Chapter 33: Chapter Thirty-Three

Callie:

We didn't find anything else that would give us clues as to who the man was.

Kat had proven time and time again that she wasn't going to share what she knew.

We were at a dead end.

Colby did better moving forward than I did. He started looking toward graduation, working harder than ever to keep his grades up and training non-stop to head into his first college soccer season in the best shape of his life. I had less to distract me.

Trying to cut costs, we scaled back open hours at the diner. Kat let one of the cooks go, forcing herself to spend a majority of her time in the kitchen while I ran the front.

The worst part about that was that it didn't seem to be helping our bottom line. We grew even slower as the snow birds made their great escape north after Easter.

I had my back to the door when the bell above it chimed, signaling a customer - our only one at the moment. I spun around.

“Hey Morgan,” I called.

She smiled at me and then called something behind her. Her mom appeared seconds later.

I took a step back, the smile falling from my face for an instant before a fake one replaced it. I hadn't seen this woman since my birthday party at her house. Certainly not since she lost her son. What was I going to say to her? Nothing. That's what I had. Absolutely nothing.

Morgan had been slow to recover, and even now there were times where I could tell the bubbly girl she'd once been was gone. But she was trying. And she had us to help her.

Her mom was a different story. Morgan told us of how she spent most of her time closed up in the house. She refused to talk about Troy.

Just seeing her brought it all back. We'd all done our best to forget. Okay, maybe forget was the wrong word. That would never happen, but we wanted to let go.

“Mrs. Cook.” I recovered quickly. “How are you?”

“Hi Callie,” she said softly. “We're just stopping in for a coffee.”

“If you want to have a seat in one of the booths, I'll bring it.”

Mrs. Cook did as I bade, but Morgan followed me back behind the counter.

“I finally got her out of the house,” she said, sadness creeping into her voice.

“How's she doing?”

“Did I ever tell you that Troy was her favorite?” Morgan didn’t answer my question.

I looked at her over my shoulder as I made a fresh pot of coffee and shook my head.

“Parents will say they don't choose favorites, but they always do. Parker and I were always okay with it though because Troy was just Troy. She won't even let me mention his name and that hurts more than anything.”

I turned around, leaning my hip against the counter as the machine started to drip behind me.

“I'm sorry, Morgan.” Those words felt stupid, pointless. She'd probably heard the same thing a million times.

“I'm leaving after graduation.”

I jerked upright in surprise. “Where are you going?”

“I told you once that I wanted to spend a year traveling before college. Nothing that happened this year has changed that.”

“I guess I thought…”

“That getting shot and losing my brother would throw a wrench in my plans?” She cocked her head to the side. “If anything, it's made me want to go even more. I want to be here for my mom, but I feel like I'm suffocating. My life didn't stop just because Troy's did, and I don't want to feel guilty for that.”

“You shouldn't.” I turned again to pour the coffee in a carafe. “Do you know where you're going to go?”

She grinned. “I'm starting in Prague. We'll see from there. Parker's coming with me, especially since dad agreed to finance it. He thinks we need to get away.” She took the carafe from me and started heading toward her table. “Anyway, have you decided what you're doing after graduation?”

“No. No, I haven't.” I took a step back. “Enjoy your coffee. I'll be over by the counter if you need me.”

I couldn't get away fast enough. It was the question on everyone's mind. What's next.

Morgan and her mom stayed for two cups of coffee, leaving some bills on the table, and waving as they left.

The silence of the empty diner left me with only my own thoughts for company, eating away at my sanity. Kat was cleaning in the kitchen, so I wiped down every surface out front. Twice.

I pulled the picture I always kept with me out of my purse, staring at the man who now had a face, but no name. E. Eric? Ethan? Elijah?

The bell chimed, and I put it away quickly. Colby and Jamie walked in. Without a word, Jamie wrapped me in a hug.

“Mmm,” I said. “How do you always know what I need?”

“Oh, this is totally selfish. I just wanted your hot little body pressed up against me.”

I pushed away from him, slapping his chest with a laugh. “Jerk.”

“I was just kidding.” He chuckled. “Come here.” He pulled me back to him. “Wanna get out of here?”

I nodded against his chest, looking toward Colby who was putting on his apron.

“I'm here to relieve you,” he said. “Go.”

I couldn't untie my apron fast enough.

Jamie and I ended up back at his house. He slid past me into his room, giving me a kiss on the move. I followed him in, climbing onto his big bed and leaning back.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” he responded.

“We never talk about what's next.”

He leaned over, removing his guitar from its case. “I don't know what you mean.”

“Yes, you do. We've actually gotten quite good at it. Masterful even. I've known you most of my life. We've been together for months. Yet, I have no clue what you're doing after high school. You don't find that weird?”

“I don't know what you're doing.” He shrugged the strap over his shoulder, testing a few notes with his thumb.

“That's weird. We're weird.”

“We're perfect.” He flashed me a dimpled grin and started playing slow and steady, his fingers switching chords smoothly.

I knew what he was doing. When he started singing, it almost worked. His voice had a smooth quality that was hard to resist.

“I know what you're trying to do.” I crossed my arms, keeping my eyes trained on his face. Those lips as they formed the words to the song. Those cheeks that always reddened slightly when he was playing for me. Those eyes, deeper than the ocean.

“I don't know what you're talking about.” There was that grin again. The one that worked for every girl he unleashed it on.

I clamped my hand down over his on the strings, stopping the vibrations immediately. Leaning forward, I captured his lips, biting down to elicit a growl. He kissed me back just as hard, the guitar preventing it from going further.

I finally broke away. “Now that that's out of my system.” I flashed him a smile of my own, enjoying his speechlessness. “Talk to me, Jamie.”

He pulled the guitar strap off over his head and pushed it to the side. “I'm still deciding,” he said vaguely.

“Didn't most people already have to accept their college spots?”

“There are a few deadlines that aren't until June. I'm weighing my options.”

I took what he said at face value because at the time, it never occurred to me that Jamie Daniels, son of a state senator, wouldn't go to college. And it definitely didn't occur to me that the place he would choose would be far away.

“What about you?” He nudged me. “You didn't apply to college, so what's next for Callie McCoy?”

“I honestly don't know.” I leaned into him. “And, Jamie, that scares the crap out of me.”