Page 76 of The Odds of Happily Ever After
But what mattered was that she liked the bag. I’d spent hours comparing models and reading reviews to find one that was not only sturdy and functional but visually appealing too. Something that suited her.
Gabe
Your backpack needed a back-up. And the color is you.
Luna
That might be the best compliment I’ve ever gotten from you!
How pathetic was it that me equating the color yellow to Luna was the best praise I’d given her?
It was unacceptable.
I’ll do better, I typed out. Then I paused. Did it sound like I was coming on to her? It felt like I was treading the fine linebetween being a good friend and a creepy old man, and I didn’t possess the skills to distinguish which side I was tipping over to.
So I erred on the side of safety and deleted my initial message.
Gabe
I’m glad you like it. Merry Christmas, Luna.
Maybe I couldn’t tell her what I wanted to. That didn’t mean I couldn’t show her instead.
chapter twenty-four
gabe
Luna
I know it’s not January 2 there, but since it is over here . . .
HAPPY FILIPINO BIRTHDAY!!!
Hope you’re having the best time in Miami
Gabe
Thanks, Luna.
Luna
Don’t forget to take a pic for Insta!
Gabe
We’ll see.
Why the helldid I think this would be a good idea?
I sat at a corner table in the hotel bar and nursed my third drink in as many hours. I’d challenged myself to stay an hour past dinner instead of holing up in my hotel room.
One hour turned into two, and now I wondered why I thought my birthday would be any different in Miami from what it would have been in Sterling. At least at home I wouldn’t have had to dress up and pay a premium for alcohol—and not my favorite kind either.
My phone vibrated on the table, and I eagerly grabbed it, only to see the caller wasn’t who I was hoping for. It was my father.
Of course it wouldn’t be Luna. She was out on one last shopping run with her family before her flight. She’d asked if I wanted anything specific, but there was nothing I wanted other than for her to come back home. Forget my birthday—it was her arrival I counted down the hours to.
For a second, I considered letting the call go to my mailbox, but I swallowed my disappointment and answered. “Hello,Pai.”
