Page 37 of Guy's Girl
“She’s really awful, isn’t she?”
“So awful. I used to have to put in headphones.”
“Lately, I’ve resorted to banging my fist on the wall and making loud sex noises until she stops.”
“I bet your roommates love that.”
“Nothing Finch can’t drown out with his guitar.”
“God, Iforgotabout that.” Adrian groans. “Between him and the neighbor, I’m shocked I got any sleep in that apartment.”
“You didn’t. You were always at work.”
“True.” Adrian seems like he wants to say more but doesn’t. He falls silent instead.
This is not unusual. All throughout high school, Ginny went for boys like Andy and Finch—talkative, confident, eager to add their two cents. Adrian isn’t like that. Adrian rations words like bread during wartime: exactly as many as he needs, not one syllable more.
At first, Ginny felt that she must fill every silence. Must come up with some question, some story, some distraction for the lack of words between them. But the longer she spends with him, the more she understands that this filler is unnecessary. If she waits—if she’s patient—eventually he’ll say what’s on his mind.
“Have you tried Morgenstern’s yet?” Adrian asks.
“No,” Ginny says. “What’s that?”
“My coworkers say it’s the best ice cream in New York.”
“Guess we’ll have to give it a try, then.”
“Guess we will.”
They fall silent again.
They are part of Adrian, his silences. As much a part of him as his hair or his past or the way his forehead crinkles just before he kisses her. If Ginny chooses him, she chooses his quiet, too.
***
That weekend, the last in June, they get ice cream from Morgenstern’s and sit on a bench in Washington Square Park.
“What’s your dream role at a movie studio?” Ginny asks. “Producer? Director?”
“I don’t know,” says Adrian.
“That’s okay.” Ginny tilts her cone and licks the drizzle running down the side. She no longer worries about the food that goes into her body. She doesn’t have to; she knows that as soon as the meal is over she can regurgitate every last bite. “We’re twenty-three. We’re not supposed to know what we want to do with our lives.”
Adrian bites his lower lip.
“What?” Ginny asks.
He hesitates. “I made it to the final round of interviews at Disney.”
“Youwhat?” She turns on the bench. “Are you fucking serious? When?”
“I got the email last week.”
“Holy shit.” Her face spreads into a huge grin. “I’m so proud of you. That’s amazing.”
“Yeah, well... it’s a long shot. I don’t know how many candidates are still up for the role, but...” A smile sneaks up behind his scoop of mint chip. Ginny loves that smile. “If I get it, it would be pretty awesome.”
Before she can think too hard about it, Ginny leans over and kisses his cheek. “You’re going to get it.”
