Page 130 of Fire and Icing

Dustin

All your dreams can come true

if you have the courage to pursue them.

~ Walt Disney

Patrick’s sittingin one of the recliners at the edge of the dining area, his nose in a book as usual. I’m watching a training video on my laptop. Trying to watch it, anyway.

"Patrick, I think I'm in love with Emberleigh," I say, half hoping he’s so immersed in the story he’s reading that he misses my confession.

I just can’t keep it inside. I love her. I want to run through the station yelling it at the top of my lungs, climb to the top of the training tower and announce it to all of Waterford.

I pick up my soda and take a sip as if it’s no biggie. So, I love Emberleigh. Whatever.

Patrick looks at me over the top of his book and raises an eyebrow. "So soon?"

"Is it too soon? We’re not kids. I’ve lived enough life to know what I want. I’ve never met anyone like Emberleigh. And I’venever felt this way before. It’s consuming. Life-changing. Does love follow some sort of timeline?"

I’m not being sarcastic. I honestly don’t know how love finds its way into a life or a heart. All I know is I can’t stop thinking about Emberleigh. I smile whenever a thought of her crosses my mind. I want to spend every free minute with her. And I’d do anything for her. Anything.

“I wouldn’t say love follows a timeline, exactly,” Patrick says. “Usually people know one another a while before they start talking about love.”

“I’m not talking about it with her! Not yet.”

Patrick chuckles. He puts a marker in his book and sets it aside.

“I’m not saying you can’t be in love this soon,” he clarifies. “You two have spent a lot of time together. Kind of like a crash course.”

“Best crash course I’ve ever taken,” I say. “Ten out of ten recommend.”

“So, does this crash course come with … extra credit?” Patrick wags his eyebrows playfully.

“I don’t kiss and tell,” I say.

“Sorry to break it to you, but you just did!” Patrick smiles.

“Man. That’s not fair. You tricked me into confessing.”

“So, you kissed. Did you kiss her?”

“That’s pretty much how kissing works.”

“I’m not that rusty,” he smiles over at me. “I know how kissing works. I’m just asking who initiated it.”

“It was a mutual kiss. The first time.”

“The first time …” Patrick smiles. “Okay, then. This is good. So, what's the problem?"

I sigh. I may as well lay everything out to him. I need to talk to someone. "I got an offer to go to Nashville. It’s nothing big right now. Just a demo recording.”

“A demo. Like you go into a studio and record a song for a label?”

“Yeah. That’s what this guy, Gavin, said. He was at my gig two weekends ago. He gave me his card. I put it on my nightstand. I’ve been picking it up and flipping it around before I fall asleep, considering my options. Of course I wasn’t going to call the guy late at night. But yesterday I tucked it in my wallet. While I was out running errands, I pulled over and gave him a call. He and I had a little off-the-record conversation to feel out my goals and to determine whether I’d be a fit for what they’re looking for.”

“Man. That’s huge.”

“I know. He asked if I was under management.”

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