Page 52 of Ghost of a Chance
He waved her off, paying with his phone and declining a bag.
“Acquired taste…that’s what my mom said when I tried wine for the first time.In her defense, wine is actually good.”
“Snowballs are too,” she said.“There’s something so satisfying about the dessicated coconut on top of that sugary cake.”
“You’re really selling it,” he said as they got to the car.It took a few minutes, but soon they were back on the road.
“Hostess cupcakes aren’t exactly gourmet,” she said.
She really didn’t let things go, he thought.“Definitely not.But that’s the point.We want something that’s full of calories and tastes like heaven as you chew it, but then later makes you wish you hadn’t had it.”
Her laughter filled the car, and this time he didn’t bother hiding his smile.There had been a heavy sadness around her in the apartment, and hearing her joy now made him feel like he’d done something nice for her.That he’d started to understand her enough to repay her for her help.
He wanted to ask her about what made her leave his old place, but decided to wait.When they arrived at the park, he parked the car and led the way.The shore was lined with rocks and small shrubs and bushes but he knew a spot a little farther up that they could sit down.The water was choppy today and there weren’t many people at the beach.Wearing their bright ponchos, carrying their own coffee and snack of choice, he felt like they were in a Wes Anderson film.
“Oh.”
Her breath caught watching the waves stirred by the storm blow across the lake and stir the surface into choppy waves.The air was heavy and damp with the remaining drizzle and the mist from the lake.
She took a sip of her coffee and closed her eyes.Staring at her, taking her in, he promised himself that he’d always try to keep her happy.Even though everyone controlled their own happiness, she deserved the support.He liked seeing her this way.
“Thanks for this.”
“No problem.So…what about the apartment got to you?”he asked.
“It just reminded me of me at twentysomething.I wasn’t prepared for everything it brought up,” she said.
“I bet you were cute.Were you so goth and emo then?”
“Always.Die hard.”
“Always?”
“Yeah, even in kindergarten,” she said with a wink.“I rebelled against my teacher and refused to nap.”
She was funny…and distracting.Fine, she didn’t want to talk about whatever she’d felt in the apartment.As much as he wanted her to feel comfortable, she needed to take her own advice and stop keeping things from him.No one could help her if she kept them in the dark.“So the apartment…”
“You’re not going to let it go, are you?”
“Nah, I’m tenacious.”
“Really?”She didn’t believe him.That was a mistake.
“Yup.You’re being evasive and that’s not like you.I get not wanting to open up but if I’ve learned anything from all your probing it’s that it’s actually made me feel a little lighter.So what’s up?”
A tentative pause filled the air before she started.“I don’t know.I was sucked into something heavy and emotional.My college years weren’t the greatest, so it might have been that.”
“Probably.College is a time for figuring out how to function in the adult world.”
“So true.Guess I started buying your hype that I’ve got it together.”
“Well compared to some… Do you feel like it was all your emotions?”
“Not sure.How do you mean?”
“You were close to the book when you went in there,” he said.“Was Paul speaking to you?”
“How?The lights didn’t flicker, the TV didn’t blareJudge Judy…”
