Page 7 of Right Place, Right Time (Second Chances)
“People do it all the time.” She gives me a look that says she doesn’t believe me and she still thinks I’m crazy. Understandable. EvenIthink I’m crazy.
“And you’re not going to get in trouble for being here?”
“No, I’m not going to get in trouble,” I answer, sounding like a child getting scolded. I feel like a child being scolded, too.
“I just don’t get it, Jay. Out of all the places you could have gone…you had to come here.”
“I don’t get it either,” I say quietly, staring at the asphalt under my boots.
“Look, I’m not really sure what you want me to do here,” she starts, and I quickly interrupt her.
“Nothing. I don’t expect you to do anything. I just wanted to see you. Ineededto see you.”
“That’s quite the contrast from the last time we saw each other.”
I let out a sigh and lace my hands behind my head, looking up at the sky for a moment as I try to find the strength to explain my fucked up reasoning for doing what I did. For pushing her away. I’d never wanted to hurt her. I still don’t. I was only trying to protect her. To keep her safe.
“I was in a really bad place back then,” I say after a minute of absolute silence.
“No shit.” The way she says it, so matter-of-factly, as she’s standing in front of me with her arms crossed, hip cocked, and a take-no-shit attitude has me barking out a laugh. “So this is funny, now?”
“No. I’m sorry,” I say, shaking my head between laughs. Then I nod. “Yes. You gotta admit…”
Her lip starts to quirk up on the side. “You have a nice laugh,” she says after a minute. “I’d forgotten what it sounds like.”
“Thanks. So do you,” I tell her. She does. Her laugh sounds like church bells. Holy and innocent. I’d never forgotten that sound. Just one of the things that got me through it all.
She blushes at my compliment and shifts from one foot to the other, finally relaxing her stance. “So you’ve seen me. Now what?” she asks, briefly lifting her arms to her sides before letting them drop against her hips.
Now I should leave and never look back. Let her live her life, finish school, become a doctor, marry the preppy bartender, buy a house, and have two-point-five kids. And a dog. Can’t forget the dog.
Instead I ask, “Want to grab some coffee?”
