Page 113 of All In
Where did I put them?!
“Whoa. Like Maria, Maria?TheMaria?” Mikey asks, following me around the room as I take my search on foot for my stupid keys.
I’m patting down my t-shirt and sweatpants now, as if they would be hiding in my clothes.Seriously! Where are they?!As I frantically search, I see Mikey out of the corner of my eye, reading the letter. “Wow, this is incredible!” he exclaims, his voice filled with excitement as he sits the letter back down and eagerly assists in the search.
“Yes, Maria! I have to drive to Pittsburgh, Mikey. She wants to meet me there.” I’m lifting and throwing couch cushions. I can’t think straight.
“Dad! Here they are!” I spin my head, only to see Mikey snatching them off the end table and flinging them towards me from across the room. Keys clank together as they soar through the air. I catch them. “Will you be okay here?” I ask as I walk toward him, a beaming smile on his face.
“Of course, Dad. Go!” I rest my hand on his face, grateful that he seems to be happy for me at this moment. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Me too,” I choke out as my throat tightens. Because … yeah.
“Wait, don’t forget this.” He reaches down and hands me back the letter. “Now, go!” Mikey yells as I run out the door, into my car, and toward the future that I have always wanted.
This hour-long drive into the city has been the longest of my life. The moment my car enters the Fort Pitt Tunnel, a wave of anxiety washes over me. My grip around the steering wheel is getting tighter by the second as I drive through. This tunnel has never made me feel more claustrophobic than right now. I just want to be on the other side, with the city in full view and Maria that much closer.
Driving through this mountain, my mind becomes a whirlwind of thoughts, doubts, and fears.
Is she still there?
What happened to Geoffrey?
Is this really happening?
As I exit the other side, the bright lights of Pittsburgh hit me in the face as I make my way to Point State Park. Where I know Maria will be waiting for me. At the Point, by the three rivers and the fountain.
Our spot.
I park, and it feels like I am being charged with electricity from the inside out. I’m in a desperate rush to get out of the car, but before I do, I quickly reach over and pop open the glove compartment. The watch is still there, untouched and silently ticking. I snatch it and forcefully stuff it into my back pocket.
Then I shut the car door and run.
Chapter forty
Their Spot
Maria
Glancing at my phone, I check the time. Again.
9:15
Five minutes later than it was the last time I checked.
He’s probably not coming.
I scan the area for any sign of him. Nothing. My shoulders sink in defeat. Instead, there is only the chatter and laughter of people milling about around me. They are immersed in their own lives, taking selfies of the city behind them, enjoying this windy yet beautiful night. Pittsburgh is glowing and lit up, the fountain is rising high, bright and majestic. The three rivers are in front of me, the water flowing and somewhat rough due to the wind.
And here I stand, waiting anxiously, my stomach twisted in knots.
Getting off work early today, I drove across town, the letter gently resting in my lap on my scrub pants (side note, I wore my pink ones).
I had to wait until today since I had no clue where he lived. Plus, I didn’t want to do this over text. And thanks to his question at the restaurant about him not seeing me in the parking lot anymore, I knew he still worked here. I found his car, parked in its usual spot, a layer of pollen covering the windshield. With a careful glance around, I slipped the envelope under his wiper, ensuring no onewas watching, before jumping into my car and driving straight here. That was at four-thirty.
As I wait and the minutes turn into hours—four, to be exact—doubts creep in about whether he was going to show.
I thought about texting him instead of writing a letter. But somehow, this moment felt monumental. A letter would take us back to our roots. Inviting him to our spot, the place where we promised to make huge decisions together, felt right. It would send a message to him that I want back what we had.
