Page 13 of The Moment Promised

If I left, I would worry the whole time I was gone if she’d be alive when I came back. “I can’t leave,” I say. “But you make a good point; maybe I’ll try to be less helpful.”

Finn smiles, like he’s proud of me.

“I guess sometimes you have to give someone a shove to rock bottom.” I give a weak smile. I know I’m not going to like this.

“I do know the meaning of life.” Finn lightens the mood with this goofy grin.

“Oh yeah?” I ask, flicking a paper ball at him.

“Yeah.” He flicks it back at me, missing and hitting the lady sitting behind me. “Shit,” he murmurs.

I laugh, by some miracle, after the conversation we just had.

“The meaning of life can be anything you make it to be,” he says. “Adeline, the guy on the sidewalk’s meaning of life is different from yours. From mine.” He catches his breath. “Inthismoment, the moment promised, I’m going to have fun. That’s it.” He leans back. “It will probably change in the future, but I don’t worry about that. You said it yourself, tomorrow isn’t promised, only this second is.”

“The moment promised,” I repeat, a smile tugging at my lips. “I like that. It perfectly encapsules what life is. Individual moments woven together to create an exhilarating story.”

“We’ve cracked the code, Miller.” He lightly taps his knee against mine.

I have his full attention when he asks, “How’s the moment promised going for you?”

He already knows the answer. Horrible, pathetic,boring… I spend each day repeating the previous one on an exhausting loop.

I look up at him, “I want to have fun.” The weight of the world lifts off my shoulders with one sentence.

He smiles, and for a moment his eyes drop to my lips. His voice comes out hoarse, “Then let’s have some fun.”

Ava places a pizza in front of us.

“Thanks, girl.”

The melted cheese smells so good.

Finn grabs a slice from the meat-lovers side. “We can’t have fun if you spend every day working,” he points out.

I grab a slice from my side, burning my finger on the cheese. “Ow! How are you eating right now? It’s so hot!”

Finn shrugs with a mouthful of pizza.

“Are you suggesting I quit my job?” I cut into my pizza with a fork and knife since it’s too hot to pickup with my hands.

He nods, trying to finish chewing the ginormous bite he took.

“I can’t quit,” I whisper, since I’m literally having this conversation at the place I work.

“You hardly spend any money, I’ll bet dinner you have a pretty hefty savings.” He watches me expectedly.

“That is not the point.” I take a sip of my water. “Pete needs me. I have an obligation to this place and?—"

“Pete!” Finn interrupts, calling across the restaurant to Pete, who wipes down a table.

I kick Finn over and over beneath the table when Pete starts walking over.

“Adeline needs the summer off, is that cool?” Finn asks nonchalantly, as I frantically shake my head.

“Sure, thing kiddo, how long?”

“Couple months or so.” Finn answers before I can.

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