ME: CAN YOU COME OVER?
I continued to stare at the ceiling while I waited for her to respond. I wasn’t even sure if she would since she was probably still at the restaurant. My phone chimed a few minutes later though and I was relieved to see she’d written me back.
ERICA: IF YOU AND CALEB WANT A THREESOME, LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE.
She included an emoji of a middle finger sticking up at me and even though I was on the verge of tears, that made me laugh. I could always count on my cousin for that.
ME: CALEB BROKE UP WITH ME.
I could almost see the egg on her face as she read my text after her joke.
ERICA: WTF? SERIOUSLY?
ME: YES.
ERICA: I’M ON MY WAY AND I’M BRINGING ICE CREAM AND PAJAMAS. IT’LL BE A SLUMBER PARTY LIKE WHEN WE WERE KIDS. LOVE YOU.
ME: LOVE YOU TOO.
I loved my cousin. She was more like the sister I’d always wanted and I knew I could count on her. If I stayed holed up in my room, I’d only think about Caleb, which is not what I wanted to do. She’d make me laugh and I could cry and we’d make ourselves sick with the junk food I knew she’d bring. I needed that though because I needed to forget about Caleb.
It took Erica almost an hour to show up, but when I heard the doorbell, I sat up quickly from the bed I was still lying on. I’d forgotten I’d told my mom I wasn’t feeling well and I could see her curious stare as she watched me bound down the stairs. I didn’t know how I was going to explain the impromptu slumber party either, especially since Erica hadn’t slept over since high school.
“Hey, Aunt Tracey,” Erica said when she walked in, leaning in to hug my mom.
“What’s going on, Erica?” she asked, her eyes moving between us.
“She’s sleeping over tonight,” I answered before my cousin could and the confusion became more apparent on my mother’s face.
“I thought you were sick,” she said and I decided to just tell her. There was no point in hiding it. It’d happened. I’d been duped and dumped and there was no way she wasn’t going to find out.
“Actually,” I began and hesitated for a moment, “Caleb broke up with me.”
I watched as my mother’s hand rose to her mouth.
“I’m so sorry, honey,” she said softly, walking over and hugging me tightly before I gently pushed her away. If my mom got emotional, which she was known for, then so would I and that was why Erica was here: to prevent that.
“And that’s why Erica is here,” I said. My mom looked at Erica and then nodded. I knew my mom thought Erica was a loose cannon sometimes. She thought she was a little too crazy, but she also knew a more loyal friend had never existed. “Meet me in my room, Erica. I’ll grab some bowls and spoons.”
She rested her hand on my shoulder for a second and then disappeared upstairs. My mother gave me another look, but then turned back into the living room while I went to the kitchen. As I was getting everything we’d need for the ice cream, I could hear quiet whispers coming from the living room. I knew my family was talking about me and then I heard footsteps approaching. I turned my head to see my brother standing in the doorway, leaning against it, his arms folded and a sympathetic look on his face.
“You okay, Care?” he asked in that gentle way only big brothers can.
“I’ll be fine, Sawyer,” I said softly as I collected the bowls.
“If you’re not, you let me know,” he said and I nodded. I could feel the tears starting to brim now. I’d been working so hard to fight them, but they were coming. Sawyer left his perch on the doorframe and came closer to me, pulling me in for a hug. A tear fell down my cheek as my brother held me, probably because he’d always been there to protect me. He couldn’t protect me now though and I knew he hated that.
“I love you, sis,” he said and I nodded into his chest before pulling away.
“Love you too, Sawyer,” I answered softly and he hugged me once more before making his way out the front door. He was headed across the property to the old stable house my parents had converted to an in-law apartment. It had its own kitchen, bathroom and bedroom along with a decent sized living room. The original thought was that my grandfather would come and live with us, but he’d passed away before he got the chance. When Sawyer decided to come home and work on the farm full time, he’d taken up residency in the stable house. I liked that he wasn’t so far away and sometimes it was a nice escape from my parents when I’d crash his place and force him to watch movies with me.
