“You haven’t hurt me,” I tell him honestly.
“Are you fucking serious? You lost the internship because I couldn’t keep my damn hands off you. I’m too much. Too big, too loud, too impulsive. It’s how I’ve always been. I wasn’t thinking. I should have been thinking.”
I shake my head. “Caleb, no. I am no longer associated with the LifeReach Foundation, and that is a fucking blessing. You were right all those weeks ago when you told me they were toxic. They are and I’m better off without them.”
“But—”
“No. And like I said, you haven’t hurt me. But you will. And I’ll hurt you. I’ll say something careless, and you’ll do something that drives me crazy, and we’ll fight. And then we’ll make up and take care of each other. That’s the way love works.”
We hold each other until Caleb falls asleep. Gingerly, I peel myself away long enough to check my phone. My dad has called four times, but I don’t have the bandwidth to deal with him right now.I text his mom and let her know what’s going on and that he’s ok—that we both are. Her text back is immediate.
Kristy: Thank you. Thank you for loving him, Lucy. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and he’s so lucky to have you. Take care of him and let me know if you need anything.
Two minutes later, I get another text.
Dad: I’ve been calling all day. Where are you? I’m at the hospital until 7 a.m. tomorrow, so call when you get this.Have you managed to get your internship back? A friend of mine from med school works at one of the major hospitals outside Milwaukee. It’s a bit far, but he said they may have space for an intern in their marketing department. Let me know your thoughts.
Let me know your thoughts? Well, he asked.
Lucy: No need to bug your friend, Dad. And, no, I didn’t get my internship back. I don’t want it back.I had a lot of time to think on my flight today. I’m transferring to Bainbridge. I won’t be able to start until the summer term, but I should be able to finish most of my current classes online.
I’m not going to wait around for his reply, but before I turn my phone off, I have one more text to send.
Lucy: Hey, Booker. He’s going to be ok. It was a really rough night, and I’m forever grateful to you and Ian for driving up here. We’ll talk in the morning, ok? But for now, here’s a picture of my favorite golden retriever, just in case you need proof that he’s on the way back up.
I send the picture, turn off my phone, and curl up next to Caleb. It’s my favorite place to be.
* * *
Whit
I wake up to the musical stylings of Milli Vanilli.
What the fuck?
I have vague memories of drinking Jack straight from the bottle, but there’s no way in hell I was drunk enough to download this song. I love all things 80s. But I don’t love liars.
I rub the sleep from my eyes as the song ends, and another begins. It’s a One Direction tune that I know I never purchased.
Who the hell is in charge of the music?
I must say that part out loud because Lucy laughs.
Lucy?
“Yep, right here, in the flesh. A whole lot of flesh, actually. You give off heat when you sleep, so I pulled my shirt off at some point in the night. And you know I don’t wear pajama pants.”
I shake the sleep-fog from my brain and realize I’m here, at Ollie’s cabin, with a very naked Lucy in my arms. I have no clue how she got here. But I know she saved me. And I know she loves me.
But I’m fuzzy on a couple other details.
“Lucy…”
“Do you love these tunes or what? I made a whole playlist on the plane ride here.”
“You really shouldn’t have,” I say sincerely.
“Oh, but I needed to. It’s myI Love You, Caleb Whitman Playlist. However will you know the depths of my love if not through these songs?”
