Page 22 of The Girl with No Name

“You two have been apart for some time since college, though, right?”

“Yeah. I mean, sure. Physically apart.”

“Two years in the Peace Corps and another year with her in grad school. It’s impressive you haven’t grown apart.”

I consider for a moment what he’s suggesting. “Sam’s a good one, man. I’m not gonna find anyone else like her. I’ve got my life planned out. It just makes sense. She’s in California now, but she’ll be back soon. We’ll get married and start the whole shebang.” I decide to spare Dunn my whole life-is-about-sacrifices-and-hard-work spiel.

“Sounds logical.”

“What about you?” I ask.

“What do you mean?”

“How’d you know Wendy was the one? You’ve never told me.”

Charlie grips the steering wheel. “She was hot. I wanted to knock her up. Mission fucking accomplished.”

I laugh. “No, really.”

There’s an awkward pause between us. “You think I’m joking?”

“Oh.”

“It was the exact opposite of your decision. I used zero logic. All dick logic.”

“And then you married her, though.”

“Yeah. Exactly. What am I gonna do, be forty and racking up my number count? That’s an empty road. Real men get married. It’s the ultimate game. And Wendy is fucking awesome. I love her. I’d die for her.”

Charlie has always been one of the most measured, exacting guys I’ve known, so this surprises me. I’m also relieved to hear his philosophy on women is more in line with mine, and less in line with Mason’s.

“Zero logic,” I repeat.

“Gut feeling only. You know about gut feelings?”

“And you’re happy?”

“What’s happiness, man? It’s a fleeting state. I don’t chase happiness.”

“What do you chase?”

He spits some dip into his water bottle.

“Mission.”

We head up Lake Shore Drive, and we’re getting looks from everyone in this snazzy car.

“So what’s the big haps tonight in the city?” he asks. “The hell does a Chicago city boy get into on a summer Thursday night in July?”

“Well…” I shrug. “My team is having a happy hour at North Avenue Beach. It might still be going on, depending when we get there.”

“That sounds incredible. Let’s do it.”

“It’s hard to park at the beach, though. There’s easier street parking around my place. You can park this bad boy there, if you want.”

“Sure. Think she’ll be safe?”

“I live in Old Town. I think she’ll be fine.”

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