“I know. I’m getting there. Promise, next weekend, I’ll be partying it up like I’m nineteen again and you had to come pick me and my friends up from the side of road while we were drunk and out of gas.”

“That’s more like it. You need a visitor soon? I can help you move some furniture around. Hang up a few picture frames, or something. Fix a leaky pipe?”

My stomach flipped and I smiled. “I’d love to have you visit dad, but I won’t put you to work.” I knew he needed to feel useful again and that he was still more than capable, but I didn’t need to be taken care of. I just needed to spend time with him. “I’ll be home for Thanksgiving. I’ll cook up a storm, just like last year—we did fine, right?”

“I was thinking of getting away for the holiday. I don’t uh…I don’t think I want to be here. Might go over to Bill’s house and watch a game or something and order takeout.”

“Yeah. Okay, that sounds nice.” I couldn’t force him to try and enjoy a family holiday if he wanted to avoid it. If anyone was good at avoidance, it was Harry Maxwell. He didn’t do well with emotions. And I didn’t blame him.

After we hung up, I made some popcorn, cut up some cheese, poured a hefty glass of wine, and put on The Little Mermaid.

If anyone could cheer me up right now, it was my little crab friend.

My chest ached a little when my phone didn’t ring all night. It was the weekend, he couldn’t be working. There was no game tonight. I hated that I’d checked both game and practice schedules like an obsessed girlfriend.

There was still no action on Troy Hartman’s social media page, not that August has been filling in for him there but who knew with those twins.

I missed him.

By the end of the movie, I wasn’t feeling any better. And the coffee ice cream did little to comfort me, because clearly, I wasn’t on his mind.

By Thursday morning the following week, I’d completely given up on August calling me. He had finally texted late Monday night, but I forced myself to make nothing of it.

August: Just wanted you to know I’m thinking of you. It’s been a crazy week but I’d like to talk soon.

I was no stranger to the “sorry, I’ve been distant” text. I had one or two of them in college when they realized I wasn’t an easy lay. So, I waited before responding. If I planned to respond at all.