One Day

Part 21 - No Response

I'm trying to be as positive as possible on the drive out of town but my thoughts keep returning to him. Elena came along with us so they are both trying their best to steer the conversation away from Jace. My backseat is filled with wedding magazines as Kate and Elena talk again about Matt's perfect proposal and planning their upcoming wedding.

I can't stop myself from thinking back on all the good times over the past two months. We've had several of what I would consider perfect moments – those moments that I thought only happened in movies or read about in books.

Like the first time he told me he loved me. It was just a few weeks after we had started dating and he had just pulled into my driveway after working all day. I was watching him out of my bedroom window as he pulled his car into the grass and started unwinding the water hose. He walked into the shed and came out with car washing supplies. His phone rang and he sat down in the passenger side seat to talk to whoever called him. I walked out the back door and towards the car as he finished up his call. I knelt down beside him and gave him a quick kiss hello.

"Hey, babe," he said with a smile. "I was going to wash your car next before you head to work, if you've got time?"

"Of course," I replied kissing him again. "I'm working a short shift tonight and just have to go in to close. I'll be home just after one. Will you be here?"

He laughed, "I've been here every night for the past three weeks so yes, I do believe I will be here again tonight."

He smiled at me and pulled me into his lap before I realized what he was doing. He leaned his forehead against my cheek and was quiet for several moments before he finally spoke. "I think I'm falling in love with you," he whispered as he held me close.

"Helloooo....are you even listening to me?" Kate says as I shake my head and try to refocus on their conversation. "Have you talked to Jacob lately? I heard that he was pretty pissed that you were dating again."

I sigh and hate that my ex is the chosen topic of conversation, "I've not talked to him since he decided to act like a teenager and smash my mailbox."

The girls laugh remembering the night. It was about a month after Jace and I had started dating and I had to leave early to open at work. As I was pulling out of my driveway, my headlights grazed across my mailbox – or rather where my mailbox should have been. I actually didn't think too much about it because the post it was on was very old so I figured that it had finally given out and had fallen over. It wasn't until I reached the stop sign about a half of a mile from my house that I noticed a large, black box in the middle of the road with the number 224 across the side. My blood boiled as I realized the smashed and beaten box was my mailbox. I jumped out of my car and threw the mangled container in my backseat and drove to work while repeatedly calling Jacob until he finally picked up. He was still slurring his words at five in the morning so I could only imagine how much he had to drink in the hours before. After a brief argument and me yelling at him to grow up, the conversation ended with him begging for forgiveness. It's something I can laugh about now but, at the time, I was so angry I couldn't see straight.

"Can we please talk about something else?" I say as I continue driving. Kate sees that I'm in no mood to talk about Jacob and changes the subject.

Once we arrive, we spend the day shopping and I realize how consumed I've been with my relationship with Jace and how much I have neglected hanging out with my friends.

The day quickly winds down as we find ourselves outside of a small eatery that has a flashing neon sign advertising funnel cakes and ice cream. We indulge on both as we sit on a bench to people watch.

Our conversation slows and my mind drifts to him and I begin wondering where they are and what they could be doing. Knowing better and wishing I could stop myself, I pull out my phone and text him before Kate or Elena can stop me.

"How's the date?"

I immediately regret texting him but, at the same time, I don't regret him knowing that I'm thinking about him and hoping he is doing the same. I grab my phone a little too fast when I hear his text come through.

"Who's that?" Elena says as she glares at me. "Please tell me that you didn't text him?"

"I did," I say, making a face to let her know I shouldn't have. "I just asked him how his date was."

She sighs and looks away without a response.

Kate jumps in, "Put your phone up and stop thinking about it. It doesn't matter how his date is going, it doesn't matter what they are doing. Just give him his space. He needs to figure this out himself and you texting him is not helping."

I don't respond as I slip the phone back in my pocket but not before reading his response.

"Fine."

That's his answer? Fine? What's that supposed to mean? That could mean so many things. It could mean that things really are fine. It could mean that they are so busy that he doesn't have time to text me a full sentence, just one word. Or maybe, just maybe, it could mean things are going terrible and he doesn't want to tell me.

"I'm going to run to the restroom before we get back on the road to head home," I say as I stand and stretch.

I walk back into the store and make my way to the restroom. As soon as I lock the door behind me I grab my phone and text him back.

"Are you having fun?"

Jace: "We will talk later."

Me: "I just miss you and I'm driving myself crazy thinking about what you all are doing."

Jace: "I'll call you tonight."

Me: "Okay. I really do love you, I hope you know that."

No response.

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