SURE DON’T!

“Kind of?” I say as I pull my phone away from my ear and put him on speakerphone to pull up my text messages.

“I see. Well…I will let you go and I will see you whenever you get back today.”

I can hear a hint of what sounds like disappointment in his voice and while I want to make sure he isn’t, I need to see what it is I said to him last night. “Okay, I’m probably going to head out soon. So, I’ll be there in a bit.”

“Don’t feel like you have to rush. I’m taking the kids to breakfast in a little while.”

“Oh, that sounds fun!”

“I’ll see you later, Elianna.” His tone is vastly different from how he answered the phone just a few minutes ago.

“Bye,” I whisper and immediately go to my call log and mentally thank drunk Ellie that I don’t see a phone call which means at least I’ll know exactly what was said.God only knows what I could have said if we spoke on the phone last night.

I remember him asking me if I was back at Jacqueline’s and then the rest is a blur.

Me: Hey, we are heading back soon!

Mr. Kincaid: Did you have fun?

Me: Yes! But I’m drunk.

Mr. Kincaid: Is your friend?

Me: Yes, way more than me haha

Mr. Kincaid: Are you guys okay to get back? You’re worrying me a little.

Me: Don’t be. I have been of legal drinking age for four years you know!

Mr. Kincaid: I’m aware.

Me: Is there a reason you’re so worried about me? I mean you did offer to pick me up from the bar.

FUCK. Ellie, no!I rub my forehead wishing these next text messages were just figments of my imagination.

Mr. Kincaid: Do you think there’s a reason?

Me: Jacqueline does!

Mr. Kincaid: Who’s Jacqueline?

Me: My best friend, obviously!

Mr. Kincaid: Well, you never said her name. But what does she think?

Me: She thinks that you may be into me.

OH MY GOD.I stare at my phone. “JACQUELINE WOODS, I SWEAR TO GOD!” I shout before I stomp back into her room to find her face down on the bed with her pillow over her head.

She moves the pillow and raises her head slightly, her eyes half open and hazy. “What!? And my head is pounding, bring it down several decibels, damn.”

“Did you know I was texting Rowan last night?”

“Yeah, but you wouldn’t let me see!”

“You encouraged this behavior!” I exclaim before dropping to her bed and continuing to read.