Page 63 of Rounding Third

“I'm just saying, your theory won't necessarily keep you alive.”

“Yeah, well, now I'm not telling you what I got. Goodbye, Winnie.”

I end the call to her yelling through the phone. I know she’s going to call back and when I don’t answer, she’ll get mad and text me a million times.

After pushing the package inside the house, I eye it, trying to figure out the best way to open it. I slice the top open and glance inside.

It’s full of various types of popcorn with a card that says ‘I’m sorry. You’re one of my best friends, Lils. Don’t let this tear us apart. – Wheeler’. He knows I love popcorn and never want to share mine with anyone. He even got my favorite flavors. This is the biggest arrangement of popcorn I’ve ever seen. There’s no way he didn’t have this custom made.

I want to text him and thank him for the gift, but I don’t. Instead, I take a seat on the couch and pull my laptop onto my lap. Right as I start to search for new jobs, the gate bell goes off again.

Tears fill my gaze as I carry the next delivery inside. It’s filled with chocolate covered pretzels. Each one is decorated differently, but they all have my favorite toppings. The card attached to this says ‘I'm an idiot. I’ll apologize a million times if I have to. Please forgive me, Lils. I love you. – Wheeler’.

My butt isn't even touching the couch for two seconds when the bell goes off again. I groan and let the next delivery man up the driveway.

The first tear slips down my cheek and falls onto the top of the third box. This one is filled with a few bottles of my favorite wine and all the makings of an entire charcuterie board. The card says ‘Answer my texts, Lils. You’re killing me with this silent treatment. – Wheeler’.

This time, I don’t even get to the couch before the bell goes off a fourth time. I open the door for the driver this time and quickly accept the beautiful flowers. The massive vase is filled with my favorite flowers. I don’t know how he did it, but each flower inside is a type I love and my favorite colors. He went above and beyond with the thought he put into these boxes. The card says ‘I need you in my life, Lils. I'm sorry I was such a shitty friend. Please don’t leave me. – Wheeler’.

I glance at the camera on the driveway and find three more trucks pulling up to the house. I open the gate and leave it open. At this point, I'm tired of dealing with this.

The next delivery is a spa package complete with home spa items to pamper myself with and a gift card to a high-end spa nearby. The amount of the gift card has my eyes widening and my mouth falling open. I don’t even get to read the card before the next delivery man approaches me.

The next one is full of gourmet cookies and cupcakes. The one after that, are fruits in the shape of flowers. The next is a basket of gift cards to my favorite stores. I thank each of the delivery men and slam the door shut. I march right over to my phone and pull up my text thread with Wheeler.

Liliana: Exactly how many gift baskets will I be receiving today? I'm tired of answering the door.

Wheeler: There are seven scheduled for today. How many have you gotten already?

Liliana: Seven.

Wheeler: Six are scheduled for tomorrow. I'm working on the next day now.

Liliana: Stop it, Wheeler! This is too much.

Wheeler: It’s not. I don’t know how else to apologize to you, Lils. I'm so fucking sorry.

Liliana: How long are you going to continue sending packages?

Wheeler: Until you forgive me. I'm hoping it doesn’t take long though, because I'm running out of ideas here, Lils.

Liliana: I forgive you, Wheeler.

Wheeler: Don’t just say it, Lils. You need to mean it.

Liliana: I do mean it.

Wheeler: Thank you. I really am sorry for everything I said. You didn’t deserve any of it and I wasn’t acting like a friend. You’re like alittle sister to me, Lils. I don’t know what to do without you.

Wheeler: Also… Do you think you could tell Smithy you forgive me so he stops glaring at me? He’s making everyone feel uncomfortable at practice.

Liliana: Everyone?

Wheeler: Fine! Me! He’s making me uncomfortable. I said I was sorry, what else do I do?

Liliana: I hear gift baskets work wonders.

Wheeler: Real funny, Lils. The jokes on you though when you have to get up ten more times today to answer the door.

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