Page 50

Shortly after leaving Kami and heading home, I send Jake a text. I don’t know what he’ll think when he reads that I want to talk. But it’s done.
His quick agreement is a surprise. I’m nervous but relieved. All I can do now is sit on the couch and wait.
Ten minutes later, I’m still waiting. I play a game or two on my phone, but nothing helps with my rising anxiety. Each second that passes feels like an eternity. What will he say? What does he want to tell me?
What happens after that?
Good question.
Depending on what we talk about and how well it goes, maybe I should be open and honest about some things, too. But if all he plans to do is laugh at me again, I’m not interested.
What if all his words end up being empty platitudes about what a good kid sister and friend I am? What if he’s not willing to risk his friendship with my older brother and intends to set me down gently? Happily ever after is only in movies and books, right?
No matter what happens, I should prepare myself. A part of me would rather hide from the impending heartbreak. Hide from my feelings.
Before I can decide what to do, I hear a knock at my door. Is that Jake? No. He has keys. Maybe he lost them? Then how would he have gotten home?
Just in case my visitor is an axe murderer, I talk through the locked door. “Who is it?”
“Mia? It’s Vance.”
Of all the people who could’ve knocked on my door, he’s the last person I’d expected. Slowly, I open the door. “Hey.”
“Hey.” He smiles. “I’m sorry to just drop by. Trust me, I would have let you know I was coming if it wasn’t an emergency.”
Seeing Vance at my place is already unusual, but the fact that he’s carrying a suitcase is even more strange.
“Going somewhere?”
“I am…which is what I want to talk to you about.”
His timing sucks, but if it’s an emergency… “Come on in.”
“Thanks,” he wedges through the doorway and scans my unit. “You’ve got a nice place.”
“Thanks.” I lead him into the kitchen. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“Got a bottle of water?”
“Sure.” I grab one from the fridge and guide Vance to the living room.
“How did you know where I live?”
“I called Josie. She’s out of town, but she gave me your address.”
“Where did she go?” I ask, handing him the bottle.
“Somewhere in the Midwest on a business trip.” He sets his bag down and accepts the water. “Thanks.”
“No problem. What can I do to help?”
“My grandfather has been sick for some time, and last night I got a call that he’s taken a turn. My family isn’t sure how much longer he’ll last. So I booked the first flight to Tucson I could get. I took an Uber here, but I wanted to talk to you before I left.”
“I’m so sorry about your grandfather. Were you planning to take another Uber to the airport?”
“Yeah.”
I shake my head. “Don’t waste your money. I’ll take you myself. We can talk on the way. What terminal are you leaving from?”