Page 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Emerson

“Jerry is coming to get us.” I look up just as Alizabeth sits on the edge of the bed holding her phone in here hands.

“What?” Making my way around the side I sit beside her and notice the sadness in her eyes. Liz is always happy. I’m constantly teasing her telling her that she doesn’t need alcohol or drugs, she was born riding a high.

“Kelton texted,” she lifts her phone, “said something came up and Jerry is taking us to the airport.”

I look around for my phone, noticing it on the other bed next to my suitcase. Hurrying to it, I wake my phone and notice I have an unread text.

Kelton: Something came up, Jerry is coming by to pick the two of you up. Call me when you are back home. Love you and be safe!

I stare at the screen as if trying to will another text. Or any explanation that explains the dismissal.

But there is nothing.

“Did something happen between the two of you?” I look up and see her staring at me.

“No.” Last night was a good night, and even again this morning. He held me while I slept. I woke up in his arms. We all had breakfast, we laughed and made jokes. We even talked about a possible trip next month when the Terrors will be in St. Louis.

“He heard us talking,” Liz says and I rejoin her on the bed. “It’s the only explanation.”

She dials his number and it rings and rings then goes to voicemail.

“Never knew you to take the coward’s way out. Sending Jerry to see us off, nice move. Way to face things head on!”

“Liz,” I say and she looks over at me.

“What?” She hasn’t even ended the call yet so I know he’s hearing everything we are saying.

“Don’t say goodbye this way.”

“As opposed to the way he’s saying goodbye?”

I take the phone from her and stand, walking across the room.

“I think you heard us talking, and I think that maybe you are missing the part where a girl tells herself things she doesn’t mean to make saying goodbye easier.

Because I don’t want to say goodbye, Kelton.

I don’t want this to end, I just don’t see how it will work.

If you know how, tell me, help me understand how we navigate this.

Please call me and call your sister. I think she might really be mad at you. ”

As I end the call the doorbell rings and I turn around, seeing Liz stand.

“You might want to stay in here, I’m going to go screw Jerry on my brother’s couch as payback for him being an ass.”

“You wouldn’t,” I say and follow behind her.

She opens the front door, crosses her arms over her chest and says to Jerry, “You have two choices.” This isn’t going to end well. But I know better than to get in her way, so I stand back and hope the guy is smart enough to make the right choice.

“You can rebook our flights for a later time and take us to the asshole that thinks avoiding us is his safer option. Or you can run because if you say no to option one, I am going to make you wish you said yes.”

Jerry holds her stare but lifts his phone out of his back pocket. Then after a weird little stare down between the two of them that made me feel like I was somehow interrupting something, he looks at his phone and starts tapping away.

“Later tonight, tomorrow, what?”

“Tomorrow morning works,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest. Jerry still doesn’t look up. A few more taps, then he places his phone into the pocket of his jacket and once again stares at Alizabeth.

“Has anyone ever told you that you are bossy and demanding?”

“Every single day, at least twice,” she replies without even blinking. “And I don’t give a shit because I am who I am and I’m not changing for anyone.”

A smile tugs at the corner of his lips.

“And now for the part where you take us to my brother,” she adds.

“Might be better if we let him burn off some steam.”

Liz smiles, actually she laughs. “Well, big guy, I didn’t ask you for your opinion. You can drive us or we can take an Uber. I’m guessing Kelton would be pretty pissed off if you let us take option two.”

Jerry takes a deep breath, his shoulders vibrating and he chuckles low.

Then he steps aside, holding his hand out for us to pass.

When I do he leans in so only I can hear him.

“He couldn’t take watching you leave.” I glance at him.

“He’s stubborn, just like her. I was with him when he left Chicago.

He may not have said it aloud, but walking away wasn’t as easy as it seemed.

Just don’t be too mad at the guy for doing what he thought he needed to do in order to protect his heart. ”