Three years ago

Jared

“Please, Jared! I want to go!” Carolyn moaned over the phone without even an introduction. His new girlfriend sounded so impatient. But also cute.

Jared pulled the device from his ear and looked at it. He'd picked up without checking who was calling.

“Jared? Are you there?!” she questioned with a worried voice. Carolyn really liked him and gave it her all in chasing him. She was not like some other girl that played hot and cold all the time. But she wasn't in his dreams all the time, either.

“Okay, we're going.” A happy squeal on the other side almost made his ear blow up,...