Page 100 of Perfect Mess

“I have to pee,” I announced.

“I’ll save your seat.” Gary yawned as he patted the couch cushion beside him.

I wasn’t gone long, but when I came back, Gary was asleep. I decided to let him be, tucking one of the couch pillows under his head and draping my favorite fuzzy blanket over the top of him. It was also Purrfect’s favorite blanket, so it wasn’t long before the two of them were both curled up underneath it.

Just as I turned out the light and was about to go get in my bed, I heard Gary’s voice. “Mary?”

“Yeah.”

“Are they serious? I mean, really serious, Janet and Jack?”

“No,” I answered, with enough conviction to convince us both. “Not yet, at least. Janet keeps telling me she wants to make sure they’re friends first.”

Gary nodded. “I just don’t understand what she sees in a guy like Jack.”

Um … he’s gorgeous, he’s rich, he’s athletic, he’s a doctor, he drives a BMW, he’s an expert chef and masseuse.

But I didn’t say any of those things. Instead, I just shrugged.

“He’s not good enough for her,” said Gary.

“He’s not,” I agreed.

“He’ll end up hurting her.”

“I know.”

We both stayed quiet for a long time, lost in our own private torments. Even though we couldn’t see each other with the lights out, it felt like we were finally, truly, seeing each other for the very first time.

Gary’s voice came from the darkness. “We have to stop them.”

ChapterTwenty-Three

The Lake Eola farmer’s market occurred every Sunday morning in the heart of downtown Orlando. Tents and tables lined the sidewalks, which circled the lake, in front of the big colored fountain. I stopped to sample some buffalo ranch dip with a pretzel stick, smiling as I reflected on my sudden turn of fortune. Finally, Gary was on my side. He was going to help me get Janet away from Jack.Willingly!

As I walked through the crowds, the buttered kettle corn and smoked brisket tacos smelled like victory. Through the din of mango smoothie slurping and a guitar player strumming Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”, I could almost hear the sound of the Universe in a slow clap, a begrudging acknowledgement of a match well played.

I found Gary in the artist section, next to the guy selling succulents attached to pieces of driftwood. It was the group of tents in the very back, past the homemade candle vendors and the self-published authors. Across from the one vegan food truck. It was the part of the farmer’s market where only the most devout friends and family dared to go.

Gary was still setting up when I got there. He smiled when he saw me, and I smiled when I saw him wearing the Yale T-shirt again. The one that showed off his biceps.

“You came.”

“Of course I came.”

“I got you a coffee.” Gary handed me a cup. “Just in case.”

“Just in case?”

“I didn’t think you’d show up.” Gary looked at me like he was still trying to figure out if I was just an illusion.

In truth, it had been a close call. Really close. What I wanted to do that morning was stay snuggled up in bed. But when Gary called and suggested we meet up at the farmer’s market so we could come up with a plan to distract Janet from Jack, I couldn’t let the opportunity slip through my fingers.

“I pegged you for a Caramel Macchiato girl.” Gary watched as I took a sip.

“Good guess.” I was, in fact, a Caramel Macchiato girl. Caramel Macchiato’s were my all-time favorite. At least until fall when they rolled out the pumpkin spice. A few more sips and my insides felt like Purrfect’s belly after a day of hunting lizards. Warm and fuzzy.

Somehow, even though we barely knew each other, Gary could read me like a book. I was never exactly a prolific dater, but no man in the history of my love life had ever come close to being able to read my mind. Even when I wanted them to. Like when I was hungry for Thai food, but my date would take me to the sports bar for a burger.

---