Once my brother was gone, I grabbed the bowls and went upstairs to find Erica already changed into her pajamas, a pair of sweats and a tank-top that didn’t do a great job of hiding her large chest. I sometimes looked at my cousin and I wondered how we’d grown from the same family tree. She was short, while I wasn’t. She had curly brown hair while mine was dark blonde and straight. And she wore a D cup bra, while I was barely a B.
“Hand over the bowls,” she said and I did.
She started scooping the vanilla/caramel/fudge combo she’d picked up on her way while I stripped out of my clothes and into my pajamas. I’d just finished tying my hair up into a messy bun when she handed me the bowl that was packed to the brim. I took it and sat down on my bed. She was beside me a second later, sitting so close our legs were touching as they stretched out before us.
“So, what the hell happened?” she asked. “Why did that prick break up with you?” We both spooned a large bite into our mouths, but I decided to talk anyway. It was only Erica and she loved me no matter what, mouthful of ice cream and all.
“First, he said we’ve changed. Then, he talked about how distance sucks, but then the truth came out. He’s been cheating on me.”
“What?” Erica shouted through the ice cream and then swallowed hard and slammed her spoon so forcefully onto the glass bowl that it echoed in the room. “He’s fucking around?”
“I don’t think he’s fucking around. He’s fucking one person or so he claims. Says her name’s Jodi and that she’s different than me. I guess they’re spending their summer in Mexico, immersing themselves in the language for when they graduate and take over the business world.” I was joking, but it was all I could do at this point. If I didn’t laugh, I would cry.
“Maybe if we’re lucky, they’ll get kidnapped by some cartel down there and be used as drug mules for the rest of their lives.”
I knew it was an awful thought and something we shouldn’t joke about, but I couldn’t stop the laughter from escaping my mouth.
“If only we could be so lucky,” I said, taking another bite and we were quiet for a few moments, our spoons scraping against our glass bowls, the only sounds in the room.
“Seriously though, Care,” Erica finally said, “I’m sorry. I know how much you loved him.”
I finished the bite of ice cream in my mouth as I choked back a tear.
“I know I’m stupid for thinking Caleb and I would last,” I said softly and Erica wrapped her arm around me, pulling me close to her so I was leaning my head on her shoulder.
“You’re not stupid, Caroline,” she said gently. “When you love, you love deep and you love forever. Not many people are built like you, which is why when you get your heart broken, it hurts so much.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t be like that anymore then because this hurts, Erica.”
“Don’t you ever change,” she said in a gentle, but stern voice. “Don’t let him change you because someday you’ll find someone who loves just as deep as you and just as long. It won’t hurt forever.” I sat up looking at her with a raised eyebrow. “This could actually be a good thing. A really good thing. Guys are always coming up to me at the restaurant asking about you. I mean, you haven’t even ever gone on a first date as an adult. You were sixteen the last time you had a first date. What kind of life is that? You need to live a little. Sample some of the goods before you settle down.” She was smiling now and I couldn’t help but smile too, even though she was being ridiculous. The last thing on my min
d was going out on a date. It’d only been a few hours since Caleb broke up with me. I just needed to figure out a way to get through the night.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I told her and she rolled her eyes.
“I’m not talking about going out tomorrow, but when you’re ready. You’re going to love being single,” she said with that same smirk that always meant she was up to no good.
“We’ll see about that,” I told her and she rolled her eyes again before sliding off the bed and walking to my dresser, picking up the scooper.
“More ice cream?” she asked me and I held my bowl out to her.
“Just for the record, Erica, you don’t have to ask me that question again tonight. Keep it coming till it’s gone,” I told her and she laughed as she took the bowl, piling it high once again and handing it back to me. Ice cream might not dull the ache in my heart, but it sure as hell tasted good.
