Page 126 of The Love Haters

“Not so sure you would.”

“Women can tell.”

“Not all women, apparently.”

“Why are we arguing about this?”

“Because you’re wrong about yourself, and it bothers me.”

“Maybe you’re the one who’s wrong,” I said, just to be contrary.

“You think you’re this unnoticed, forgettable thing. But you’re not.”

“Fine,” I said. “I’m not forgettable.”

“You’re notnot forgettable,” Hutch said then, like I was being obtuse. “You’reunforgettable.”

I held my breath at that.

Hutch went on. “You’re a TV jingle you never wanted to learn, but can’t erase. You’re a puzzle that can’t be solved—or a question that can’t be answered—or a dream you wake up from that feels like it really happened. But it didn’t happen. And it can’t happen. Because that’s not how dreams work.”

At that, Cole roused enough to say, “I knew you liked her.”

“Idon’tlike her,” Hutch said.

“You’ve still got that hall pass, man,” Cole said.

“Stop saying that,” Hutch said, “or I will make us all regret it.”

WHEN WE MADEit back to the Starlite, Rue and The Gals were still out around the tables chatting. They stood up at the sight of Cole.

“What happened?” Rue asked, rushing to us.

“Drinking contest,” Hutch said.

Rue took in Cole’s darkening, swelling jaw and his drunk-and-beat-up energy. “That wasn’t you, was it?” she asked Hutch.

“When has it ever—even once—been me?” he answered.

Rue nodded.

“Can you see to him?” Hutch asked her. Then he tilted his head toward me. “I’m going to need a designated driver.”

“The drinking contest was withyou?” Rue said.

Hutch nodded.

“Who won?” she asked.

Hutch squinted at her. “Who do you think?”

Rue looked back and forth between the two boys. Then she nodded. “Take my car,” she said.

Twenty

WE HAD TOfold Hutch up like origami to get him into Rue’s Mini Cooper.

Then, when he struggled to get his seat belt fastened, I leaned across to help and found myself face-to-face with him, watching me.

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