Read Anything But Mine for Free Online

rang again.
     
    Exasperated, he reached for his phone, and looked at the display. “It’s my mom. I’d better answer it,” he said. “Hi, mom. What’s up?”
     
    After a few seconds, Drew abruptly sat up on the edge of Jen’s bed. “What? When?” then after a minute, he asked, his voice cracking, “How is he? Is he going to be okay?” As Drew listened in silence to his mother, Jen sat up and moved next to him on the edge of her bed. “Okay, Mom. Tell him I love him, and that I’ll be home tomorrow. I’ll call you later, but please call me if there is any change in his condition. I love you, Mom.”
     
    “What happened, Drew?”
     
    “My father had a heart attack this morning,” he replied. “He’s in critical condition, and they’re not sure if he’s going to pull through.” Drew covered his face with his hands. “Oh God, Jen, I love my father so much, and I feel so useless here, and helpless because I’m not there with him.”
     
    Jen reached out and tried to take Drew in her arms in an attempt to comfort him, but he shrugged out of her embrace. “Are there any flights tonight? Maybe we can get you out there sooner than tomorrow,” Jen said, as she stood up and jogged towards the living room to retrieve her laptop.
     
    After searching every possible flight option, Drew came to the conclusion that he would have to wait until the next day to fly home to California. He looked over at Jen, who had been sitting silently by his side while he researched flights, and said, “you’ve been really quiet, Jen.”
     
    “I don’t know what to say, Drew, so I’ve just been praying for your dad,” she said, holding up a set of rosary beads.
     
    A wave of emotion washed over Drew, as he moved closer towards Jen, and said, “Thanks. He can use the prayers.” He gazed into her eyes, filled with concern and love, and reached out to take her hands in his. Hanging his head, he continued, “This is not the way I wanted our last day together before Christmas to end, Jen.”
     
    “I know, but what happened with your father was out of everyone’s control.”
     
    “What should we do now?”
     
    “Well, we still have to eat. Let me make you dinner. I don’t want you to be alone tonight.”
     
    Drew agreed, and asked, “Is it okay if we did something first before dinner?”
     
    “Sure. What would you like to do?”
     
    “I’d really like to go to Mass.”
     
    Jen looked at the clock on her nightstand. “There’s a 5:00 Mass at Assumption, the church over on Cranberry Street. Is that okay?”
     
    Drew nodded his head. “I know my parents would both be happy if I went to Mass tonight,” he said, taking out his phone and sending a text to his mother and sister.

    After Mass, Drew and Jen held hands as they took a detour and walked along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade on the way back to Jen’s apartment. Looking across the river towards Manhattan, Drew said, “There’s nothing like this view. It’s the second- best thing about living here.”
     
    “What’s the best thing?” Jen asked.
     
    Sighing, Drew draped an arm around Jen’s shoulder. “You are.”
     
    They continued walking along the Promenade in silence, until they reached Clark Street. When they reached Jen’s building, Drew said, “I need to go back to my apartment to finish packing. I’ll be over in about an hour. Is that okay?”
     
    “Sounds good. See you then,” Jen said. She began to enter her building, and then turned around and called out, “Hey, Drew - do you want bring your things with you, so you can leave from my place in the morning?”
     
    Drew turned, and walked back towards Jen. “I’d love to spend the night with you, Jen, but I’m not sure I’m going to be the best company.”
     
    Jen’s anxiety welled up inside her, and her stomach churned. “I’m worried about you, though, and I don’t want you to be alone. Think about it, and just bring your bags with you if you want to stay