My phone vibrates as I get a text. I look down at it, hoping that it’s Logan. It’s from Jess and even though I was looking forward to talking to her I’m a little disappointed.
Hey, I just got home from work. How are you?
I didn’t realize it was so late. I guess I was listening to music for a few hours.
Eh, not that great. I had dinner with my mom’s new boyfriend.
I still can’t believe Dex. He totally pulled the wool over my eyes like it was nothing. I guess that’s what people in L.A. do. I can’t wait to get out of here.
Really? Is he just awful?
He was acting all nice and then he showed me around his house and put on the movie that they filmed in Greenville.
I still can’t believe he did that. It was like he was trying to upset me after acting so nice. What an asshole.
Is he one of the actors or something?
No, he’s the director.
I get out of bed and walk over to the window. The pool is lit up by lights in the sides and bottom. They change from orange to purple as I watch. My phone vibrates.
What? He’s Dexter Baldwin?
How the heck does Jess know who he is? The only reason I had any idea he existed is Mitch was always talking about his movies, but Jess… she doesn’t really seem like the action movie type.
Yeah, how did you know?
I’m a HUGE fan.
What? He’s an action director….
I watched a ton of action movies with my ex. Plus I have an older brother, so I’ve been watching Baldwin films for years.
I crack a smile. She’s ridiculous. I’m so glad that I can still talk to her. It’s bad enough that we don’t get to hang out every day. I’m not going to miss the morning runs though, but I’m not about to tell her that.
You’re funny.
Yeah, yeah. So what happened?
Well… I kind of ran off, crying, when the movie started playing and locked myself in my room.
It was a little childish, I know, but the emotions that it brought up were just too much. I couldn’t help it.
Do you think he was trying to be an ass? Or is he just like that?
I don’t know… he seemed so nice at first, so it was weird of him to all of a sudden be an ass. Maybe that’s just how people here are. My mom seems so different… it’s like I don’t even know her anymore.
Not to mention I almost forgot that I need to get out of here and back to Salem.
Crazy. What now? Are you staying there? What about Logan?
I’m only staying here until my birthday and then I’m coming back to Salem. Logan… well things are moving along with him. It was hard to leave him.
Yay! I miss you already! I told you he had the hots for you.
I smile and shake my head. She did tell me that and she was right, even though at the time I thought she was crazy.
I miss you too, I can’t wait to get back to Salem so we can hang out again.
I have a feeling that my time here is going to be lonely. I just need to focus on getting a job, making money and getting back to Salem as quickly as possible. That’s the only important thing right now. Well… I also need to focus on my relationship with Logan, as much as I can given the distance.
And go for our runs, I miss having you along.
Oh, yes, of course.
It’s one of those moments that I wish it were possible to understand sarcasm in a text. I’m totally not missing our runs. Yeah, it was nice to spend time with her and it was good for me to exercise… but getting up so early is awful. I don’t miss that at all.
I don’t dare mention to Jess that I went on a run the day of my dad’s funeral and that it was a good way to clear my head. She would never let me hear the end of it.
One of these days, you are going to realize how amazing morning runs are.
Before I can text Jess back, my phone vibrates again. This time it’s a message from Logan.
Can I call you?
I quickly text Jess back.
Can I text you tomorrow? Logan wants to talk on the phone.
Go, talk to your man.
I smile and pull up Logan’s number.
“Hey,” he says.
“Hi.”
“It’s good to hear your voice. How are you doing?”
“I’m alright, I guess. How are you?”
“What happened?”
“What do you mean?” I say.
“I can hear it in your voice. You sound upset.”
Wow. Am I really that transparent?
“I’m alright.”
I don’t want to burden Logan with what’s happening here. I’m a little worried that if I tell him everything that happens here it won’t be good for our relationship in the long term. Plus, I want him to be able to focus on football.
“Amy, I know something is wrong. Please just tell me what it is.”
I take a deep breath.
“Well, it turns out that my mom’s new boyfriend is Dexter Baldwin. He was the guy that directed the film that was being made in Greenville this year. I guess they must have met then and he basically broke up my family and then you know the rest of the story.”
