Almost Perfect - Brian Katcher [22]
Laura finished my thought. “Like as long as you think you might have a chance with Sage, then you aren’t interested in anyone else.”
I nodded. “If she’d just say she didn’t like me, I could deal with it. But there’s some other reason why we can’t go out. I don’t buy her line that it’s because of her parents. She’s nearly as sneaky as you were.”
My sister shrugged off the compliment. “I’m glad you’re dating again. For your own sake, and for the women of the world. Sounds like Sage just doesn’t trust people very easily. Give her some time. Either she’ll come around, or she’ll end up regretting it.” Laura picked up the popcorn bowl and walked the three steps to the kitchen. “I’m just glad you’re getting over a certain slut.”
Two weeks ago, I might have taken offense at Laura insulting Brenda like that. Now I just chuckled.
chapter nine
LAURA STAYED for two days before returning to Columbia, land of indoor plumbing and ’lectricity. That Saturday I helped her load her bags in the trunk. Mom was working the lunch shift, and I’d spent the day hanging out with my big sister. It was funny, but she hadn’t gotten together with any of her old friends while she was in town. Most of them were still around. I wondered if Laura was trying to forget about Boyer. I wondered if I would.
“Guess I’ll see you at Christmas,” I said. I was already starting to miss her.
“You know, you could come up and visit me some weekend. Have Jack drive you. I’ve got friends you could crash with.”
“Maybe. Um, thanks for talking with me the other night.”
Laura smiled. “My pleasure. Keep being nice to Sage. Maybe she got used by some guy and wants to make sure you’re as great as you seem. But if it doesn’t work out, I know about ten girls in my dorm I can set you up with.”
Laura hugged me, then hopped in her car and took off. I suddenly felt desperately lonely. I wanted to talk to someone. But Jack was still out of town and Tim was probably in a food coma. I remembered how I’d talk to Brenda when I was sad.
Then I realized I was having false memory syndrome. I never talked to Brenda about my father. Or my fears about the future. In three years of dating, we’d only ever had one serious discussion. Our last one. Now that I thought back on it, Brenda had never once told me when she was sad or scared or lonely. Every time I asked, she’d just smile and say she was fine. And she’d never really wanted to know how I was doing.
I returned to the trailer and started to pick up some of the mess that Laura had left behind. I was making the bed in her old room when the phone rang.
“Logan? This is Sage.”
I grinned into the receiver. I didn’t know why she was calling, but I suddenly felt joyous. Even if she hung up after two minutes, it would still mean she’d been thinking about me.
“Hey, Sage.” For the first time in five years, my voice cracked.
“How was Turkey Day? Did you get a drumstick?”
I remembered the foil-wrapped ham slices in the fridge. “Uh, no.”
“So, what have you been up to? Watching football?”
“I did the other day.” I got to see my favorite team, the St. Louis Rams, have their collective ass handed to them.
I could hear Sage munching on something over the line. “Did anyone hit a home run?”
I snickered. “Sage, that’s baseball.”
“I know. I just wanted you to feel superior for a minute.”
“Oh.”
“So, are you doing anything? Mom and Tammi are shopping and Dad ran in to work. Feel like a picnic? I understand if you can’t come.”
I think I would have chewed my own leg off to go meet her.
“I’d like that.”
“Great. Meet me at the gas station in half an hour.” She didn’t say goodbye and hung up.
I don’t think Sage realized how far from “town” I lived. I had to haul ass on my bike to get there