Page 96 of Last Letters to Ara
“Fine!!!” I shout hysterically, cracked voice and all, even though Theo is standing less than a foot away from me. Maybe I can laugh it off, so I try, but all that comes out is a high-pitched shriek.
This is so bad.
“What’s going on? Why are your eyes closed?” He’s got his sweet voice on, which tells me two things.
One, he still cares about me. All is not lost. At least it won’t be if I can get my brain connected again. Two, he doesn’t mind that I’ve just seen him in his underwear. Three, I don’t mind that he doesn’t mind.
“I have something in my eye.” Super convincing as I make no move to get said ‘thing’ out.
Theo lets out a soft chuckle. “Do you want some eye drops?”
I hate eye drops.
My eyes flash open. “All better!!”
He’s still shirtless and only in his Calvins, and somehow even closer, so I take a large step back and turn around. “I’m so sorry!! You said to come in, so I thought it meant you were decent.”
“It’s fine, you’ve seen me shirtless before.” Pause. “It doesn’t bother me.”
Play it cool, Ara.
“Right, totally.” I turn back around and make a very clear effort of not looking below his chin. “I came because I was worried that a robot had taken control of your phone and I was beginning to worry about your well-being.”
He sighs. “I was just giving you space.”
“Don’t play stupid. You were showing me what life would be like without you, and it worked, dummy. Now put a shirt on so I can explain myself.”
Theo steps closer again. He’s only three inches away. “Why? Something bothering you? His voice takes on a seductive tone that he hasneverused on me before, and my stubborn—and very turned-on—streak takes over.
Fine. I’ll show him. I lift my hand and start to delicately trace his muscles with my index finger. When I hear his breath catch, I flatten my palm against his chest and shove him back. “Not bothered at all. It’s up to you if you want to traipse around Tampa with me in your underwear.”
With a shrug, I walk out of his bedroom door without a backward glance, mentally begging him to follow.
• • •
Evening has already descended, and the sky has gone fully dark by the time we arrive. We finally make our way up the last ramp, approaching the chained-off staircase and I gesture for Theo to go first.
“Isn’t this considered trespassing?”
“If they really wanted to keep people out, they’d do a better job at blocking it off. It’s been this way for years.”
He gives me a wary look and steps over the chain.
“I don’t know why this place exists, there’s nothing around to indicate the purpose it served when the parking garage was in use,” I explain as we emerge onto my little square of respite. “Maybe someone else needed an escape, too.”
Theo is quiet as he takes it in. Admittedly, the space isn’t much to look at. Between the plain cement walls and gray rocks which line the ground, that’s pretty much everything there is to see. But the view?
“It’s beautiful,” Theo says, his voice filled with awe.
He turns slowly, appreciating the sights from my little space atop the world, starting with the downtown Tampa skyline. The buildings are lit, sending glowing colors into the night sky and reflecting off the water. I’ll never get tired of the mirrored effect created on the calm waters, which doubles the beauty and colors.
”I found this place by mistake in high school. I was wandering around, avoiding a tough conversation.” I glance in Theo’s direction. “I stumbled upon this garage and thought maybe getting above my problems in the physical sense would help clear my head.”
Theo turns to his right, taking in the cars and people that are no bigger than the size of toys from our vantage point. They’ve always seemed less threatening from up here, as they hurry by, unaware of my gaze and thoughts.
“Thank you for showing me.”
I turn my back on Theo, looking out across the dark expanse of peaceful water as a reminder that the world isnotcaving in around me. “It’s an olive branch, of sorts. I’ve never shared this place with anyone.
