Page 27 of Check the Halls
I clear my throat. “I’m sorry, Sam. That’s…” Awful. Unfair. Heartbreaking.
“Shitty?” He looks at me expectantly, like he wants confirmation that the situation called for the use of the word.
“Really shitty,” I nod. I’m about to ask him if he wants to talk about it when I catch a glimpse of red hair in my peripheral vision. A shade of red I’d know anywhere.
Maddy is leaving a fancy soap store. She’s got several bags slung over her arms as she walks in our direction.
How does she do that? Knock the wind out of me just by appearing? Just by existing?
She seems lost in thought, her expression distant as if she’s mentally sorting through a checklist. A slight creaseforms between her brows, and I wonder what’s occupying her mind.
Has she been thinking about me as much as I’ve been thinking about her?
I watch as she drifts forward, nearly colliding with a woman hurrying out of a store. At the last second, Maddy steps aside. She flashes an apologetic smile even though the near-miss wasn’t her fault. The other woman barely acknowledges her before rushing past, but Maddy doesn’t seem to mind.
“Who’s that?” Sam has noticed that I’m staring slack-jawed at her.
"My ex-girlfriend," I admit, my gaze still fixed on her.
“No shit?”
“Sam,” I warn. The kid is about to lose his swearing privileges.
“Okay, okay. I’m just surprised. She’s pretty.”
Calling Maddy “pretty” is like calling the universe “big.” Still Sam seems to be inferring that he’s surprised someone that looks like her would date me. “Okay, ouch.”
He laughs. A real laugh right from his belly. “I’m just saying.” He raises his hands in a “don’t shoot the messenger” gesture.
“I’ll have you know, I do just fine, thank you.”
Sam just laughs harder. “Notthatfine.”
Punk.
I’m not sure if it's the laughter that makes her look our way, but look our way she does. She hesitates for the briefest moment as she looks between Sam and me. When I give her a little wave she makes her way over to where we’re sitting.
“Alright, Sam. Be cool.”
He looks panicked, as though I’ve just asked for an unachievable feat. “How?”
“Just pretend you like me.”
His shoulders relax a fraction of an inch. “I’lltry.”
“Hey,” Maddy says, stopping at the edge of the table. Her voice is steady, but a bit higher than usual. Like she’s still not sure how to act around me.
I guess confessing you’re still in love with someone after a decade apart can make things weird. Who knew?
“Hey,” I reply, my throat dry despite having sucked back almost an entire slushy.
“Hi! I’m Sam.”
Maddy smiles warmly at Sam, unable to hide her curiosity. “Hi, Sam. I’m Maddy.”
“I know.” He’s being a bit too enthusiastic. “I’m Ben’s Little Buddy. Like, we’re friends, sort of. He didn’t kidnap me or anything.” He gives me a look that says, “How was that?” and I subtly flash him a thumbs up while mouthing, “Nailed it.”
“I’m relieved to hear that,” she laughs as she transfers all the bags she’s carrying into one hand and pushes her hair out of her face with the other.
