And even weirder to see him saying it back to me. How did that happen? The question I have now is, how are we going to stay together? I’ve always heard long-distance relationships never work out, and this distance is… well, it’s extreme, to say the least. I can’t just jet off to see him whenever I want to, and neither can he.
No. I refuse to think negatively. In my heart, I know… if anyone can do this, we can.
* * *
“You just tookoff on a moment’s notice to be with your injured man?” Lindsay sighs and rests her head on her palm. “That’s so romantic.”
It’s Monday morning, and I’m sitting in the kitchen of the Beedle house, waiting for Susanna to get her ass out of bed so we can go for our walk. I really don’t have time to walk, though, because I’ve got so much homework to make up that I feel like my head might explode. No worries. I can do it. Just throw it on top of the two exams, three quizzes, and the ceramics pieces I need to make before I head home for break.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not whining. I knew I’d have a lot to do once I got back. No regrets. Absolutely none. I’d fly off to help Cooke again in a heartbeat.
“Did you hear me?” asks Susanna, who finally appeared.
“No, sorry. I was thinking about all the shit I have to do this week.” Oh, and Luke wants me to work Wednesday night as well as next Friday, Saturday, and Sunday since Chris is going home to Indiana for the weekend. Again, I’m not complaining. It’s the least I can do. I’ll ask Tayler if she wants to head back to Ames early. It’s no problem if she doesn’t; my hometown is only about an hour and a half from here, so one of my brothers can drive me.
“I asked you when Cooke’s coming back to visit.”
“Oh, I don’t know. He’ll have the brace on his leg for a long time. Months.” Something that surprised me, honestly, that he’s got to deal with that external brace for that long.
“Well, he should totally come here to rehab. I bet he doesn’t even go to practices.”
“No.” I scoff. “What would he do there?”
“Exactly.” Susanna smiles and nods. “You should ask him.”
“Oh….” I can’t ask him to come here. What would I say?“Oh, hey, you should totes move here for a few months while you rehab. And by the way, there’s no elevator in my building, so you’ll have to schlep up three flights of stairs to my place.”I look at Susanna. “I don’t know how that would work.”
“It doesn’t hurt to ask,” Robbi interjects. “Maybe he could rehab with the ISU athletic department. The rugby guys could put a good word in for him. They’d probably love having a professional athlete hanging around.”
“You think?”
Robbi shrugs. “Like so many things, I’m just throwing shit out there. Shootin’ from the hip, as they say.” She gives me the pistol fingers, winks, then says, “Pew, pew, pew. Now, let’s go get this fucking walk done.”
Giggles break out from the entire group.
Our walk was a blast. I’ve missed the girls, even though I just moved out. They filled me in on the landlord drama. He’s not going to do a thing about the basement. No surprise there.
“And Aragog?” I ask with a shiver.
Robbi answers my question. “He’s still down there somewhere. That web in the shower is massive.”
Patsy sighs. “Robbi’s right. I saw it too. I can’t help wondering what he’s trying to catch in that thing.”
“A small human.” Robbi smirks. “Watch out, Susanna. Aragog is hungry.”
“Shut up.” She laughs. “I’m not stepping foot in that basement.”
Changing the subject, I tell the girls that Tayler and I are planning a little housewarming slash dinner party. “A week from Thursday. I’m not sure of the time, but I’ll let you know. It’s BYOB, but Tayler and I will cook something good.”
“Ooh, a dinner party? Fancy.” Clapping, Lindsay asks, “Can we bring a date?”
“Of course. Invite Jack and the other guys. I’m going to invite Bull and Dan.”
“Mm, Bull,” says Robbi with a husky voice. “That’s a whole lotta man.”
Laughing, I pat her on the back. “Go for it.”
“I think I will.”
