"What was your favorite movie trailer you made?" I ask now that she feels prepared enough. I'm tanning the front of my body as I lie face up on a watermelon raft.
"This thriller calledHappily Never After. Sounds cheesy as hell, but there were enough good scenes where I pieced it together and made it look crazy suspenseful."
"Never heard of it," I tell her.
"It got a Razzie award. The biggest accolade of my career." She does a spin in an inflatable donut.
"Well, I'm certain you'll kill this interview. Not because I'm coaching you up, but because you deserve this."
"Thanks, Theo."
"If you don't mind, I'm going to go get ready for my drinks with Seth."
"Oh yeah, that's tonight?"
Drifting toward the steps, she follows my motion and paddles after me.
"Not excited?" she asks when I give her an unenthused face.
"I'll have to come clean about us, at the very least," I tell her.
"Oh right. What will you say? That it was all for fun or that we broke up?"
"Haven't thought that far yet."
"You can say whatever you want. I won't mind either way."
"Good to know."
I'm standing on the concrete as Amelia looks up to me in her raft. My body is blocking the sun and casting a shadow over her face. She shields her eyes with her hand so she can see a little better.
"Have fun tonight. Thanks for helping me."
"Of course, I bet we won't have to practice again."
"Yeah, I hope not."
I take this as my cue to leave, even if her voice is manifesting uncertainty. I can't be her voice of reason right now. Because I don't want her to leave.
GassinguptheMustangto head north, I contemplate how this night might go.
Seth and I are different people now. There's a slim chance if our falling out never happened, our friendship wouldn't have lasted through the different stages of life anyway. College. Careers. Marriage. Kids. We may realize we have nothing in common as adults.
I visualize Seth from the night of our reunion. He's a grown man now with a wife and baby waiting at home. While I have no clue what he does for a living, I can bet it's more lucrative than what's sitting in my bank account.
He's already here, and I sneak up on him like old times.
Seth grabbed a table in the bar and his back is turned as he watches a baseball game displayed on all the televisions. He's in a tall barstool as I wrap my arms around him.
He gets up to give me a proper hug, and we hold onto each other for longer than usual. I thought I'd have my emotions in check, but I'm getting choked up now that I'm here.
"It's so good to see you." Seth's eyes are glossy, and I feel better knowing I'm not the only sentimental one here.
"You, too. You look great."
"Me? You want to talk about me looking great? Please. I can see why you and Amelia are a thing now. I wouldn't be able to deny you, either."
"Damn, getting right to it huh?" I laugh.
