Page 97 of The ABCs of You & Me

Fine

Have you told her yet?

Told her what?

That you’re in love with her.

I’m… notnotin love with her. But I can’t exactly say anything. It feels like a betrayal of what she asked from me if I pull her aside like,hey Soph, I know this was all for fun and all, but you’re the only one I’ve ever wanted a happily ever after with.

When I don’t answer, my phone rings. But I don’t feel like listening to whatever lecture she’s going to give me so I let it go to voicemail.

“What’s up, Pete?” I ask Thursday morning as he sulks at his desk.

He looks over at me and shrugs. “I feel… not good.”

“Like your stomach? Head?”

“I guess my head. That’s where the not good feelings are.” Oh.

“Can I do something to help?”

He shrugs again.

“Do you want to go for a walk?”

“No, my legs are tired.”

“Too much training for the marathon?” I tease.

“Mr. Walsh.” His eyes meet mine, and I see it then. The truth. “We both know I’m not running a marathon.”

I’ve been working with Pete for two years. Two years of banter. Two years of calming him down when his anxiety becomes too much. Two years of building up his confidence wherever and however I can. This is the first time I’ve seen him look defeated, and it’s by far one of the worst things I’ve ever seen.

“What brought this on?” I wish Sophie were here. She’d probably be a good person for him to talk to right now. She’d definitely be able to approach this conversation in a more impactful way.

“My mom.”

To say I’m shocked would be an understatement. Aside from myself, Pete’s mom is his biggest cheerleader. She’s one of those moms who looks at everything as an opportunity. She’s also a single mom with a full-time job and two kids, one of whom is eager to do and try everything.

“What happened?”

He peeks around to make sure no one is listening. “She said I couldn’t do it.” His eyes fill with tears. “She told me to stop bothering her to take me running because she doesn’t have time right now.”

I can’t even imagine this conversation happening. “What if I took you running?” I ask without really considering what it would mean.

He shakes his head. “I don’t want to be too much for you too.”

What ten-year-old thinks they’re too much? I didn’t think that set in until your twenties. “I hate to break it to you, bud, but you’ll have to work a lot harder if you’re gonna be too much for me. I’m very tall, remember? I’ve got room for more than most people.” That gets a smile out of him. It’s small, but it’s there. “I’ll talk to your mom, okay? And if she says yes, I’ll take you out on Saturday morning for our first training session.”

“Really?”

“If she says yes, really.”

Sunshine

I’ll pick you up tomorrow around 6? Show starts at 7:30.

I’ve never been to an opera. What should I wear?

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