Four
I swear I’d never eaten so much ice cream in one sitting than I did that night. That was a month ago though and Caleb was gone. He hadn’t called or texted and neither had I since we broke up. I assumed he was gone though. His car was no longer in the driveway when I drove by one night. I didn’t know why I’d decided to drive by his house after work, but almost like I was on autopilot, I found myself on the familiar street. The house was dark and the driveway was empty. He’d said he was leaving in a week. It’d been longer than that and I knew he was gone.
It’s a hard feeling to describe when someone who has been a huge part of your life is suddenly not there anymore. Caleb had been my person to go to. He was the one I went to with my good news and my bad. He’d always been there and now he wasn’t. He hadn’t been there physically in a long time, but I knew I could call or FaceTime and he would be there. I couldn’t do that anymore and I wondered if the pain in my heart would ever dull.
Erica had been on me to jump right into the dating world again. She was persistent, but she hadn’t convinced me yet, although part of me thought a meaningless hookup might be a good idea even though I’d never done a thing like that in my life and had no idea how that would feel.
I shook my head, focusing on the road. I’d been working more at the restaurant. There was no reason not to now, but it’d been a long week and I was ready to get home, eat some dinner and prepare for some serious binging on Netflix. I felt my stomach growl as I turned onto the long dirt road that led to my house. I should’ve grabbed something from the restaurant, but I hadn’t. I glanced at the clock on the dashboard and saw it was six-thirty. I’d probably missed dinner too. My dad liked to eat early since he was up before dawn and went to bed by eight.
There was a truck outside I didn’t recognize when I pulled up to the house. It was one of those ridiculously big ones that looked impossible to drive. It was black and had Massachusetts license plates. My curiosity was piqued as I parked next to the monstrosity and turned off my Corolla. I swear my little sedan could’ve fit in the bed of that truck.
When I opened the door to the house, I could hear voices coming from the kitchen; more voices than I expected to hear in my house when usually at this time, it was quiet. On any other day, Sawyer would’ve escaped to the stable house and my parents would be sitting in front of the TV watching Wheel of Fortune. The TV was off though. I put my stuff down and walked into the kitchen, towards the voices that only seemed to get louder the closer I got. I turned the corner and then stopped when I saw my parents and brother sitting at the table, the dinner dishes still in front of them along with an extra guest. I didn’t even think they knew I was standing there, but then Sawyer turned and noticed me.
“Caroline,” he said and the voices stopped as the rest of them turned to look at me, including someone I hadn’t seen in so many years, but someone who had been like a member of our family until he’d disappeared too.
“Hey,” I said softly, not quite knowing how else I should respond to the sight of Adam DeLain sitting at our kitchen table the way he’d done so many times when we were kids.
“Look who decided to stop by,” my dad said, slapping Adam heartily on the back and the blue eyes of my brother’s best friend met mine.
“Hey, Caroline,” he said, smiling over to me and I didn’t quite know what to do. I’d grown up with Adam. Sawyer and him had been best friends since elementary school, but he wasn’t just Adam anymore. He was the town hero. The local boy everyone in Silver Falls knew about and loved. And it wasn’t just Silver Falls who knew about Adam DeLain, but all of New England and any other member of Red Sox Nation for that matter.
“Adam,” I said softly. “What are you doing here?”
I didn’t know what else to say. Adam had been drafted his second year at UVM. Playing local ball in Silver Falls didn’t offer much exposure to Major League Baseball scouts, but once he started playing college ball, it didn’t take long for them to notice him. He’d been drafted after his sophomore year by the Red Sox and spent the next couple of years pitching his way up their farm system. First in Portland, then moving quickly to Pawtucket and finally with the Red Sox, making his debut at Fenway Park two years ago. Not only had Adam made it to the big leagues, but he was playing for the team he’d grown up idolizing, just as everyone else in Silver Falls had. Once Adam got drafted though, we didn’t see him anymore, except in interviews after games or in the occasional Facebook post showing him with his latest fling; always an impossibly beautiful model type that didn’t look to have a brain cell to her name. He was different. He’d left our small town behind. Even his parents had moved to Florida. He had no reason to come back, but for whatever reason, he was sitting back at our kitchen table.
