Page 52 of The Fun Part
I practically run, so happy to see him that I bounce a little when I land in front of him on the sidewalk. “Hi! What’re you doing here?”
“Mackenzie! This is a surprise. What’re you doing here?”
I laugh. “I was at a club with my friends, but it got old. And you?”
“I was getting my last box of stuff from my ex.”
I go on tiptoe and peek in the box because I’m nosy like that. “Bummer.”
“It’s all good. You want a ride back?”
“Sure!”
12
Cal
Once we clear the city limits, I finally address the elephant in the car. Not Mackenzie, ha-ha. “Are we done fake dating? I thought I’d hear from you to set up something this weekend.”
“I’m sorry, I got busy with work, and then I had plans with friends.”
“No problem.” What now? I don’t dare ask. Things are good again. She seemed so happy to see me. “How’s this for a fake date—shopping on Main Street.”
She smiles. “You really want to go shopping?”
“No, but I thought you’d like it.”
“What do you like to do?”
“Watch hockey, play basketball, read. You like any of those things?”
“I read, but isn’t that more of a solitary sport? Unless you want to read side by side in the library and hope someone gossipy wanders by.”
“Is that a no on hockey and basketball?”
“No on hockey. I could play basketball, but your height advantage feels very unfair.”
“I’ll lift you for the slam dunk every time you steal the ball. That’s what I used to do for my sister when she was little.”
“Do you see me like a sister?”
I get serious. “No. Not at all.”
“Cal, how is it that you bounced back so quickly from your ex? I imagine it must be hard to live with someone and then leave. Even tonight you got a box that basically saysIt’s overin bold print, and you’re here having fun with me.”
“I always have fun with you.”
She’s quiet, not pushing me but giving me space to share about Rayna if I want to. Without pressure, it’s easier for me to open up. “I guess, uh, Rayna felt I was too closed off, so she, uh, started seeing her ex, and that was hard for me.”
“Of course it was hard for you. So she was living with you and cheating on you with her ex at the same time?”
“He had a girlfriend. She said they never crossed the line, more like they were best friends again. She said she could get her emotional needs met with him and her physical with me.”
“Oh, Cal. That’s not right.”
“Yeah, so turns out the physical part fizzled out from the strain, and by the end we were more like roommates.”
I turn off the highway, deflated from the unhappy memories. This is why I keep deep emotions locked away. They mess you up.
