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Twelve
SeeingRed
Byron
For an entire week it’d been one thing after another that kept Byron from seeing Vannah again. Though they’d talked on the phone, texted and video chatted enough in the days that followed their night out at the beach. Byron had never been a phone guy, yet they’d had marathon talks well into the nightallweek. Then when they finally ended their sometimes hours long chats, he’d lie there for a long time pondering not just everything they discussed, but how quickly she’d seeped into his every thought. It was now almost the weekend since he’d last seen her that Monday—touched her and he was growing unbelievably anxious about when he would again.
Vannah had been busy with school, and Byron’s business appointments were heavier than the norm that week. The vacillating visit from her brother that had since turned into possibly more family members stopping by with him, didn’t help either. She’d continually been on standby only to have them cancel more than once already last minute.
To top it off, he and Vannah had finally managed to pencil in a lunch date that Friday and Byron had been more than looking forward to it when he got the call.
“I need a huge favor,” Beast said as soon as Byron answered his call.
“Sure, what’s going on?”
“Few weeks ago, when Ali sent Nat home because she was coughing and whatnot, turned out to be a lot more than just a cold. They don’t know for sure yet, but they found something in her lungs.”
It took a moment for Byron to remember who Beast was talking about—his niece’s regular sitter. He listened as Beast filled him in on how they were scrambling to find a replacement because Nat would be out of commission for a while if not longer. His pregnant wife Ali was on strict doctor’s orders to stay off her feet as much as she possibly could. She’d already gone into early labor once and she was still months from her due date.
“Lila’s stepped up already to help out with the girls until we can find a replacement, but she won’t be back in town for a couple of days. I need someone to pick them up from school today and watch them for a couple of hours until I’m done with this photo shoot.”
“I gottem’,” Byron said without thought. “They’re off at twelve-thirty today, right? Early day?”
“Yeah, I dropped them off and Ali was insisting she could pick them up but—”
“No, way,” Byron said before his already relieved sounding brother could finish. “Tell her I got this.”
They discussed a few more details about the girls, and Beast’s schedule for the rest of the day before he got off the phone. Exhaling loudly once off the phone, Byron wondered if it’d be too weird for him to ask Vannah to come with him to pick up the girls at school. They could all go grab something to eat together after. It was either that or cancel their lunch date which had him groaning already. No telling when they’d both be free to meet up again. Especially since her family had pretty much confirmed they’d for sure be in townallweekend.
Glancing at the clock, Byron bit the bullet and called her. It was still a couple of hours before their scheduled meetup. He could at least not cancel last minute if in fact she passed on hanging out with him and his nieces. He knew his Little’s would be full of questions for him after, but he’d be willing to comply if it meant seeing Vannah again.
“Hi,” she answered cheerfully and that alone had Byron smiling immediately.
“Hey, how we doing?”
“Oh, my gosh,” she huffed. “I’m rushing around as usual.”
“Busy, busy, huh?”
“Yes, my family will be here soon and I’m trying to get a few things done before they get here.”
“Ah, so they’re finally making it out.” He frowned in disappointment because he knew what that meant, it’d be even longer until he’d see her again. “No cancelling this time?”
“No. They’re on their way as we speak. Should be here around lunchtime.”
“Speaking of.” Byron cleared his throat a little nervous about suggesting she hang with him and his nieces on this only theirseconddate. “My brother needs me to pick up his girls from school today. Their sitter’s come down with something and they get off early today—half past noon.”
He left it at that for a moment to get her reaction since that’s when they were supposed to meet. She was quiet for a moment before responding. “Oh well, it’s probably for the best. My dad was kind of disappointed about me blowing him off for lunch today. My other siblings are doing their own thing for lunch, so it would’ve been just me and my parents. I lied and said I had a class I couldn’t get out of, so I could see you and then meet up with all of them later.”
“Uh . . .” This wasnotwhat the response he was going for, damn it. “I—”
“It sucks that our plans keep getting put off. But after this weekend my schedule should go back to normal.”
Before Byron could respond that hedid notwant to wait until after the weekend to see her—regardless of sounding pushy or a little too anxious—Vannah added something else that surprised him.
“I miss you.”
It’d been less than a week since he’d last been with her and he’d worried he was getting way ahead of himself by missing her lips, her touch, that bright smile and laughsomuch. Hearing her say she missed him, and as genuinely as it sounded had him smiling again.
