were gone; Noah seemed to be only doing a job.
Reagan closed her eyes and smiled, remembering how they used to celebrate with a warm root beer and a bag of Oreos. He’d be talking and driving through the night toward home and she’d have her feet on the dashboard tapping with the song on the radio. Once they’d stopped for a malt and almost gotten in a fight with the locals. Big Biggs was just a thug then and joined their side of the fight just for the hell of it.
As she waited in the crowded DFW airport, Reagan forced herself to stay awake. If she fell asleep at the gate, no one would wake her up until closing time, and she’d miss her flight.
Checking her phone, she found two missed calls since she’d turned it off at six. She didn’t recognize the number, but since she’d agreed to host the poker game for charity, people were always calling.
Another reason she’d wanted to get away from home for a few days. Hosting a game was turning into a part-time job.
Reagan called the number and someone who sounded more asleep than awake growled a hello.
“This is Reagan Truman. You call—”
“Just a minute. I’ll get him.” The voice still didn’t sound friendly.
A moment later Noah’s voice came through loud and clear. “Rea. Is this you? I’m sorry I’m calling so early but I wanted you to know I won last night.”
She almost yelled that she knew. “That’s great.”
“Yeah, I lost my phone again so I borrowed a friend’s who crashed here last night. This win could mean big money, Rea.”
“Where are you, Noah?”
“I’m at the Hampton in Vegas, as always. It’s quieter than any of the hotels with casinos.” He lowered his voice. “You don’t sound so good, Rea. Did I wake you? Are you sick or something?”
“No.” She managed to keep from saying that she knew he was lying. “I just didn’t get much sleep last night.” She’d called the Hampton twice last night and asked to be put through to Noah McAllen’s room. She’d gotten the same answer both times. No one under that name was staying with them.
“Not me.” He laughed. “I must be getting old or something. I was in bed by midnight. A horse danced on my hat last night, so I thought I’d go shopping this morning. Wish you were here.”
“Me too.” She couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down her face.
“You sure you’re all right, Rea?”
“Just missing you,” she whispered.
“Me too,” he said. “I love you, you know that, don’t you?”
“I know.”
“While I’m out shopping, I’ll buy a phone and text you my new number.”
“All right.”
“I have to go. I promise I’ll be home soon as I can. One of these days I’ll climb off this merry-go-round and hang around long enough for you to get sick of me.”
“Someday,” she whispered.
She hung up without remembering if either of them said the final good-bye.
Reagan wasn’t sure how long she stared at the phone. Finally the last call for her flight shook her enough to make her jump. She tossed her coffee and ran to board. All she wanted to do was go home.
When she slid into her seat next to the window, she pulled her jacket over her and closed her eyes, wanting to dream about the days when she and Noah were best friends. When he’d teased her and made her laugh and never lied to her.
When she believed that he really loved her.
An hour later when the plane landed, Big Biggs was there waiting for her. He picked her up in his strong arms and gave her the hug she needed. In truth, she barely remembered calling him just before she’d silenced her phone. He was her one friend who never asked questions before standing on her side of any fight.
Reagan tried to smile, but he saw right through her pretend bravery. “What did that bum of a cowboy do to you this time? I swear I’ll knock that oatmeal he’s got for brains right out of his head this time.”
Now Reagan smiled. “He didn’t do anything, but thanks for the offer. I might remind you
Reagan closed her eyes and smiled, remembering how they used to celebrate with a warm root beer and a bag of Oreos. He’d be talking and driving through the night toward home and she’d have her feet on the dashboard tapping with the song on the radio. Once they’d stopped for a malt and almost gotten in a fight with the locals. Big Biggs was just a thug then and joined their side of the fight just for the hell of it.
As she waited in the crowded DFW airport, Reagan forced herself to stay awake. If she fell asleep at the gate, no one would wake her up until closing time, and she’d miss her flight.
Checking her phone, she found two missed calls since she’d turned it off at six. She didn’t recognize the number, but since she’d agreed to host the poker game for charity, people were always calling.
Another reason she’d wanted to get away from home for a few days. Hosting a game was turning into a part-time job.
Reagan called the number and someone who sounded more asleep than awake growled a hello.
“This is Reagan Truman. You call—”
“Just a minute. I’ll get him.” The voice still didn’t sound friendly.
A moment later Noah’s voice came through loud and clear. “Rea. Is this you? I’m sorry I’m calling so early but I wanted you to know I won last night.”
She almost yelled that she knew. “That’s great.”
“Yeah, I lost my phone again so I borrowed a friend’s who crashed here last night. This win could mean big money, Rea.”
“Where are you, Noah?”
“I’m at the Hampton in Vegas, as always. It’s quieter than any of the hotels with casinos.” He lowered his voice. “You don’t sound so good, Rea. Did I wake you? Are you sick or something?”
“No.” She managed to keep from saying that she knew he was lying. “I just didn’t get much sleep last night.” She’d called the Hampton twice last night and asked to be put through to Noah McAllen’s room. She’d gotten the same answer both times. No one under that name was staying with them.
“Not me.” He laughed. “I must be getting old or something. I was in bed by midnight. A horse danced on my hat last night, so I thought I’d go shopping this morning. Wish you were here.”
“Me too.” She couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down her face.
“You sure you’re all right, Rea?”
“Just missing you,” she whispered.
“Me too,” he said. “I love you, you know that, don’t you?”
“I know.”
“While I’m out shopping, I’ll buy a phone and text you my new number.”
“All right.”
“I have to go. I promise I’ll be home soon as I can. One of these days I’ll climb off this merry-go-round and hang around long enough for you to get sick of me.”
“Someday,” she whispered.
She hung up without remembering if either of them said the final good-bye.
Reagan wasn’t sure how long she stared at the phone. Finally the last call for her flight shook her enough to make her jump. She tossed her coffee and ran to board. All she wanted to do was go home.
When she slid into her seat next to the window, she pulled her jacket over her and closed her eyes, wanting to dream about the days when she and Noah were best friends. When he’d teased her and made her laugh and never lied to her.
When she believed that he really loved her.
An hour later when the plane landed, Big Biggs was there waiting for her. He picked her up in his strong arms and gave her the hug she needed. In truth, she barely remembered calling him just before she’d silenced her phone. He was her one friend who never asked questions before standing on her side of any fight.
Reagan tried to smile, but he saw right through her pretend bravery. “What did that bum of a cowboy do to you this time? I swear I’ll knock that oatmeal he’s got for brains right out of his head this time.”
Now Reagan smiled. “He didn’t do anything, but thanks for the offer. I might remind you
Similar Books
