Why would Wills want to be involved with someone like me? He was the epitome of the clean-cut, all-American boy who could get whoever he wanted. Why would he want me?
But if he ever turned his back on me…I didn’t think I’d survive it.
* * * *
My face was wet with tears when I woke up. I was sprawled on the couch, tangled up in the throw. What…Oh, yeah, I remembered. I’d dreamed that Wills used a misunderstanding as an excuse to walk away from what we had.
Although wasn’t alcohol supposed to help you forget?
I clapped a hand over my mouth to keep the whiskey I’d had the night before from spewing all over the couch. We’d used the money Pretty Boy and Spike had earned from tricking with Delilah to buy it, and I didn’t want to replace it so soon. My head pounding didn’t help in any way whatsoever.
Added to that my nose was clogged and I had to breathe though my mouth, which tasted as if it had been stuffed with old gym socks.
I tried to wipe the tears from my cheeks, but I had to struggle to free myself from the throw.
Jesus Christ. What made me think drinking half a bottle of Canadian Club was a smart way to erase the memory of what had happened yesterday? Yeah, I remembered that too.
The television was still on, Good Morning America.
The phone rang, and I jumped and toppled off the couch landing awkwardly on my butt. Jesus, I hoped I hadn’t broken my tailbone. That had happened to one of the boys, and he’d been in serious pain.
The phone continued to ring, and I scrambled for it. “Who…what…hullo?”
“Hi babe.”
“Wills! Oh, baby, I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
“Huh?”
“Please, please don’t leave me!”
“Theo, what are you talking about?”
“Uh…” What was I talking about? I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Sorry, babe. I just woke up and my brains are out to lunch.”
He was quiet for a minute, and I thought I was going to throw up for real. “Theo, I’m not leaving you. Have you got that?”
I took a shuddering breath. “Okay. So why…uh…are you calling so early?” Usually I didn’t hear from him until after dinner.
“I’m on my way home. I’m at the airport right now.”
“But…but the job…”
“I finished earlier than I thought I would. The…uh…regional manager was pleased with my work.”
“And you’re coming home?” I felt giddy, such a change from only a few minutes earlier. “That’s fantastic, babe.”
“Yeah, it is, isn’t it?” He sounded so proud. Well, I was so proud.
“What time will your flight land? I’ll come pick you up.” Since I’d driven him to Dulles, his car had been parked in front of our house the entire time.
“I’m supposed to get in about three.”
I looked at the clock. It was 8:27. “But isn’t there just a two hour time difference?”
“Yeah, but I have to make four separate connections, one of them in Cincinnati. It was the only flight I could book that would get me home today. If that doesn’t say ‘I love you,’ I don’t know what does, babe.”
“And I appreciate it. What’s your flight information? I’ll come pick you up.”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll catch a cab. I’ll have to go to work and get the paperwork done, and I’m not sure how long that will take me.” There was a muffled sound in the background. “I have to go. They’re calling my flight.”
“Wills…” I swallowed. “Wills, I…”
“I know, babe. I love you too. I’ll see you later.”
“Have a safe flight.”
“Thanks. Bye, Theo.”
“Bye, babe.” If it wasn’t so sappy, I would have blown him a kiss over the phone. Instead, I hung up and used my sleeves to dry my cheeks. I still felt a little sick.
I turned off the television, folded the throw, and then shambled my way to the bathroom, where I brushed my teeth, took a couple of Tylenol with a whole glass of water, and went to bed.
Wills should be home beside me in about ten hours. I hoped he’d get not only a commendation for this, but a huge bonus.
I pulled his pillow into my arms. I’d sleep off my hangover, replace the bottle of Canadian Club, and then make a batch of cherry almond fudge—strictly as an early Christmas present for the ladies downstairs. In no way was it a bribe to keep quiet about what a fool I’d been last night.
I closed my eyes and waited for the Tylenol to start working. Shortly after the throbbing in my head eased off, I fell asleep.
And this time, if I had any dreams, I didn’t remember them.
* * * *
Ten hours after I’d last spoken to him, Wills called to let me know his plane had landed.
“Wills…such a long flight.”
“Tell me about it.” He paused to rattle off an address, so I assumed he was in a cab. “The runway had to be de-iced, then the jet’s wings. One of the passengers had a panic attack and bolted off the jet. Someone thought they heard him say ‘bomb,’ so everyone had to get off while bomb dogs sniffed the jet.”