Page 44 of Their Greatest Strength

“Are you drunk right now?”

Seems she caught that.

“It was Ollie’s bachelor party tonight.”

“Right.”

“I got you something.”

A pause on the line. “At a bachelor party? It better not be a stripper’s thong.”

“It’s not a thong.”

“Alright, good?—”

“It’s a pair of briefs, actually.”

“I’m hanging up now.”

My heart rate speeds up. “I’m kidding! We didn’t even go to a strip club. I’m not really into that kind of thing.”

“You’re not into staring at naked women?”

“Of course I am. Just not like that,” I argue.

“What did you do tonight, then?”

“How about you come to our curb so we can talk properly?” I ask, shutting my eyes for a quick minute.

There’s a slam nearby, and I open my eyes immediately to stare into the dark street. When nothing pops out from behind the dumpster, I slowly drop my shoulders.

“Or better yet, tell me where to go, and I’ll come to you,” I offer.

“Are you actually on our curb right now?” she asks, sounding airy. Like she’s tired.

Is it really that late?

Wait. She saidourcurb.

I’m pretty sure I’m smiling again. “I wanted to see you and give you this present.”

“Why did you get me a present, Jamieson?”

“Oooooh,Jamieson. So fancy, Blakely,” I tease, my tongue rolling funny.

“Fine. You won.”

Hushed voices sound, and then a door closes near where she is. I turn my body to face the direction she always goes when we part ways and keep my phone cradled in my palm.

Minutes pass as I wait, the line staying silent but the call still there. Like a reminder that while she isn’t saying anything, we’re still connected.

“You’re ridiculous, Pretty Boy,” she shouts from the road, her figure shadowed but obvious.

I stumble to my feet, swaying as I wave and put my phone in my pocket. “You came.”

“You asked me to.”

“I’m happy to see you.”

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