Page 26 of Three Not-So-Little Words (The Lawson’s #3)

twenty-six

The Crazy just Keeps on Coming

Ronnie

“ Y es, Rhonda, I got all the photos that you asked for. And some extras I thought would work well for the spread.”

“Ronnie, dear, you are literally the best. I was out of options. Originally, Stacy was supposed to take the job, but she got sick. Who the hell gets Mono these days?”

I laugh. “People still get Mono, Big Red.”

“I haven’t gotten it since I was in college.”

“Well, Stacy is still in college, so there you go.”

“How is your little sabbatical going?” She asks.

“It was going well, until someone called me back in.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll pay you double, and we’ll call it even.” She then changes the subject. “So, you’re stuck in Sacramento another day. Are you going out tonight?”

“Eh, I don’t know. I may go grab a bite, but other than that, I’ll probably just stay in.”

“You? Stay in? Are you sick? Is it Mono?” She jokes.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

“Alright.” Her tone says she doesn’t believe me. “I’ll talk to you later.”

We hang up, and I shut my laptop. Usually, I would already be dolled up and ready to hit the town, but right now, I have zero interest in that.

That’s not the only thing that seems different on this trip. I love to travel. Everything about it is so whimsical and fun…most of the time.

This time, though, everything has seemed rough and inconvenient. I have been annoyed at every slight thing, and I’m ready to go back to Lilly Leaf Falls.

It doesn’t’ help that I had to jump on a plane when things were in such flux with Drew. Okay, they were only in flux in my own head, but I’m still trying to come to terms with the fact that I actually like this guy.

That hasn’t happened since Aaron.

Maybe Dylan was right. Maybe I just need to keep going to see where the train takes us.

Good God, what is happening to me? It’s not that I really even know him all that well.

I guess we could get to know each other better.

My head hurts from all the back and forth I’m doing with myself. If I’m going to get any sort of clarity, I’m going to need some food.

I pick up the phone in my hotel room and ask to order room service. All I get is a recording that room service isn’t available, and that I should check out the bar and grill that’s on the lower level.

“Of course,” I mutter to myself before throwing on my shoes and heading downstairs.

Once there, I place a carryout order with the hostess, and she advises me to wait in the bar until it’s finished.

Don’t mind if I do.

Since I’ve got a few minutes to kill, I order a whiskey sour. I get distracted watching the TV for a moment until a deep voice next to me grabs my attention.

“Are you a big baseball fan?” He asks, seeing what I’m watching on the television.

I look over to see a gorgeous man. Think if Jason Momoa and Henry Cavill had a baby.

“Not even a little bit,” I answer his question.

“Me either. I’m more of a football fan myself.”

“Don’t care for that either,” I say.

He laughs. “That’s alright.”

My food shows up, and I take a lengthy swig of my drink.

The hot guy says, “Would you maybe want to eat that down here with me? I’d love to buy you another drink and get to know you better.”

The way he’s looking at me tells me he doesn't have any interest in getting to know me better. That’s not what he’s after.

Usually, I would jump at the chance to go to bed with this guy. Hell, I even considered it for a moment when I saw him.

But ultimately, I have zero interest. All I want to do is go back to my room, eat my food, and call Drew.

Oh, yeah. Something is definitely wrong with me.

I give a polite no thank you and head back upstairs. When I’m in my room, I pick at my food but seem to have suddenly lost my appetite.

I finally push it aside and grab my phone and punch in a number. Moments later, Dylan answers.

“Hey, Ronnie. What’s going on?”

“I need to talk to your girlfriend. Put her on the phone.”

“Well, hello to you too. You know, Leah has her own phone.”

“Dylan!”

“Okay, okay. Hold on just a minute.”

I hear him in the background. “Ronnie is on the phone. I have no idea what she wants, but she’s being crazy.”

Leah comes on the line. “Hey, Ronnie. What’s up?”

“Hey, can you go somewhere that my brother isn’t?”

“Uh, sure, hold on.” A moment later, she says, “Okay, I’m alone.”

“I need your advice.”

“Okay, shoot.”

“Dylan was telling me that when you and him got together, you weren’t exactly looking for anything serious.”

She laughs. “That’s putting it mildly. I said we were friends and nothing more.”

“Even when you were pregnant with his baby?” I ask.

“I’m not saying that it was a flawless theory.”

“What made you get over that and decide you wanted to be with him?”

“Well, the whole baby thing didn’t hurt,” she jokes. “I’m kidding. Really, what made me decide to give the whole thing a chance?”

“Yeah.”

She thinks for a moment. “I finally realized that my life was way better with him in it than without. He had become my best friend when I wasn’t paying attention.

He was the number one person I wanted to be around.

I finally got it through my head that I better get over my bullshit, or I was going to lose him. ”

“But how did you get over all your commitment issues?” I ask.

“I just had to trust my gut. And my gut told me your brother wouldn’t hurt me.”

“I guess,” I mumble.

“What’s going on, Ronnie? Why are you asking me all of this?”

“Ask Dylan. He’ll fill you in on everything,” I say. With a final “Thank you,” I hang up the phone.

I think about everything Leah just said. I think she’s right. The way she describes my brother is the same way I’m beginning to feel about Drew.

How crazy is that?

I’m not saying I’m ready for any type of relationship, but maybe I can keep hanging out with Drew and see where we end up.

I just need to get out of my own head. To do that, I’m going to need a shit ton more booze.