Switched

Chapter 13

“Hey, babe,” he said.

    “Hey,” I said trying to think of how to approach the situation at hand. “How have you been?” I asked. Maybe he’ll tell me without me having to pry.

    “Good. I’ve been really busy at work.”

    “I bet,” I said trying to sound nonchalant. “I tried calling you,” I said.

    “Yeah, I must’ve let my phone die, I’m sorry.” Strike one.

    “Yeah, you must’ve. So how have things been at your house since I’ve left?”

    “Lonely,” he sighed. “Other than that things have been pretty good.” Strike two. “How’ve you been?”

    “Good, I’m officially a princess,” I said. He didn’t answer.

    “Has Carmin been harassing you since I’ve been gone?”

    “No.” Strike three. Drew lied to me. What could this possibly mean for us and for our future.

    “That’s good,” I said.

    “Yeah,” he said. When I didn’t say anything he filled the silence. “I miss you like crazy.”

    “I miss you too,” I said. It was true, I did miss him, but that didn’t make me any less upset with him. “I gotta get going, babe,” I lied. Jonathan looked at me with a questioning glance.

    “Okay,” he sighed. “I love you.” Was that a lie too?

    “I love you too.” I hung up the phone and stared at the ceiling trying to comprehend what happened.

    “If you don’t mind me asking who were on the phone with, Princess?” Jonathan asked.

    “My fiance, Drew,” I said.

    “I wasn’t aware that you are to be married.”

    “Nobody is. Fiona is keeping me under strict orders not to tell anyone.” He scoffed.

    “And you’re okay with that? Keeping your fiance a secret?”

    “No,” I said quietly, “but, I have to do what I must for the country.”

    “Even at the expense of your love, Princess?”

    “It is more complicated than that, I am afraid.”

    “If you’d like to talk about it, I have time,” he said grinning.

    I went on to tell Jonathan the basics of mine and Drew’s relationship. I told him about the night my “parents” left Mia and Jake alone, so Drew stayed with me. I explained the situation with Carmin and her son. I told him of the creek and our special spot. I told him about his proposal of marriage, I told him about my last day in America and the wonderful day I had, and lastly I told him about the phone calls I had just had.

    “So, you think Drew is cheating on you?” he asked after I’d finished.

    “I don’t want to, but it’s hard not to think that way.”

    “I understand,” he said with a sad look in his eyes. “I too had loved.”

    “What was her name?” I asked feeling guilty for pressing on his pain.

    “Isabella,” he said.

    “I told you about Drew, so tell a little about Isabella,” I suggested.