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Holden
“I’ll definitely be there,” I say into the phone.
“Are you sure?” Gina asks. “I know you’re in the middle of the season, and you must be very busy.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I tell her honestly, getting up from the bench just outside the door. “Hey, have you heard from Jamie today?”
“No, I tried calling her, but it rang out. Why? Is everything okay?”
“I’m sure she’s around. I just can’t find her,” I murmur. “She couldn’t have gone far. Her RV is still here.” And the keys are hanging on the hook right next to my work keys and the key to her garden because that’s what happens when you introducetrustinto a relationship, somethingbothof us had to earn back.
“Well, you know how much she loves wandering around your gardens. Maybe she just lost track of time?”
“Yeah, maybe that’s…” I trail off when I hear something on the walking trail behind some brush and start moving toward it. Before I make it two steps, Jamie appears on an old bike I’ve never even seen before.
“You there, Holden?” Gina asks
“Yeah,” I chuckle. “Jamie just showed up. Hang on, Gina.” I lower the phone and watch, entertained, as Jamie gets off the bike. She’s in her usual denim cut-offs and tank top, but she’s sweating from head to toe and covered in dirt. “Where have you been?” I ask, unable to hide my amusement. “And where the hell did that bike come from?”
“It was Maggie’s old one,” she says, stopping in front of me. “She said I could have it.” She jerks her head toward my phone. “Is that Gina?”
“Shit,” I whisper, bringing the phone to my ear again. “Hey, Gina. Sorry about that. Jamie’s here.”
“You called Gina?” Jamie whispers, eyebrows drawn.
I shake my head as Gina says, “That’s good. I’ll let you go now and speak to you both soon.”
We say our goodbyes and hang up, and Jamie’s freckles in her cheeks shift as she looks up at me, questions again, “You called Gina?”
“No. She called me.”
“How’d she get your number?”
“She called the shop, and Mags gave it to her.”
“Why didn’t she call me?”
“She tried, but you didn’t answer.Itried, and you didn’t answer.” I reach up, wipe the dirt off her cheek with my thumb. “Where have you been?”
“At the creek. I left my phone in the bike’s basket,” she says, reaching into her pockets. She shows me what Benny would call histreasures.“I got some rocks for Benny!” The way she says this—like a little kid—has me snorting with laughter.
“You fucking cute head,” I say, throwing my arm around her neck and bringing her into me. “Why didn’t you take the four-wheeler?”
“I didn’t know if I was allowed.”
I turn us toward the door and open it for her. “Babe, you’ve been here over a month, and if I haven’t made it clear by now that what’s mine is yours, then I’m doing something wrong.”
After entering the house, Jamie turns to me. “Does that mean I can replace that piece of shit coffee table?”
I look at the stacks of pallets in front of the couch. “Yes.”
“Can I change the ugly-ass curtains?”
Sliding my eyes to hers again, I say, “I’ll take you shopping for new ones tomorrow.”
“I hate your bed.”
“What?” I laugh out.
