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CJ WALKED INTO THE darkened house and dropped his keys on the counter. A yawn took hold and he deviated to the refrigerator, grabbing a glass of orange juice before he headed upstairs. At the top of the stairs, he stopped and knocked on Jennifer’s door.
“Yes?”
He opened the door. “I’m home,” he said, and she gave a nod, shutting off the television.
“Goodnight,” she said.
“Goodnight.” CJ closed the door and headed to his room.
One glance at the clock told him it was too late, but he opened his computer anyway and stripped out of his work clothes while he waited for the hardware to boot.
After brushing his teeth, he came back into the room and opened Skype, sending the call to Sandy, praying she’d be up and online. He rubbed his face, stifling a yawn and he looked over his fingertips at the empty screen.
Disappointment squeezed his chest and he ended the call. Instead of going to sleep, he opened his facebook page and launched to hers. When her page loaded, his gaze pulled to her relationship status and locked on the word displayed. He pushed away from the computer, nearly choking on air. Six letters never hit him so hard.
He spun in the seat, taking his first step toward the door when Skype buzzed.
He froze, afraid to turn. Instead, he answered with a nod of his head.
“Chris?” her whisper came over the speakers.
He turned, meeting her gaze on the computer. Her constant glances toward the door told him more than anything else, and a small fraction of relief gripped him.
“Still love me?” he asked.
Her smile clinched it even without the emphatic nod.
“What’s with the single status?”
“My Dad.”
That’s all she needed to say, and he slid into the seat. “I miss you.”
“Me, too. I can’t talk long because if he finds out I’m on with you, he’ll take the computer away.”
“When am I going to see you again?”
“I don’t know. I’m hoping that by Thanksgiving my dad will give up this crazy no contact rule,” she said. “If not, I think I may want to move in with you.”
CJ offered a smile. “The door’s always open,” he said. “But I think you need to graduate first.”
Sandy rolled her eyes. “There’s no way I’m waiting until spring to see you.”
“I’ll come down once all this shit blows over.”
“My father will shoot you if you show up at my door. He’s still blazing mad about catching us together.”
“Did you tell him that was the first time?”
She nodded. “He doesn’t believe me.”
CJ leaned back in the chair. “Well, it certainly won’t be the last. Especially, since I plan on marrying you someday.”
The smile that graced her face would launch a thousand sleepless nights and he returned it, thinking that wasn’t the smoothest way to propose, but he’d make it up to her when he did it for real.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, there’s no one I’d rather share my life with.”
She stared at him and her smile faded. “You sure you won’t get bored with me?”
“No. Never.” He couldn’t even fathom being bored with her, but there was a hesitation in her that rubbed his intuition and he tilted his head. “Is that what you’re afraid of?”
Her nod sent a web of pain through his chest and all he wanted was to wrap his arms around her and show her the depths of his feelings. She was as ingrained in his soul as the act of breathing and she blinded his ability to think logically or see any future without her. “We are meant to be.”
“But how do you know that?”
“Because I cannot see my life without you in it.”
“That’s now, but what about when you’re in college and women are throwing themselves at you?”
CJ couldn’t help it, he started laughing. “Babe, girls have been throwing themselves at me for years. I’ve had all the opportunities in the world to explore, but here’s the thing, and it’s a pretty important point. The only one I want is you.”
“So, you’re telling me if a hot Victoria’s Secret model tried to seduce you, you’d pass?”
“Yes.”
“You’re so full of shit,” Sandy whispered.
“Have you looked in a mirror lately?” he asked, staring at her honey blonde hair and her heart shaped face. “You are more beautiful than any of those models.”
She rolled her eyes and glanced over her shoulder again. “I have to go,” she said. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”
“Okay, I’ll be here.”
She reached for the controls.
“Hey, Sandy,” he said and when she paused, he added, “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Sweet dreams,” she smiled and then her picture disappeared.
CJ stared at the blank screen for a moment, the same disappointment he felt every time they hung up or said goodbye raked his skin, leaving a pronounced emptiness behind.