"Of course, you can be honest. Aren't you always?"
I chuckle softly. "Yeah, dude. No, I'm not good. I need to get off this fucking rig."
"It's almost time." His words are kind and hold no judgment. If anyone were to understand, I know he would.
"Yeah, I know," I say with a sigh.
"Things aren't going well with the lady?"
"The opposite, actually. They're going great. I'm just stuck in my head. I'll be okay."
Bear nods in response. He's a man of few words, unlike me.
We get to work, and a few hours pass before we get a chance to speak again. Our shift is finally coming to an end, and I find myself getting a random burst of energy.
"Meet up in twenty," Bear announces when he and his roommate, Greg, push past me, making our way through the living quarters.
We usually kick back and relax on our last nights here before heading home. I'm not feeling up to it tonight, but fuck it. I'll go anyway. It's better than sitting alone in my room, stuck with my racing thoughts.
After getting changed out of my work uniform, showering, and dressing in grey jogging pants and a white t-shirt, I make my way down the living quarters to the commons area to find Bear, Collin, Greg, Jake, and Timmy. As usual, Bear has his guitar in hand, strumming away while he sings, while the others sit back and chat.
I make my way over to them and sit in silence, taking in the words to Bear's song.
It's a song that tells a story of love, heartache, pain, and longing—the one that blew up on Tiktok, thanks to Greg posting it. Bear was fucking pissed, and I had to keep him from throwing the man off the rig.
I get why it went viral. It’s a good song.
And it's fucking depressing.
It feels familiar.
We all sit and shoot the shit for a while. Timmy was able to sneak some beers tonight. Thank God, I fucking need one. After about an hour, the guys all head back to their cabins, and it's just Bear and me. He's singing the same song from earlier when I first walked up.
"Dude, that song's depressing,” I mutter.
He sighs but doesn't miss a beat as he keeps playing.
I continue, "You know, I told you about my girlfriend's best friend already. Let me hook you up on a date with her."
He stops playing, stops singing, and the room falls silent. "No." He throws me a warning glare.
"Why not?"
"I'm not being set up on a fucking date. Have you lost it?"
I snort out a laugh. "Seriously, dude, I already told you that you remind me of her for some reason. You’re both so… fucking forlorn. I think you two would hit it off."
"And I already told you, no. Especially when you use a word like forlorn"
"Great. I'll text you the details once we hit land."
"Mav—" Bear warns, but I cut him off.
"Dude, look, it's one fucking date. If you guys hit it off, cool. If not, oh well. It's one night."
Bear stares at me as if he's picturing ripping me apart with his hands.
I'm unsure why I'm so intent on hooking him up with Via. They're both like lost souls; maybe they'll find themselves together. Or be a good hookup. Who the fuck knows?
