Page 41 of New River Gorge(ous)
Brooke
Hey, so I’m in West Virginia with my grandma, and there’s a guy
My thumb accidentally hits send before I can finish my message.
I’m in the middle of typing *Who kind of has a history a lot like Connor’s* when my phone rings.
I slide the bar to accept the call, and as I bring the phone up to my ear, I hear Paige’s voice.
“There’s aguy? In West Virginia?”
“Uh. Hi to you too, Paige.”
“Nope. We are well past formalities here. I need the details.”
I sigh and settle into the porch swing. “My meemaw’s neighbor is the guy.”
“Ok. And?”
“He was left at the altar by his fiancée years ago.”
“Ouch.”
“I thought maybe, I don’t know, maybe you might have some advice because of everything with Connor.”
“I don’t know that I have advice, but I can tell you that it’s hard when someone has a rejection wound.”
“But clearly she wasn’t right for him anyway though. Also … I … uh … I met her.”
Paige is silent.
“And uh … she wasn’t very nice. I don’t know … it just. The whole thing was weird. I met her on my first date with Beck.”
“Ooooh. Beck. I like this name. Well, he got over it enough to ask you out. Did he ask you out again?”
“Kind of. Sort of. It’s just—we have to go slow. I guess she hadn’t been here since their wedding day, and then she showed up, and it was just … a lot.”
“Well, I don’t know if this Beck is the one for you, but if he is, then it’s worth going slow, and it’s worth the struggle.”
“That sounds entirely too reasonable. All I want to do is kiss the man, and that hasn’t happened yet.”
Paige’s voice sounds away from the phone like she’s talking to someone else. I make out the words “I’m talking to Brooke” before a deeper voice joins the phone conversation.
“Hey, Brooke, you’renotkeeping Matt in line right now? Thenwho is?”
I laugh. “Hey, Connor. Matt has a serious girlfriend these days. He’s grown up a lot since that summer at CGO.”
“Oh, so I can’t tap him to be a counselor again?”
“You don’t work there anymore.”
“Hey, it is Paige’s and my turn to be there this summer supporting Tom and Lois and the whole crew of campers.”
“Yeah, yeah. Could I speak with your wife again,please?”
Paige giggles, and I have no idea what marital intimacy just took place off-screen, but I’m simultaneously glad I couldn’t see it and also pricked with jealousy because I wantthat. I want a spouse sneaking kisses, or tickling me, or just being affectionate with me, no matter what.
“So you’re in West Virginia?” Paige says, just the slightest bit breathless.