“You told me that you thought it was someone from the crew or one of the actors”
“Yeah, I just didn’t think it would be the director. You know?”
“I know what you mean, Baldwin is pretty famous.”
I guess I’m the only one who wasn’t aware of just how well known he is.
“Which is fine, whatever… I mean I don’t get what he could see in her, not now especially.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s changed. You talked to her, briefly. She’s not my mom anymore as far as I’m concerned. It’s like being here has made her a completely different person. She’s so… so Hollywood now. I don’t get it.”
Logan is quiet, but I can tell that he’s still there.
“I don’t know what to say,” he says, finally breaking the silence.
“So that’s whatever.”
“Is that what upset you?”
“It’s part of it. Mostly it’s the fact that Baldwin seemed super nice… we had dinner, he showed me around the house… and then he showed me his private theater. Which is fine, but he put on the film from Greenville to show off his theater and it just reminded me… it reminded me of everything that has happened.”
“Yeah… that’s kind of shitty.”
“I mean, he broke up my family. I can never forgive that. I don’t care how nice he acts.”
“That’s fair. I know he hurt you, but do you think that maybe he showed you that movie in an innocent way?”
I wrinkle my forehead. I immediately thought he did it on purpose to see if he could upset me.
“It’s possible that he might have just been excited about his new film and wanted to share that with anyone who would watch it,” Logan says.
“I guess so…. I didn’t really think of that.”
Now I feel bad about running out of the theater. I know what Logan is saying is a possibility, but I also know that Dex could have been doing it on purpose. I just don’t know for sure. I should have played it cool, but it’s easy to say that now.
“I’m not saying that’s what happened, but at least think about it.”
“I will.”
“Anything else?” Logan says.
“Not really. How was football?”
Logan chuckles.
“What?” I say.
“You’re cute.”
“Why?”
“Because you asked about football. You’re trying to not dominate the conversation.”
That was pretty much my exact thought process. We both know that I don’t really care all that much about football, but I was trying to be nice.
“I’m glad you think I’m cute.”
“You are cute.”
I smile. Somehow just talking to Logan can make me feel better about anything.
“You’re cute, too.” I say.
“I’m cute? Not manly? Or dashing?”
I chuckle. He’s ridiculous. He’s all of those things and he knows it.
“Just cute.”
“Growing up it was my dream to be the cutest boy on my street. I’m glad to see that it came true.”
There’s a playful tone to his voice. I wish I could see the look on his face right now.
“Well… I don’t know if I’d go that far. You’re going to have to take me to your hometown and show me the rest of the boys and then I’ll decide.”
“I guess I might have to take you up on that.”
“So,” I say, changing the subject, “How was football?”
“It was fine, just a meeting and then I did some physical therapy.”
“How’s your knee?”
“It’s actually getting better, I should be ready to go for the first game of the season.”
His voice doesn’t falter or crack at all. I’m glad that he seems so confident. I want him to be able to play. When we talked about his knee before I could hear in his voice he wants to be out there with his teammates for summer practice.
“Good. I can’t wait to come to a game with Jess.”
“I’ll score for you.”
As cheesy as it sounds, him saying that is really sweet.
“Aww.”
Logan laughs.
“That was bad, sorry,” he says.
“No, it was cute.”
Logan yawns. I think he pulled the phone away, but I still heard it.
“Are you tired?” I say.
“No, I’m fine.”
I look at my phone. It’s almost one there.
“We should get off the phone, it’s really late.”
“Ugh. I have a football meeting at seven.”
“What? We have to get off the phone right now.”
“I feel like we barely talked,” he says.
“I know, but tomorrow I’m not doing anything, so whenever you’re free we can text or talk again.”
Logan sighs. We both know he needs to sleep. I don’t want to be responsible for him missing his meeting or falling asleep during it.
“Alright, I’ll text you after my meeting.”
“Sounds good.”
“Dream about me,” he says.
He ends the call before I can respond.
I hope that I do dream about him.