29 Future (1/2)
”It's me, don't tell anyone I called you.”
A sleepy sweet voice came through quietly on the other end.
”Jack? How are you?”
”Alive, let's leave it at that. I wanted to give you an update.”
Jessica yawned on the other end. I was calling her at four in the morning. Half because I did want to get her in the loop, and half because I couldn't sleep. Nightmares were on full blast.
”You've got me worried sick you know?”
”Can't really be helped right now.”
”Could have been if you never started this shit...”
”Ouch Jess, kick a guy when he's down why don't you?”
She laughed quietly and yawned again. Her voice perked up just a bit.
”Sense of humor is back. That's a good sign. Go ahead and fill me in then.”
”We all came up with a plan. It's not fool proof by any means, it's dangerous as all hell, and I'll probably die doing it.”
”Great so no different from how your life has been these past few months.”
”Exactly.”
We both laughed quietly. Johnny was sleeping in the garage now, and my voice carried well against the metal doors and roof.
”Joke with me all you want, but you're staying in the dog house. A year at least.”
”I...”
I stumbled on my words. My heart kicked up it's speed for a few beats.
”You plan to know me for another year?”
She scoffed.
”I plan to marry you in a year dummy.”
”Jessica don't say that.”
”Hush Jack.”
The jokes were gone. She was stern now.
”No more of that. I know what you've done, I know what you're about to do, but I know who you're trying to be. We can put this behind us once you've dealt with this thing.”
I closed my eyes still holding the phone to my ear. Even after everything she still saw good in me. That unkillable light in her could very well be the death of her.
”Jessica, I can't thank you enough.”
”Thank me by coming back to me alive. Keep the others alive too. Adalwolf is the most stylish man I've ever seen. If he died the world would be out a fabulous man. Nate is a big softie too once you talk to him a bit. Honestly that road trip to North Dakota with them was the most fun I've had in a while.”
I chuckled to myself and so did she. We both kept as quiet as we could.
”What about Johnny?”
”Johnny is... Well he is Johnny. Loyal and dependable. I think out of all these mistakes at least one good came, and that was you two getting close. Friends like that are gold if you treat them right. Same goes for the other two as well.”
”I got you too.”
”Yeah, but I think you could have got me without the drug running. You could have had me years ago if you wanted.”
”And I regret every day that I stayed with Sara and didn't see your feelings.”
”I tried to hide them when you were with her. I didn't want to be a homewrecker even if I hated her. Speaking of her did you know she is getting married?”
I choked on a laugh and had to hold my breath to keep from bursting out.
”Are you kidding me? With that jock?”