His shoulder slumps, but I gotta give the kid credit—he nods, finally sighing, “yeah, okay.”
With that, Tanner splits, slamming his bedroom door closed as Clara June partially follows me to the porch, staying on the last step as I move down the path, toward my truck. I stop and turn, and find her eyes already on mine.
“Can I call you again? Soon?”
Mindlessly, she drapes a hand over her heart, her fingers playing at her collarbone. “Yes, Coach, I’d like that.”
When I get home, I eat dinner alone, the TV running on low to make me feel anything but. We didn’t get the money for the hotel stay, but despite that, my lucky shirt continues its streak of not letting me down.
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
DEAN
I’d fully intendedon starting up phone calls in the evening, maybe once or twice a week, with the idea to work up to every night. And as much as I’m starting to long for Clara June, like and adore her, I’m still trying to play it cool.
Or,coolish.
I had planned to wait three days since I saw herlast before I’d call her. If I called her the next night, I’m afraid it would smother her. After all, Clara June isn’t like a twenty-something single college student. Clara June has a full-time job that often feels more like two full-time jobs, three kids—two of which go to one school with the third attending another. She has a house to take care of, meals to make, groceries to buy, bills to pay, schedules to figure out, lessons to teach the boys, special moments to create—the last thing I ever want to be is something on her list.
Three days felt right. Three days felt like the perfect amount of time.
Except on day one, the day after I’d stopped by to see Tanner and found her home, she texted me.
Clara June
I am so sorry to text you at this hour
It was 9:05 pm.
Tanner has been complaining about some pain up around his collarbone, but everything looks okay. I’m not sure if he overdid it in moving around today or if it’s worth taking him into the ER.
I’m asking you because I’m guessing you know more about this injury and how it heals than I do and Tanner really doesn’t want to go to the ER
I called her then and talked her through some exercises she could help him with, which was mainly a chest squeeze. She put me on speakerphone as she helped Tanner clasp his hands together, one arm reaching behind him, the other reaching back at his hip. I counted them through Tanner holding said stretch for ten seconds, and after a couple ofminutes, he was starting to feel better. I assured Tanner that he likely overused it, and explained that the last two weeks will turn into four weeks if he keeps overdoing it. Clara June thanked me for all the help, and for saving them the five hundred dollar co-pay they would incur at the ER.
And I guess that opened the floodgates of texting, because after that night, and for the last two and a half weeks, we’ve been texting daily.
Not sometimes daily, or here and there, but without fail, every single day, we speak, multiple times a day. In fact, within the last few days specifically, we’ve started our days by texting each other “good morning.”
It feels incredible, knowing that when Clara June wakes up, with everything she has going on in her life, that I am part of her first thoughts. I fit somewhere in with the boys and the routine, and knowing that just does shit to me.
This morning, Clara June and I have already exchanged a few messages, but she’s really busy today. The Bluebell Leader is coming down to Goode’s to interview her about Tanner, and his first game back later this week. They’re doing an entire piece on him, and while it isn’t their first, it’s the first front page piece.Welcome Back Tanner, Our Fearless and Young QB. That’s the article title, and I know this because they contacted me, too. Only, I already emailed all of my answers. On top of the interview, she’s working double shifts because one of the other waitresses had an emergency with her childcare. That means, today, she’s already at Goode’s, there for the opening shift, staying for the closing. I hate that she has to work so much and so hard, but she never complains. I also hate that her double shifts and the interview today mean I won’t get to text her off and on all day.
Laying in bed, dragging my hand over my bare chest, Iwelcome morning by rereading our text messages. Scrolling back, I come to a place where I can’t help but smile.
A few days after the texts about Tanner, Clara June randomly sent me this:
If I end up dead, take this text message to court
MRS SALINGER DID IT
Uh oh
Mrs. Salinger in the garden with the shovel
Bluebell Clue?
