobody waited for me? I mean—”
“I know what you mean. The thing is, we’ve been waiting almost two years. We love you like crazy but—”
“Yeah. I get it.”
“Do you?”
Silence. Then Lissa cleared her throat. “The General called. He said he wished he could have gotten home to see you.”
“I’ve heard the speech before.”
“Haven’t we all?” His sister sighed. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say he really meant it this time.”
“Yes,” Jake said flatly. “But you do know better. So do I.”
“So, what’s next? You’re still leaving town?”
Jake hesitated. He thought of Addison, asleep in the bedroom….
