Page 76 of All In
“You know what I mean.” I forcefully throw my empty bottle into my bag.
We finish bagging up our stuff and disinfect the bench as we exit the court, the next couple waiting patiently for us to leave. “All yours, man.” Ricky holds the glass door open for the pair. We walk down to the entrance of the gym. “You’re dying to know details, aren’t you?” He lets out an amused hum. His entertainment at my expense is grating on my nerves.
“No.” I lie. I am.
“Liar.” We walk out of the gym and head to his Jeep. He hits the unlock on the key fob as we climb inside. My mind is racing, and Ricky is staying silent, allowing me the time to process this. Suddenly, it’s like I’m back in high school, wanting to know if the girl I like asked about me.
Oh, screw it. I need to know.
He’s sticking the key into the ignition when the question spills out. “Did she ask about me?”
“Oh, aren’t you cute?” He turns to me, fluttering his eyelashes, mocking me.
“Fine. Forget I asked.” I cross my arms over my chest, sulking like a lovesick teenager. And internally hoping he doesn’t forget it.
“Do you want me to pass a note to her in class?” A smug smile plays on his lips.God, he’s loving this way too much.
“Shut up.”
He lets out a long exhale. “Honestly, I’m afraid to tell you what she said.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I know you, Sam.” He starts the Jeep and kicks it into reverse, backing out of the parking spot. He pulls out onto the street when he continues. “You will want to contact her.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Oh, trust me, Idoknow that.” We stop at our first intersection, waiting for the signal to turn green. “She’s divorced.”
Those two words hit me like the truck that passed in front of us.Maria’s single.For the first time since she wroteThe Chadletter, we are both single at the same time. A small smile crosses my lips.
“See!” He points to me. I turn to him, surprised by his outburst. “Right there. That smile.” He shakes his head. “I knew I shouldn’t have told you.”
“What?”God, he knows me so well.“I’m happy for her. Nate treated her like a slave. I’m glad she’s free of him.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“You never answered my first question.” I need to know. If Maria is single and didn’t ask about me, then I know she’s over me. And I can forget this whole thing. But if she did….
“You are so pathetic.” He’s shaking his head as he turns towards the school so we can pick up Mikey. “Yes.” A smile is playing on his lips. “She asked about you. She wanted to know how you were and if we still talk. Which is funny because you will never be rid of me.”
I chuff. “And not for a lack of trying.” I can’t decide if I want to ask more because … obviously I do. “What did you say?”
“I told her you moved back home.”
“What did she say?” Good grief. Idosound like a high schooler.
He rotates his head to face me. “She said to tell you hi.”
“That’s it?” I’m trying hard to not let my disappointment show.
He shrugs and looks out the window. “That’s it.”
Great.Now I'm analyzing and overthinking every aspect of this situation. She asked about me; she knows I’m back home, she’s divorced, and she said to tell me hi. It all sounds so insignificant. But for me, it’s huge. I thought with my last email to her that I had messed everything up. Maybe not.
We sit quietly as we drive the rest of the way to the school and wait for Mikey to come out from his practice. “I wonder if I should contact her?”
He lets out an exasperated moan. “I knew it,” he mutters under his breath as he turns to look at me. “Don’t.” The word comes out stern, as if it’s a warning.
