“Yes, you have the photo software. I’ll fill in my parents and be there soon.”
“See you then.” I hang up and grab my camera, hooking it up to my computer. My phone rings again with an out of area number.
“Hello?”
“Jesus, I missed hearing you.” Bryce’s hoarse voice flows through the line.
“Bryce! Where have you been?”
“We’ve been in lockdown. Didn’t you get my text?”
“THREE DAYS AGO!” I screech.
“Has it been three days? Shit.” He sounds exhausted.
“I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I was worried.”
“Me too. I haven’t even showered yet. Needed to hear your voice. It’s been a rough few days.”
“Can you tell me about it?”
“Not now. I don’t even want to think about it. How was your trip home? What’s going on?”
“Besides missing you like crazy?”
“Five and a half more weeks.”
I start to say something about that being too long but decide against it. He doesn’t need to worry. So, instead, I tell him about the going away party, the trip home, and the latest email about my projects.
“Wow, sounds like you’re going to be busy.”
“And we have to be in Kentucky the first few days of August for NCAA Cheerleading camp. This helps with our bid to Nationals.”
“Is it co-ed?”
“Of course.”
He groans in the phone. “How much longer are you cheering?”
“As long as I can.”
“It almost killed me in Miami to watch those guys feeling all over you. Not sure how I’m going to get through football season.” He no longer sounds tired but more pissed off.
“Are you really jealous of my teammates?”
“Yeah. Thinking about petitioning the school to insist on shorts instead of skirts.”
“BRYCE! Don’t you dare!” I protest, knowing he would do it.
“Maybe you could stop shaving your legs and washing your hair. Anything to keep the guys away.”
“That’s really gross.”
There’s a rustling sound, and then the phone goes quiet. I vaguely hear a female voice in the background. Then Bryce says something back, muffled.
“Listen, I need to go. Nate’s going to call your parents later.”
“Who was that?” I ask.