Page 58 of Let Me

“Girl—he’s a new teacher, and he’s finer than an EBT card when yo’ refrigerator’s empty.”

“What?”I throw my head back and laugh.

“I’ma set y’all up.”

“Um, no.You ain’t setting me up with nobody.If he so fine, why don’t you go out with him?”

“Because I don’t date people I work with.That’s a disaster waiting to happen.”

“True,” I say.

“He seems like the nerdy type…right up your alley.”

“What does he teach?”

“Advanced Chemistry.You know what they say about them educated men, girl.”

“No.What do they say?”

She shrugs.“I don’t know.I just wanted to know if you knew.”

“Girl…”

I laugh again and lean back in my chair.Actually, I’m glad I came out.Being with Riley always lifts my spirits.

“So, look—it ain’t going to hurt nothing for y’all to just go out for dinner,” Riley says.“I’m going to set it up.”

“Riley, no.”

“I don’t want to hear it.I’m the reason you and Judah got together so it’s my fault.Now, I’m going to make up for it.”

“Riley, do not give that guy my number.”

“I won’t.I’m going to set it all up and let you know where to meet him.”

“How do you know he’s single?He could already have a girlfriend.”

“He doesn’t.I overheard him talking to another teacher in the breakroom.”

I sigh heavily and say, “Riley, I’m not up for this.”

“It’ll be fine.I’ll take care of everything.”

“Famous last words…”

She cackles.“He’s a good guy.Just go and if nothing comes of it, then nothing comes of it.”

“Yeah, okay, Riley.”

Chapter 21

It’s been almost three weeks since the argument I had with my father, and in that time of having nothing to do since he fired me, I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching.I’m thirty-one years old.I was diagnosed with brain cancer at twenty-four.What have I done with my life since then?In seven years?Not much of anything.I’ve just been coasting along, living below my potential, but is that really living?

The truth is, I’m afraid to live.Afraid of what life and this disease will do to me and the people I love.Living a quiet, uneventful life is the best way to go as far as I’m concerned.That’s what I was trying to do.What I’ve been excelling at until I met Autumn.She made me break the monotony of my life.Made me question things I’m not ready to face.Made me see that there is something inside of me that’s not satisfied with bagging groceries no matter how much effort I put into it.

I’m better than this.

I know it and everybody around me knows it, especially my father.He's tried for years to get me out of my own way and nothing ever clicked.So, what’s different this time?It’s not the fact that he fired me.It’s not his latest rant about the things he hates about my life.

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