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Chapter 2
RILEY
The first night I didn’t receive the picture Daniel promised to send, I didn’t think much of it. Figuring he’d gotten caught up in spending time with his daughter. But after the weekend goes by without another word from him, my heart breaks realizing I’m never going to hear from him again.
“Are you okay? I can stay a couple more days if you need me to.” Lainey dips down to catch my eyes staring blankly at the ground next to her car.
“You shouldn’t miss school. I’ll be fine.” I broke down last night and told her about Daniel. Not everything about him. Like him being twice my age and having a daughter close to my own. But that I met an amazing man I hoped wanted to see more of me but hadn’t sent the message he promised. At which point, Lainey cursed his name and told me I’m better off without him. She can be an overbearing brat but she’s still my sister. Sometimes, she even acts like it.
Though I outwardly agreed with her, inwardly I still hoped to hear from him. Never in my life have I felt the deep connection I had in those few minutes at the store or on the phone with Daniel. So close, so quickly. And I’m certain he felt it too.
How could he just ignore that?
Before my ears start steaming, I pull my sister close to hug out my frustration.
“It’s going to be alright, Ri.” Lainey hugs me back and kisses my cheek before letting go. “You’ll find the right someone someday.”
I kiss her back. “Love you. Drive safe.”
“Whatever you do, don’t call him. Don’t be desperate.”
“You just can’t let go can you?”
“You’re my baby sister. Of course I can’t.”
I throw my arms around her again. This time for no other reason than to show her how much I love her. “Call me when you get home.”
After another heartfelt goodbye, I watch my sister until she disappears around the corner at the end of my street. Then, pull out my phone on the way back up to my apartment.
There is nothing desperate about one text. Just to ask how the gumbo turned out.
Oh! Maybe that’s why he didn’t send a photo. Maybe it still didn’t turn out right and there was no gumbo worth photographing. And maybe he’s embarrassed about it.
Or angry at me because my advice didn’t work out?
Yikes.
Maybe a text isn’t such a good idea after all.
I sit on the loveseat in my cramped little living room—just big enough for a TV on the wall and a combo bookshelf and desk beside it next to the window overlooking the street—turning my phone over and over in my palm.
There could be a hundred reasons I haven’t heard from him yet. But in the end, I can’t help coming back to the fact that if he wants to talk to me again, he would have by now. He’s had plenty of time. And me sending a message when it’s his turn could be considered pushy—desperate.
I hate when my sister’s right but it is time to move on.
The phone, flying from my hand toward the couch cushion next to me, lights up. Daniel the Gumbo Guy flashing on the screen.
Trying to keep my composure, I pick the phone up again and swipe the screen. “Hello?”
A low, inaudible voice hums in my ear.
“Hello?” I repeat a little louder. “Daniel?”
Another higher-pitched voice joins the lower one—maybe his daughter—and just as muffled. Like they’re talking from inside a…
“Daniel! You butt dialed me!” It’s not likely he can hear me, no matter how loudly I yell but I hope he does. Getting back in touch like this—a silly accident—could fix everything.
But their muted conversation continues, completely unaware they’ve dropped me in the middle of it.
