Page 45 of The Girl He Loves
Mango-Pineapple
“Face down… lifeless.”
Peach-Mango-Banana
“Her brother and sister were just a few feet away, but they hadn’t noticed her because they were busy playing. And when they say drowning is a silent killer, they’re not kidding.”
Three-Berry Blend
I force myself to meet his gaze again — his eyes are full of emotion. He doesn’t know what to say, and I really can’t blame him. I wouldn’t know what to say either.
Strawberry Shortcake
“I pulled her out as soon as I could. I called 911. I performed CPR… I’d taken a class. I brought her back. I did everything right. Paramedics, police, the fire department… they were all there. Her parents rushed back—”
“Was she okay?” he asks, his words brimming with hope.
I meet his eyes again, and shake my head. “She lived. I’m sure she’s still alive today, but she was never quite the same. She was deprived of oxygen too long.”
He pulls his gaze from mine. Nowhe’sthe one who can’t look at me. I understand — what I did was horrible. The Griffins trusted me to look after their children, and I failed them in the worst way possible.
Honeydew-Melon
“Needless to say, I never babysat for the Griffins again. I never babysat ever again. I haven’t seen them since the day we moved away, about six months after the tragedy. That was what brought us to Chicago. My mom got a new job, and we took the opportunity to start afresh.”
Cantaloupe
“I’m so sorry, Mischa,” Joel offers. “I don’t think it was really your fault. It was unintentional… just a horrible tragedy.”
I nod politely. I know he’s full of it, just trying to comfort me. Despite the fact that my actions were a result of my stupid neuroses, I’m still completely to blame. I will live with what I did to little Charlotte every day, for the rest of my life.
Cool cucumber
“Thank you so much for telling me, Mischa,” he says softly. “I know it must have been hard.”
Despite the intense tug at the pit of my stomach, I feel surprisingly light. I’d never told this story before to anyone, save for Brian and Dr. Russell. My closest friends don’t even know. But for some reason, I’ve just met Joel, and I felt compelled to share it with him. I’m scared of what that might mean, of where it could possibly lead us. “I’m glad I told you… it felt good to share.”
He fiddles with the straw of his smoothie cup. “You and I have even more in common than I thought.”
“We do.”
We both stare down at our empty smoothies — there’s not much else to say. The place is buzzing with young kids, laughing, trading jokes. Fun is in the air, a stark contrast to the atmosphere above our little table.
“Well, I should probably get going,” I say. “Lots to do today.”
He smiles. “Yes, always lots to do.”
I nip at his heels as he throws his empty cup in the bin. I mimic his actions as we step out. We find ourselves standing at the corner where we last said our goodbyes. His gaze lingers on mine. Neither of us knows what to say. He takes a slow step toward me, closing the distance between us. “I’m so glad we met, Mischa.”
My heart swells.Me too.There’s nothing torrid about his words. They’re as innocent as if a four-year old boy said them to a little girl he just met a the playground.
He wraps his arms around me, and I hold him tightly. I’m not usually good with hugs. They’re a social norm I could honestly do without, but here and now, with Joel, I get it. I stay wrapped tightly in his arms, and I don’t want to let go. I feel so close to him.
How can that be? We’ve just met. How can you become so close to someone so fast?
I tear myself away, and he smiles when I do. “Bye for now,” he says. “See you around, buddy.”
I grin back at him. “See you around, buddy.”
