“Alright, sweetie.” She peeks up at me. “I’ll be back on Sunday afternoon, okay? We’ll have lunch with Grandma, and then we’ll head home and watch some movies.”
“Okay, Mom,” Presley says with a soft smile. It hurts a little knowing she is so unbothered by my leaving, but I don’t show it.
“Give me a hug,” I tell her, opening my arms. She crawls into my lap, and I give her a tight squeeze. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Mommy.”
“Have so much fun this weekend, okay?”
“We will. Grandma said we could make cupcakes and decorate them however I want.”
“Woah. That will be so much fun,” I say. “Save one for me, okay?”
“Okay.”
I give her one final squeeze and then I stand, heading out her bedroom door, and thanking my mom again. I climb into my car and check my phone one last time before I set up the GPS. It’s a small number of us coming, so we’re all in a group message. A few of us were planning to carpool, but I said I’d drive separately so I would have a bit more time with Pres. I read the few messages I’ve missed from Isaac, and Cassidy, the assistant general manager and immediately start to panic.
Isaac
Bad news. I have some sort of stomach flu or something, so I’m not going to make it this weekend. I’ve canceled my room, but you all still have separate rooms on the company card.
Cassidy
I think I’m coming down with it too, and so is Laila.
Isaac
Crap.
So that leaves Fallon and Jason. Are you guys okay?
Me
I’m fine, but if we need to cancel everything, I would understand.
Jason
Fine here, but also would understand.
Isaac
No, you two go. Would it be too much to ask if you take peoples’ info and call me with anything that seems awesome?
Jason
Not at all, happy to help.
Me
Agreed.
My heart flutters in my chest. If it’s only Jason and me all weekend, that means there won’t be a buffer between us. Things are still so awkward, even more so now after Lennie was sick. I’ve been trying so hard to be extra friendly, to get him to show me that side of him I used to know so well, but he’s a tough shell to crack.
Another message comes in as I still sit in my mom’s driveway.
Isaac
You two are the best. I’ve got your rooms taken care of, let me know if you need anything. I’ll send over the PDF of the schedule and event maps.
