And Then He by Kateri Collins

Author:Kateri Collins [Collins, Kateri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gripping Tales
Published: 2019-01-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Darkness and a wet nose shoved in my face. That’s what I wake up to at 9:00 pm Sunday night. I missed my afternoon shift. I missed daylight. I missed the half dozen calls that Cassie probably made since she landed in Orlando.

I must make at least a dozen calls and texts in the next five minutes if I entertain any hope of a fast and painless reconciliation.

I toss aside bras, panties, and old t-shirts in my frantic search for my phone. Finally, under a bra cup, I find the rectangular piece of plastic and buttons. In a desperate attempt that the power miraculously restored itself, I press the tell-all key. My optimism drops to the power level of my phone. Zero percent.

I double-check every line, every wire, and every plug. If I don’t call Cassie tonight, I’ll have hell to pay.

“Ready to eat boy?” Fischer pushes past me in the narrow hallway and stops in front of his food bowl.

Once he’s taken care of, I fill the tea kettle. The shortbread cookies Cassie brought have my name written all over them. Her loss, my gain. I still can’t believe she left without saying goodbye.

And what’s up with Drew? He hasn’t called since our fight Thursday night.

The most reliable person in my life is the person I just met.

Drew. Cassie. Jeb. Drew. Cassie. Jeb. I hopscotch between them unable to decide which person to tackle first. Each square opens a mother lode of emotions I’ve compartmentalized for more than seventy-two hours. An unknown expiration date looms in my future.

Drew.

Cassie.

Jeb.

Drew. Cassie. Jeb. Drew. Cassie. Jeb.

The whistle of the tea kettle interrupts the rhythm of my chant. As I pour the water, all the comments, all the jabs come rushing back to me.

Tiff, you haven’t written a word since moving to Wellsboro.

It’s time to get a real job.

I’ll get a flat in the city.

Did something happen between you and Drew?

It took you a long time to get over Cody.

Tiff, I think Jeb has an unhealthy obsession with you.

Jeb. Jeb. Jeb.

I steep the tea bag in the cup of boiling water. Brown slowly seeps into the clear liquid, reminding me of the countless emotions swirling around my brain. Eventually, all the water turns the same shade of brown, defenseless against the inevitable change. I study the contents of my cup for a long time, feeling utterly helpless to stop the ebb and flow of life.

I look around my apartment. The turquoise throw I bought from the clearance rack hangs over the back of the purple sofa my stepmother gave me because she bought a new one. The geometric designs on the area rug I bought at the second hand shop in town reminds me of the old wool Persian rugs in Professor Ben’s office. The blue-green paint I picked for the walls reminds me of the ocean. Though the underlying scent of bacon grease and stale coffee permeates through every piece of fabric and upholstery, this place feels like home. The first I’ve had in a very long time and I’m not ready to leave it yet.

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