I saw Ryan twice more before he
left on his next trip. I spent the night
before his trip with him, and I pouted that morning about him leaving. This trip was nearly two weeks. “You’d better miss me,” I teased him.
“I will for sure,” he assured
me. “How could I not? I mean, after last night…and this morning too...” he winked at me
and smirked and I glared at him. “I’m
kidding! Well, no, I’m not kidding, but
I’ll miss more than that, I promise.”
“Good,” I said. I couldn’t figure out when I had gone from
being ready to just be done with him to demanding that he miss me, but I was
definitely sad that he was going to be gone for almost two weeks. I frowned again. “Will you call me when you get back?”
“Jenna, I’ll call you while I’m
there. Stop being weird.”
“Sorry,” I said, blushing a little.
“Don’t be sorry, just don’t be
weird,” Ryan replied, smirking. “And I
hate to interrupt this fond farewell, but you’re going to be late for work.”
“Shit!” I yelped, grabbing his
wrist to look at his watch. “Damn it.
Okay, well, I’ll miss you, please have a safe trip, at least let me know
you made it okay, alright?”
“I will,” he said. He pulled me in for a hug and then kissed
me. I reluctantly untangled myself,
kissed him one more time, and then hurried out the door. As it was, I had failed to do my makeup or
hair because I had lingered in bed with Ryan too long this morning. Now I was going to be late too.
I took a deep breath before I
started my car, because the last thing I needed was a speeding ticket or
something in my rush. I managed to get
to work right on time, and I skidded breathlessly into the office just as my
phone started ringing. “Smithson Staffing Solutions, this is Jenna, how can I help you?” I asked, answering the phone
while still standing. From her office,
Rachael smirked at me. I rolled my eyes at
her as I transferred the call to my boss.
The day passed slowly and I was
relieved to leave at the end of the day.
I got a text fairly late that night letting me know Ryan had made it
safely to his destination. He said he
was going to call but wasn’t sure if I’d still be up. I hit the phone icon next to his name and
waited. It rang 3 times and then he
answered. “Hey babe,” he said, right
before he yawned.
“Hi,” I replied. I suddenly felt really sad. “I just wanted to say goodnight.”
“I’m glad you called,” he
replied. “I wasn’t sure if you were up
or not.”
“I’m up,” I said.
He chuckled. “I can tell.”
“Sorry, apparently I’m suddenly
awkward as hell.”
“There’s no ‘suddenly’ about it,
Jenna. You're always awkward as
hell. Luckily you’re pretty enough that
it’s adorable and not weird.”
I snorted. “Thanks, I guess.”
“You know I love your
awkwardness. And your adorableness,” he
replied.
At the word “love” referring to
anything about me, I froze. Long enough
for Ryan to ask, “Jenna? Are you there?”
“Yes,” I replied. “I am.
I’m so sleepy though, I’ll let you go.”
Ryan hesitated and I could tell he
didn’t believe me. But he didn’t push
it, and just said, “Alright. Sleep well
Jenna.”
“Thanks, you too. Though I guess it’s probably not bedtime
there, huh?”
“It’s not, but I’m going to take a
nap,” he replied.
“Okay, well have a good nap,” I
said. I felt so awkward still and wished
desperately for the easy comfortable feeling I used to have around Ryan.
“Goodnight, Jenna,” he said.
“Goodnight,” I replied.
I stared at my phone for several
seconds after hanging up, before shaking my head, plugging it in, and turning
off the light. These next couple weeks
were going to be interesting.