Page 84 of Not That Into You

He shrugs. “Yeah, or any time over the weekend.”

“I’ve texted with her briefly, but she’s been pretty busy with the photoshoot.”

“She’s still upstate?”

“She should be on her way back by now. She’s supposed to get home tonight.”

“Hm.”

This is the longest conversation we’ve had since leaving his parents’ house almost an hour ago. By the time we returned from lunch, only his mother was still at home, everyone else having left earlier in the morning.

We’d packed our things, said our goodbyes, and hit the road.

I thought I’d relax once the Hamptons were in the rearview mirror, but instead I’ve been on edge. The atmosphere in the Jeep has been strangely heavy, in part because Cameron has been uncharacteristically quiet. I thought about teasing him but found I didn’t have the energy.

Maybe his subdued mood has rubbed off on me.

For the last thirty minutes, I’ve watched the scenery pass by while trying to mentally organize the rest of my week and the work I have to do. I’ve visualized returning home to my apartment, my routine, my life. However, instead of feeling elated, I feel strangely deflated.

My phone dings with a text message, and I briefly wonder if we conjured Hayley by talking about her.

I pull out my phone but see it’s a message from my mom.

Mom: You haven’t called

Shoot. I call my mom once a week, usually on Sunday, but I didn’t call her yesterday. I didn’t want to explain about the Hamptons, and the last thing she needed to hear was that I was laid up in bed with a surfing injury. I texted and told her I’d call her today—intending to call her this evening once I got home—but clearly, she’s impatient.

Monica: I’ll call you tonight

Mom: Okay

And because I’m also impatient, I ask whether she’s called her doctor yet to schedule her surgery.

Mom: Not yet

I groan.

“What’s up?”

I frown at my phone. “Just texting with my mom.”

Cameron chuckles. “Does she need help with Wordle again?”

“Ha.” I forgot about that. “No. She told me she was going to do something, but she hasn’t done it yet.”

He glances over at me. “Something important?”

“Yeah.” Biting my bottom lip, I look over at him, considering. Oh, what the hell. “She’s been having back pain.”

He gives me a concerned look.

“She’s been to a doctor, but it hasn’t gotten better, and she needs surgery.” I frown at my phone again. “But she hasn’t scheduled it yet.”

“Ah. That must be frustrating for you.”

“Very. I’ll call her later, but I don’t know what’s holding her back. She needs the surgery.”

“Well . . . I don’t know your mother, of course, but I have to imagine the thought of getting back surgery is pretty scary. She may just be scared.”

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