“I thought a visit home might be a good thing,” he said, but I didn’t see the same jovial expression I associated with Adam.
“It’s good to see you,” I said, making my way over to the table and towards him. When I got there, he stood up and greeted me with a hug. I wasn’t short. I was nearly five foot eight, but Adam had always towered over me and as he held me, I felt so small. He was strong. He was a professional athlete and I knew he took it seriously. He had the ideal pitcher’s build. Tall and lean, but strong. I could feel his muscles through the thin cotton of his t-shirt. I didn’t remember him being this bulky the last time I’d seen him, but that had been years ago and a lot of things had changed since then.
“It’s good to see you too,” he said and then pulled back, sitting down again. I sat down in the empty chair next to my brother and across from Adam. I found myself staring at him. I knew I shouldn’t be, but I couldn’t believe he was back in our house in our little town again.
Even though he’d changed, he still looked like the Adam that spent nearly every weekend playing video games with my brother up in his room. He’d always been cute, but now, sitting across from me, I had to admit he was downright hot. I blushed knowing I shouldn’t be looking at Adam this way, but his thick dark hair and blue eyes made that impossible.
“How long are you here for?” I asked, trying to focus myself again. This is Adam, I kept reminding myself. It doesn’t matter that he’s famous. He’s just Adam, the boy who teamed up with Sawyer to give you wet willies and wedgies.
“I’m not sure actually,” he answered.
“Where are you staying? I thought your parents moved to Florida.”
“They did. They have a condo in Pensacola.”
“Are you staying in a hotel then?” I asked curiously, considering there was only one hotel in Silver Falls, a Holiday Inn Express off the highway.
“Actually,” my dad chimed in and I turned to look at him, “Adam’s staying with us for a while. Thought he’d try his hand at dairy farming.”
My eyes darted over to Adam’s then and I could feel my mouth hanging open.
“What about baseball?” I asked and I immediately regretted it when the words left my mouth.
I followed baseball. Always had. It seemed everyone in Silver Falls did to one degree or another. It’d made headlines
in the world of the Red Sox when he’d blown his arm out in the middle of a play-off game against the Orioles. He’d been removed from the roster and a few months later, he had Tommy John surgery to repair it. No one knew if he’d ever play again and if he did, whether or not he’d be the same Adam DeLain that everyone had come to count on. I wondered if him being here meant his baseball days were over.
“I’m sorry,” I said with a wince, looking apologetically at Adam, but he shook his head.
“It’s fine, Caroline. I’m taking a break for a while. I thought this was the best place to do that.”
I wanted to ask him more. I wanted to know why he was here and what he meant by a break, but I didn’t press him. If he needed to be here, I wouldn’t question why.
“I’m staying with Sawyer at the stable house and helping out around here for a while,” he said and I nodded.
“When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, looking at my brother, but it was Adam who answered me.
“Because it just happened today. Your dad and Sawyer couldn’t turn me away when I showed up begging for a handout.” Adam laughed and so did the rest of my family.
“The extra hand will be good, especially with our trip coming up,” my dad added, but before I could respond, my mom looked at me.
“There’s more chili on the stove if you’re hungry,” she said and I looked around at their empty bowls. I was starving and I was grateful Adam’s arrival had prolonged dinner.
“Thanks, Mom,” I said, scooping myself some into a bowl and returning to the table.
“How was business today?” my mom asked as I started my meal just as they were finishing.
“About the same,” I answered.
“You still work at The Silver Falls House?” Adam asked and I nodded.
“Probably will till the day I die,” I said and he laughed.
Catching Caroline (Silver Falls Book 1) Page 3