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“Man, I can’t imagine what I’d do with all that free time,” Ricky says in awe.
Without a word, Rory gets up from the table and walks away. I watch her as she crosses the field and disappears from sight.
By the time the cookout is over, she is still nowhere to be found. I keep myself busy by helping the others pack up the leftovers to bring to the church. There isn’t a reason for me to worry. She knows almost everyone here, so I’m sure she’s been preoccupied. It’s not until I’m almost to my truck do I finally spot her waving goodbye to those who pass her.
“Where’ve you been?” I ask, tossing a cooler into the bed of the truck.
“Here.”
Her tone is sharp, and I hate that her sunglasses are hiding her eyes. They always give away her true feelings.
“Everything good?”
“I’m tired. It’s been a long day.”
“Ok. I just need to drop this cooler off at the church so they can donate the food, and then it’s straight home.”
“Great,” Rory mutters under her breath as she opens the truck door.
“Great.” I sigh.
We spend our drive home in total silence. Rory is sitting in the passenger seat with her arms folded, staring out the window. By the time I pull into my driveway, I can’t take it anymore.
“Are you sure you’re ok?”
“I’m fine.”
“Is that like girl code fine?”
“What?” Her head snaps to the left to look at me.
“You know, like when a girl says she’s fine, but she’s anything but.”
“Let it go, Jackson.”
“So, there is something wrong.”
I pull the truck next to her Jeep, and Rory immediately hops out. With the keys in her hand, she takes the steps two at a time and walks into the house. Awesome. Following her, I’m greeted by loud banging sounds coming from the laundry room.
“If there’s nothing wrong, why are you beating up the dryer?”
She storms to the doorway, hand on her hip. “Why did you tell Ricky you don’t want kids?”
“Because I don’t.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No, I—”
“Jackson, yes you do,” she yells. “Since the day I met you, you’ve said things like, ‘when my son does this,’ or ‘if I ever have a daughter, I’ll do this.’”
“That’s just something people say.”
“Not me.”
I puff out my cheeks and place the palms of my hand on my forehead. I’m so confused about what’s going on here.
“Rory, I’m with you, like forever, with you. We’re not having kids, and I’m more than ok with that.” She stares at me, and I can see the tears start to form in her eyes. “I don’t understand why you’re going all crazy on me.”
