Page 60 of Truth or More Truth
“You owe me nothing. This is what family does, and you are family.” He holds up a finger. “Actually, maybe you could change your last name to Sanchez.”
“Uh, no. But can you give this to Melissa?” I hand him a note.
A grin spreads across his face as he flips the folded paper between his fingers. “Can I read it?”
I roll my eyes. “Really? Are you twelve?”
Diego chuckles. “Times three, almost. But I’ll let you have your secrets.” He narrows his eyes. “Wait. Did you explain what’s happening? Did you tell Melissa about Kelli and Nanette?”
“No.” I close my eyes briefly. “I can’t spring all that on her in a note. I just said there was an emergency back home, not to worry, and I’d call her in a few days.”
“I hope you also told her how much you enjoyed the past few days.”
A smile forms on my face for the first time since I got back to my hotel room tonight. “I did.” My smile drops when I consider once again how complicated my life is, and how Melissa doesn’t need to have to deal with any of it. She deserves a man who can always put her first—who doesn’t have a host of competing priorities in his life.
“Good. I’ll take good care of her for you. I even promise not to flirt with her.”
I snort. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
Diego bobs his head from side to side. “Maybe not, but for you, I will try. Now, what time do I need to take you to the airport?”
I don’t deserve friends like Diego. I truly don’t.
“You forget you don’t have a car, and I’ve got a taxi coming. You get some more sleep so you’ll be wide awake all day for your drive back to Chicago. We were planning to leave at 6:00, so be ready.”
He reaches over to the alarm clock and sets it. “Done. Now get out of here so I can get my beauty rest. Make sure to give your girls a giant Diego hug when you see them, and keep me posted.”
twenty-five
. . .
Idon’t look through the peephole in my door when I swing it open in response to a light knock at 5:59 a.m., so I’m momentarily speechless when it’s not Bobby standing in the hallway but a fully dressed Diego Sanchez with a giant suitcase beside him.
“Try not to look so happy to see me,” he teases.
I give myself a shake. “Sorry. I wasn’t expecting you. Where’s Bobby?” I peer down the hallway toward his room.
“Somewhere over Oklahoma, flying through the famous wind that sweeps down the plains.” Diego holds out a note. “This is from him. Let’s go inside so you can read it, and then we’ll hit the road.”
He follows me into the room with his suitcase, and I ask while unfolding the note,“We’llhit the road?”
“I am driving with you to Chicago. Just read the note.”
I perch on the edge of the bed and do as he says.
Dear Melissa,
I apologize for disappearing in the middle of the night, but there’s an emergency back home, and I need to head back now to take care of a few things. The details aren’t something I want to share with you in a quick note, but try not to worry, and I’ll explain everythingsoon.
I was really looking forward to our drive today, but hopefully Diego will be a decent substitute. Actually, I know he will be. As I write this, he doesn’t even know he’ll be going with you, but I’m confident he’ll drop any other plans to do so, because that’s the kind of man he is. Just don’t fall for his charms. You know how he can be.
The past few days with you have been some of the happiest of my life. I hope we can add to those days in the near future.
I’ll talk to you soon.
Bobby Joe (a.k.a. B.S.)
Bobby’s message elicits a host of emotions I’m not sure what to do with. What happened back home? And to who? What does he need to explain? And was he serious about the past few days being some of the happiest of his life?
