Page 50 of Sparks
“Yeah. Kind of.” I wanted to keep talking, but I couldn’t say that.
“Maybe we can talk while I’m in Japan? The time difference is brutal but I’m up a lot during the night anyway.”
“I’d like that a lot.” I smiled and felt all squishy.
“Awesome.” His voice had that laughing quality to it that I loved, like I could hear his smile through his words. “All right then, Harlow Robinson. You take care.”
“You too, Shawn Fowler.”
“Night.”
“Good night,” I whispered.
I dropped my phone and rubbed my forehead. It would be a while before I’d fall asleep.
Ididn’t acknowledge any weirdness between Silas and I the next day. And there seemed to be no awkwardness on his part anyhow. Business and friendship as usual. But my mind was lost in Shawnland.
The day he left for Japan also happened to be my payday. Yes!! We texted each other all day as I ran my errands and he packed then went to the airport. We sent pictures of every ridiculous thing along the way—my grocery cart filled with veggies, his luggage, my face sipping afternoon tea that Cheryl had made, his face drinking a vodka tonic at the Omega Skies lounge at his local airport. I couldn’t stop smiling.
That Friday night I was curled up on the couch with Cheryl watching snow flurries fall outside the window onto the brick and steel alleyway outside when Willa and Holly came in. They both shivered when they hit the warmth of the apartment, and I watched with satisfaction as their eyes landed on the coffee table where I’d made a spread to greet them.
“What is all this?” Holly asked, surveying the cheese board.
“Girl, is that sangria?” Willa’s eyes were wide as she stared at the pitcher with fruit floating on top. I puffed with pride.
“Yep. Take a load off girls. We’re staying in tonight.”
There were cheers as scarves and pumps went flying, and the girls sat straight down on floor pillows as I poured drinks.
“Did you blow your whole paycheck?” Willa asked.
“No,” I assured her. “I budgeted very carefully this time. And I bought wine that was on sale.”
The four of us held up our glasses, smiling. “Cheers, bishes,” I said.
It was a glorious night. And the whole time I laughed with my friends and listened to their stories, I was very aware of a man on a plane over the ocean. If I had to bet, he was thinking of me too.
“What are you over there grinning about?” Holly asked, poking my knee. I smiled even bigger.
Cheryl sat back and waggled her eyebrows. “It’s the Marine. She’s been texting him all day.”
I swatted her leg, but she just smiled.
Willa and Holly leaned forward, so I spilled everything, unable to keep the goofy look off my face.
“Wait,” Holly said. “Does this mean if they break up and you guys get together that you could be moving to Japan?” Her eyes were narrowed with worry.
“I don’t know,” I said. “He could be there four years, so maybe?” The idea of making future plans with him filled me with intense excitement. “But that would be down the road.” I waved a hand.
“Wow,” Willa said. “Has he shown you the D yet?”
I almost spit out my drink of sangria. “No. Nothing like that. I don’t want that unless he’s single.”
They all nodded.
“He needs to just end it,” Holly said.
“But they have a child,” Willa reminded her. “It’s going to be complicated.”
