Page 41 of Puck You Very Much
“You’re still here,” I said.
“But I’m going. I really am.”
“Zane, there’s a time limit for leaving a place, especially if you want me to take you seriously.”
“I’m gone.”
Zane Hirst took what came the closest to normal steps yet and headed for the exit. Then he paused at the door.
Of course.
I stared at him until he finally pushed the door open and headed out onto the sidewalk. Watching him out the window, I saw him crossing Elmwood Avenue at the corner of Auburn. He paused in front of the 7-11.
When I waved at him, he lifted a hand to wave back but stopped himself. At least Zane was bright enough to know when he’d been caught.
I wished I had a sign I could hold up, reading,I TOLD YOU SO.
17
ZANE
Itexted Jakob and asked him to meet me. He responded by saying it was funny because he’d planned to drop me a line. I suggested that we meet in Delaware Park, by the rose garden overlooking Shakespeare Hill.
When I saw Jakob, I gained an even greater sense of how incredible he looked. Like, maybe the light hit him a certain way. That or the blue dress shirt he wore did something (even more) for him. I can only say that that I nearly lunged at him like I did at his place. Yeah, I know how unhealthy that would’ve been, but self-control came at a premium after meeting Jakob.
Our last meeting really shit the bed. I only wanted to blow him off—and please don’t think up any dirty puns to pair with that, okay? I would say I’d had my fun, but that would have to be the end of it.
When he stopped before me, I drew a calming breath.
“You said you had something you wanted to talk to me about?” he asked.
“You said you had something you wanted to talk to me about, too. You go first.”
“Why should I? You were the one who reached out to me.”
“Yeah, but you were going to?—”
I nearly choked on my own words. I could say that Jakob Martin was driving me crazy, but I think that’s pretty evident.
“Okay,” I said, “if it’ll get the ball rolling, I’ll go first. What came out of my mouth at Spot Coffee yesterday totally wasn’t what I wanted to say.”
“No shit. I’m in the same boat with you.”
“Then we can agree about what we both said?”
“Damn right. I wanted to cut out my tongue.”
I paused, even with my next sentence ready to charge past my lips. With my index finger raised, I wanted to switch gears and direct some pretty choice words at the Larkin Lion but refrained.
“It’s obvious that there’s more going on between us than either of us thought,” I said. “It’s also pretty clear that it’s not going away.”
“God help me…”
“Your enthusiasm is duly noted, Jakob. Anyway, I’ve got a plan that’ll help us manage… whatever the hell it is that’s going on between us.”
“Go ahead and tell me. You’re going to anyway, right?”
“Your vote of confidence is absolutely mammoth, you know that?”
