Page 106 of Seasons of Love
“Oh come on, you said, ‘How many times do I have to ask you to call me Ellis?’ And then he goes, ‘At least one more time.’ Come on, Ellis. That’s so romantic that I could have painted you on canvas right there and then.”
Fuck, maybe Fletcher isn’t as drunk as I thought.
I look at Harrison for help.
“He’s not entirely wrong,” he says, being no help at all.
The change to this topic is enough to sober me up a little.
I shake my head. “No, that’s ridiculous. Yes, he’s a nice young man, and he needed help with his…stuff. That’s all. Nothing else. That’s it. Besides, I’m forty-two, and he’s all of twenty-something. What a ridiculous idea that something would happen between us.”
“So you admit you like him. Ha!” Fletcher says, a little too loud. People from a few tables down look at us, and I pray to god no one knows Milo.
“How come we missed that?” Arlo asks.
Levi thinks for a moment. “I think we were working real hard on that brother for Ava.”
“Ahhh, that time. Wasn’t it the time when you did that thing where—”
“Please don’t finish that sentence,” I plead. “I’d like to keep all the drinks I’ve had inside my stomach…at least until I get home.”
He raises his hands as a form of apology.
“I’m tapping out, guys,” I say.
Getting out of the booth when I’m in the middle of two couples presents a challenge, but when I offer to pay for another round of drinks and their cabs home, they let me out.
I drink two full glasses of water and take two Advil as soon as I get home, hoping it’ll make tomorrow a little less painful.
With any luck, everyone’s memories of tonight will be erased, and there will be no further questions about the nothing that is happening between Milo and me.
Because there isn’t and never will be.
7
ELLIS
Focusing on next year’s lesson plans when my brain is pounding from last night’s hangout is a challenge.
Now I know two Advil and water before bed no longer works. And I shouldn’t trust Levi when it comes to trying out new drinks.
The teacher has learned the lesson.
I’m definitely sitting out next Thursday. They can pick a new victim.
I close my eyes and rub my temples, taking a deep breath, willing my headache away.
I’m also willing away the recall of all conversations involving Milo.
Where the hell did they get those ideas? I’m only trying to help him.
Okay, yes, Milo is an attractive young man, but what does that have to do with anything? Can’t someone find another person attractive and still keep a friendly relationship?
That’s probably what Milo needs more right now. A friend.
He has a daughter to raise, and from what I saw in the soup kitchen, he may have other problems too. If getting his GED helps him get to where he needs to be, I’ll be there for him.
My phone dings with a notification, and I don’t need to read it to know what it is.
