Despite our closeness and the sheer amount of time we spend together, nothing more than a friendship materializes between me and Patrick, even when I have dreams of him as the Bachelor and me as one of the gay contestants vying for his affections.
I’m too scared to make a move for the metaphorical final rose. What if I ruin everything?
But then, on a sunny Saturday in April, something shifts.
TruckFest is happening on Prospect Ave. Lining the road are food trucks and tents from local vendors. All the money raised is going toward local nonprofits like Meals on Wheels. I was a lead organizer for this event. There’s a good turnout, yet it feels like Patrick and I are alone amidst the crowd.
We’re sharing yucca fries and sipping Japanese sodas when Patrick looks at me differently. Not bad differently. Almost like I’m an abstract painting and he’s finally made out the shapes amongst the colorful chaos.
“Do I have something on my face?” I ask, grabbing for a napkin.
“No,” he says, glancing away shyly. I’ve seen him sullen, butI’ve never seen himshy. “I’ve just been working up the courage all afternoon to ask you to be my date to the spring formal.”
My heart beats so frantically I’m afraid it’s going to dig a hole right through my sternum. “Really?”
“Really,” he says. “I like you, Quinn. A lot. Almost as much as the Bachelor likes any blond-haired personal trainer named Christine.”
An unflattering laugh rips out of me, but I don’t care.
“Thank God you laughed,” he says bashfully. That’s another emotion I haven’t seen on him before. I think I like it. “I’ve been practicing that line all week.”
I say, “I like you, too. Of course I’ll be your date.”
A lopsided smile takes over Patrick’s face. “Cool.”
“Cool,” I echo, feeling like I might float away.
I pick up a yucca fry from our shared paper basket. The tension between us, however, hasn’t diffused. “Is there something else?” I ask with my mouth full.
He nods. “I’ve also been working up the courage to, uh, kiss you?”
My breath catches, and I nearly choke, but I save it at the last second. I wipe my lips on the back of my hand and act courageous enough for the both of us. Because his kiss is all I’ve dreamed about since we met on this very sidewalk four months ago. He tastes like melon and salt and everything I’ve ever wanted.
More, actually. More than anything I ever imagined for myself.
6BROKEN HEARTS AND BREAK-INSPATRICK
1 DAY ’TIL CHRISTMAS
I stand outside in the cold waiting for Quinn. The only thought in my mind is:Quinn knows I’m keeping something from him.
I overheard him say so to Veronica.
It’s been five days, and I haven’t had the heart to tell him I got fired yet. It’s not that I usually keep big news from my husband. Just this.
Oh, and Kacey’s workshop.
But that’s it, I swear.
It’s just that things have been rocky between us for a while now. Getting fired for taking on a moonlighting gig isn’t just rocky. It’s an avalanche headed straight for our relationship.
Veronica said the worddivorce. Quinn couldn’t possibly be considering that. Could he?
Especially after hearing that, I figure it’s best to save the news of my unemployment for after Christmas. Give us one perfect holiday, then bring on the wrecking ball. That seems like the kinder option. In the meantime, I’ve dedicated my work time to googling how to open my own firm. Scouring the net for freelance jobs. Putting the finishing touches on Kacey’s plans.
Kacey is the lifeline I need. While the money is sparse, it’s not nothing. Also, I’m getting a little bit of severance from Carver & Associates, which will float us. Quinn will know when he needs toknow. He’ll be understanding about it. That’s the hope I’m clinging to.
Before I left the Carver & Associates parking lot after getting let go, Jason leaned into my open window and said, “Remember when we were kids and we believed in Santa sight unseen? Just know there’s the right opportunity around the corner for you if you believe hard enough.” As I drove off, “Believe” by Josh Groban came on the radio. There was a little comfort to be found in that glorious man’s soothing baritone.
