Page 19 of What We Break
"Reid." Blake’s voice drops into that 'big brother' tone. "Do you like her?"
"Yeah. I think I do."
"Did she seem to like you?"
"She laughed at my jokes. And she didn't complain about my stench when I invaded her personal space." Yeah I carry extra pit stick in the rig, but we were flying so fast tonight, I know I had to be less than fresh.
"High bar."
"Shut up. She smiled a lot. The real smile, not the 'please go away' smile." I'm a lot. I know it. So I'm used to that smile.
"Then go talk to her," Blake says. "You're overthinking it. You always overthink it then talk yourself out of it."
"If she says no, I'm going to have to quit my job. I'll become a houseman, and you'll have to support me."
"You're a melodramatic fuck. I'm heading over to the bakery. I got a craving for those peach muffins. Ask the girl out, and I'll save you some. Chicken out, and they're all mine."
"You wouldn't dare." Those muffins are fucking epic. The tops are like mountain ranges.
Hehe. Big Muffins.
"Try me. Go ask her out, Reid."
"You're a bully."
"I'm a motivator. Go."
"Her shift ends at seven," I say.
"It's seven now."
"I know."
"So what are you doing sitting in a parking lot talking to me instead of figuring out how to ask her out?"
"Because I'm an idiot?"
"Yeah, probably. But you're an idiot who had a good night with a woman he likes, and that doesn't happen every day."
It doesn't. I can't remember the last time I met someone who made me want to stick around and keep talking. Not since Tracy. That was a fucking shitshow. But not all women are like her. They aren't. They can't be. I have to believe one day I'll find someone who will stick, even through the dark moments. Until then, I connect with women who are light and fun. Then I’m good for a few weeks, maybe a month, before I get bored or they do.
But something about tonight felt different.Shefelt different.
"What if I'm reading this wrong?" I ask. "What if she was just being friendly?"
"Then you'll know. Look, worst case scenario, she says no and you come home, get some sleep, and move on with your life. Best case scenario..."
"Yeah?"
"Best case scenario, you take a woman you actually like out for coffee and see what happens."
I look in the direction of the hospital again. She's probably in the changeroom. Laine's probably tired, ready to go home.
Or maybe she's the kind of person who's up for coffee after a crazy night.
"You still there?" Blake asks.
"Yeah, I'm here."
