I sent her a text message: How are you?
Ari: I’m reading. Jeff is passed out with his head on my lap.
I had to smile to myself. Thank God Jeff was not the father in that whole Rebecca-baby drama. I sent her another text and asked if I could give her a quick call. I excused myself as I walked outside of Mighty Fine Burgers to call Ari.
“Hey, girl. How was the trip back to Austin?” Ari said.
“It was fine. I ran into an old friend. Do you remember Jerry Ross? He’s my Cousin David’s best friend. Plays baseball for UT. ”
“Oh yeah, the one who always wears his damn baseball cap backward. Yeah, I remember him!” Ari said with a small giggle.
I was sure she was trying not to hurt her side or wake up Jeff.
“I’m having a late dinner…well, burgers with him. ”
“Really? Huh,” Ari said.
I heard her tell Jeff to go back to sleep.
“What do you mean, huh? I’m not allowed to have dinner with anyone?” I knew I sounded like a bitch. What is with the attitude from her?
“I don’t mean anything by it, Heather. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, between you and Josh, I swear. ”
“What about Josh? Is he there or still out to dinner with Lynda?”
When Ari didn’t say anything, my heart started to pound.
“Is he there Ari?”
“Um, no. He actually left a few hours ago to head back to Austin. ”
“Really? Did he go back to Aust
in alone?” Why I even cared was beyond me. I did this to myself. I pushed him away one too many times, and now, I had a feeling I was about to pay for it.
“I’m not really one hundred percent sure on that. ”
“I can always tell when you’re not being honest, you know. ”
“I overheard Josh telling Jeff that Lynda was going back to Austin with him. ”
Oh. My. God. I put my hand up to mouth when almost threw up. He’s coming back to Austin with Lynda.
“Heather, baby, are you okay?”
“I have to go. ”
“Heather, wait! Talk to me. I’m so damn confused with what’s going on between you two. You told him to move on. Baby. Did you mean it? If not, Heather, call him. Call him right now before he does something I know you’re both going to regret. ”
“No, you’re right. I told him to move on, and clearly, that is what he’s doing. I can’t blame him for that. Listen, sweets, I just wanted to check up on you and see how you’re feeling. Take it easy and give Jeff a hug and kiss for me, will you? I’ve got to run. Jerry is waiting on me. ”
“Heather, please call me if you need to talk, and please call Josh, baby. ”
“There’s no reason for me to call Josh. I’ll talk to you later. ”
As I leaned up against the building, the tears were building in my eyes. I felt so sick to my stomach, and all I wanted to do was scream. Am I really going to just let him go that easily? Looking down at my phone, I found Josh’s number. I looked back into the restaurant, and Jerry was cleaning off our table while talking to the girl who had been working behind the counter. It looked like she was handing him something. I was sure the place was fixin’ to close any second now.
I looked back down at my phone and hit dial.