Page 13 of Keep My Heart
‘I will. Thanks, Nick!’
As I go out to Matt’s car, I call up Sawyer.
‘You in town yet?’ he answers.
‘Yeah, just got here. I’m at Matt’s house, or actually I’m running to the store, but I’ll be going back there when I’m done. Did you leave me a key?’
‘Yeah, but I’m not sure I’m going out now. I think my date might’ve ghosted me.’
‘Is this the girl you met online?’
‘Yeah, and I haven’t heard from her in two days. I’ve called herand texted her to see if we’re still on for tonight but haven’t heard back.’
‘I’d say it’s not happening. You could come over to Matt’s house for dinner. His wife said there’s plenty of food.’
‘Thanks, but I think I’ll stay here. I’ve been working on a new brew and think I almost have it figured out.’
‘Working on a Friday night? You sound like you’re turning into me,’ I kid.
‘I’m not that bad yet, but I could be. I just really like what I’m doing. It doesn’t even feel like work, you know?’
Actually, I don’t. My job definitely feels like work. Sometimes I’m not even sure I want to keep doing it. The long hours, the stress, and the demanding clients make me not want to be a lawyer, but after all the money and time I spent on school, I feel like I can’t go back and change my mind. Even if I could, I don’t know what else I’d do.
‘What time you think you’ll be here?’ Sawyer asks.
‘Not sure. Maybe around eight? Matt’s gotta get the kids to bed. He probably doesn’t want me there too late.’
‘Just let me know. If my date falls through, I’ll let you in. You can still take the key if you want to come over to get some time away from Mom and Dad.’
‘I’m only here a few days. That’s not long enough to need a break from them.’
‘It might be if Mom starts in with the marriage talk,’ he says with a laugh. ‘She’s been laying it on pretty heavy with me lately. You’re the oldest, so she’ll be even worse with you.’
‘She knows I’m too busy to date right now. Her efforts are better spent on you.’
‘Yeah, well, it’s not happening.’
‘I’m at the store. I should go. I’ll text you later to let you know when I’m coming over.’
‘Sounds good. See ya.’
I’m staying with Sawyer tonight because Mom doesn’t know I’m home. If she knew, she’d ask why, ruining my dad’s surprise. I could tell her I’m home for her birthday, but I don’t usually come home for that, which would make her think something’s up.
Sawyer lives in the space above the brewery. It was meant to be an office, but he turned it into an apartment by having a kitchen put in and hanging a curtain to divide his bedroom from the rest of the living area. I’ll be sleeping on his couch tonight.
Going into the grocery store, I get out my phone and look for Tessa’s text. I find it and see the name of the marinade. I look up at the signs above the aisles, not sure where to find bottled marinade. Living in New York, I rarely shop for groceries. I eat out or get takeout.
‘Excuse me,’ I say, stopping one of the employees as he walks by. He’s a kid, maybe 16, with braces and a huge zit on his forehead.
I’m so glad to be done with the teen years. It’s such a shitty time of life with the raging hormones and braces and zits popping up on your face at the absolute worst times. I had that happen right before one of my tutoring sessions with Lyndsay. I swear the thing wasn’t there when I got home from school, but an hour later it looked like a crater had formed between my eyebrows. Lyndsay kept looking at it. I almost told her I was sick so she’d leave, but I didn’t want her to go. Our tutoring sessions were the only time I had alone with her and I wasn’t giving that up.
‘You looking for something?’ the kid asks.
‘Yeah. Where do you have marinades?’
‘By the salad dressings. Aisle four.’ He smiles and I immediately see the resemblance to Mr. Petro, my high school English teacher.
‘Hey, are you Petro’s kid?’ I ask.
