I’d worked through the grief. Well, I’d hidden it away, at least.
“I’m all right.” I swallowed hard. “Anyway, Anders always cuts costs. If you’re going to be the kind of engineer I’d like you to be, I’ll need you to fight him. It’s not only about the driver’s experience, but also the pedestrian’s. There wasn’t a sidewalk so, yeah, maybe we were to blame, but why wasn’t a sidewalk provided in a suburban area between homes and the closest convenience store? Not everyone has a car, or gas to waste.”
Her eyes that often switched between cloudy and clear sparkled with tears. At my expense?
That thing in my chest she seemed to have control over tightened, and I nearly invited her to the ICTTE presentation I’d be giving about pedestrian safety. I had never invited anyone to watch me talk and I couldn’t figure out if her presence would hinder or help.
“May I?” I reached out for her mouse, desperately trying to regain my composure.
She nodded, withdrawing her hand but somehow sliding closer to me.
“Why is it sticky?” I said as my palm landed on the plastic.
“I may have moisturized a second ago.” She let out a low chuckle. Her breath breezed against my shirt, and the area underneath fluttered in response. “You didn’t see me do it because of the divider. I can keep plenty of secrets from you now.”
My mouth kicked up into a smile, and I huffed out a laugh. It seemed to travel directly to her. “My palm is going to smell like you do.” I lifted the sag curve and mindlessly said, “Edible.”
“I smell edible?” she asked in a volume only slightly higher than a whisper.
My stomach flip-flopped, and my face flushed. No, no. I mean, yes. She did smell deliciously edible. But no, she wasn’t meant to hear that.
This was why I didn’t talk to people.
“Uh… uh,” I stammered, my heart beating directly in my ears. “I meant…”
She put me out of my misery by saying, “I’m cinnamon-scented.” Her grin widened, and her cheeks were tinged pink. I was sure they matched mine.
In a few fast clicks, I fixed her alignment and then went to my desk and hid behind the divider. I wouldn’t comment any further. Wouldn’t talk. Maybe to anyone ever again. I obviously could not be trusted around this woman.
13
LINCOLN
[84 weeks ago]
@theanswerisno:
What do you do when you feel like everyone is moving on without you?
@pancakesareelite:
I start a new game
@theanswerisno:
Good to know we have
the same coping mechanisms.
@pancakesareelite:
Jokes aside, I try to remind myself that everyone is moving. So are we. Different paces, different places
@theanswerisno:
I didn’t expect such a profound answer while we’re playing a game pretending to be goats
@pancakesareelite:
