Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,62
Before I could hit the call back button, it was ringing again.
“Hey?” I answered.
“Katyrina Grace Spencer, I’ve been worried sick. Piper told me you were in the hospital! A car accident! Katy! Why didn’t you tell me? I’m on my way to your house now, screw classes, you have some explaining to do,” I could hear him huffing over the phone, probably trying to hoof it to the bus station.
“Rollo, I’m sorry,” I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling like the worst best friend ever. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You weren’t thinking, Katyrina,” he snapped.
“Please, stop calling me that, you know I hate it,” I said softly. The only people that called me Katyrina were my mom and Preston. I’d be happy if no one ever called me that again. After ‘the event’ with Preston, my full name grated on my nerves, like nails on a chalkboard.
“I’m sorry, baby cakes,” he said, and I could tell he was calming down. “I’m just worried sick about you. Piper just called and told me and obviously she already knew. She was checking in on you, assuming that I would be with you. Instead, I was completely clueless and sounded like an idiot. What happened?”
“I hit a deer and ended up in the other lane where another car crashed into me,” I explained, running my fingers through my bed-rumpled hair.
He gasped dramatically. “You killed Bambi’s mom! How dare you, Katy!”
Instead of being sympathetic, in typical Rollo fashion, he had to make a joke, but at least I knew he wasn’t mad anymore.
“Seeing as Bambi’s mom was animated, I doubt I killed her,” I deadpanned.
“Still,” he said and I could just picture him shrugging. “Anyway, I should be at your condo in twenty minutes. Is there anything I should bring you? I can walk to a drugstore if you need me to.”
“Rollo, I’m not home,” I mumbled.
“What? Are you still at the hospital?” He shrieked.
“Nooooo,” I drew out the word.
“Then where are you?” He gasped, “You’re not with that wench of a mother you have, are you?”
“No,” I said, still reluctant to tell him.
“Where the hell are you, Katy? Stop being evasive,” he groaned.
“I’m with Jared,” I squeaked. Something crashed on the other end of the line. “Rollo? Rollo? Can you hear me? Rollo?”
A few, muffled, seconds later, Rollo said, “I think I need to get my ears checked. You did not just say what I think you did.”
“Yes, I did,” I mumbled, blushing and desperately wishing Jared wasn’t right behind me, hearing everything.
Another crash and then, “Damn it, Katy, you owe me a new phone. You keep making me drop mine with all these shocking things coming out of your mouth. It’s all scratched up now.”
“I’ll add it to your Christmas list,” I laughed.
“So, explain to me how you ended up at Jared’s house? His house, Katy!” Rollo squealed.
“Oh –um-” I stammered.
“He’s right there with you, isn’t he?” Rollo asked.
“Yep,” I said.
“Okay, I’ll let you go then, but I expect a full explanation when you get home. When will you get home?” He asked.
“Um… at least a week from now,” I twisted a strand of hair around my index finger.
Rollo sputtered. “I must have woken up in some parallel universe, because I do not know the person I’m talking to.”
“Hey,” Jared said, behind me.
“Hang on,” I told Rollo, pressing the phone to my shoulder. “Yeah?” I couldn’t help getting a last peek at Jared’s chest as he pulled a sleeveless shirt over his head. At least his beautiful arms were still exposed to my viewing pleasure.
“Would you want Rollo to come over for dinner?” Jared asked me.
“Yes!” I responded immediately, a smile lighting my face. My enthusiasm dampening, I said, “But he doesn’t have a car.”
“We’ll go out then, and pick him up. Ask him if five o’ clock is good?” Jared said.
“Rollo?” I asked, thinking he might have hung up.
“Yeeeees, baby cakes?” he chortled.
“Jared wants to know if you’d like to go out to dinner, you, me, him and Karlie around five?” I asked.
“You got me all excited for nothing! I thought hot bod was asking me out on a date! Seriously though, that would be great. I miss you and I need to look you over with my own two eyes to make sure you’re okay,” Rollo said.
“We’ll pick you up at your dorm, okay?” I continued to play with my hair. I could feel Jared’s eyes boring into my back and it was making me nervous.