Page 101 of Love You Madly

I double over with laughter. “Procreate? Really, Tay?”

“Yes! I need my fix. Can I steal Sara for a few days so I can remember what it’s like to have a smaller child and talk myself out of it?”

I can’t help but laugh at the way she says it, imagining the exaggerated pout on her face. “Steal her, huh? You really want to take her for a few days?” I tease, already knowing Taylor’sanswer.

“Yes! Besides, it’ll give you a little break. You’ve been running yourself ragged lately, and you deserve some downtime.”

I hesitate for a moment and feel a bit guilty for considering taking her up on this offer because Sara was just with Adam last weekend and I don’t want to pawn my daughter off on other people.

“Listen, Callie. I’m the one asking you if I can take her so stop feeling some type of way about it and let me take care of my niece for a couple days,” she says, as if she can see directly into my mind. “You were already going to have me watching her for the Halestorm concert since Mom and Wayne can’t do it. What’s a couple more days? I can even pick her up tonight. Before too long, you’re not going to have time for yourself at all. Please let me do this.”

“Okay,” I finally say with a grin. “You can have her for a couple days. But if she gives you any trouble, don’t hesitate to call me. When would you like to pick her up?”

We decide Taylor will meet me at Mom’s tonight after my shift so we could all go out for ice cream. I’m looking forward to seeing Ava, and the girls are going to have a little movie night. They will probably stay up watching Sara’s favoriteStrawberry Shortcakemovies while my niece and sister treat Sara like their real-life babydoll.

“Thank you for letting me take her for a couple days. Ava is going to be so excited. And you need to take some time for yourself. You deserve it.”

Her words are sincere, and I feel so grateful to have her. “I appreciate you, Tay.”

We say our goodbyes, and I hang up, feeling lighter than I have in days. Knowing that I get to spend tomorrow and Saturday with Owen sounds like exactly what I need.

forty-four

LOVE YOU MADLY - CAKE

OWEN - JULY 25, 2013

The day has been a restless blur, a mix of nervous energy and anticipation I can’t shake. No matter how hard I try to focus at work, my mind keeps drifting back to Callie—her voice from this morning, soft and sleepy, still clings to me like a warm, comforting echo.

During my break, I stumble across a song I haven’t heard in years: Love You Madly by Cake. The upbeat rhythm, the playful lyrics—it fits how I feel when I think of Callie. Without overthinking it, I send her the link. It’s not a grand gesture, but it says what I can’t put into words right now.

Me:

Made me think of you.

As my shift drags on, I find myself checking my phone more often than I’d like to admit, waiting for a reply that doesn’t come. That nagging doubt creeps in—did I overstep? Maybeshe didn’t like the song, or worse, maybe I’m reading too much into this.

Just as my nerves are about to get the best of me, my phone buzzes with a message from her. It's like she could feel me spiraling, right when I needed her most. The timing is uncanny, as if she knew I couldn't stop thinking about her, even from miles away.

Callie:

Sorry, I’ve been swamped! I’ll listen to it as soon as I get the chance. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow!

I head home and settle onto the couch, trying to distract myself with some mindless TV. But the restlessness won’t let up, so I shoot a text to the group chat, hoping the guys will pull me out of my head for a while.

Me:

We need to plan something soon.

Will:

Down. Been too long.

Luke:

As long as it doesn’t involve Vince’s terrible idea of karaoke night again, I’m in.

Vince:

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