“No, but you’re right on track with getting lost.”
Adelaide
Iput off starting class, waiting to see if Finn will show.It’s fifteen minutes after the hour, and he’s not here.While I would’ve totally expected that the first week of class, I’m concerned now.He’s been so punctual, early.And so involved with the ladies.
“Has anyone heard from Finn?Should we wait for him?”I flit my gaze from face to face and back to the door, searching for his now-familiar wide smile.
“He texted me that he’s not feeling well, so he won’t be here today,” Virginia volunteers.
“You text?”The question falls out of my mouth, unbidden and completely without thought.
“Of course I do, Adelaide.I also tweet and snap.”The look she gives me over the top of her glasses is nothing short of condescending.
“Is he okay?Does he need anything?”As soon as the questions tumble from my lips, I see the gears turning, and Virginia types furiously on her iPhone.
“He says not to worry; he’ll manage.He’ll maybe try to go to the market after a while if his fever’s down.”She reads from her screen.“I think it would be a nice gesture if one of us stopped by to check and see if he had everything he needed.”She looks around the room, meeting everyone’s eyes, before she blinks up at me.“Unfortunately, I’ve got to bounce after this, so…”
Virginia’s declaration is followed up by a chorus of, “Oh, I wish I could,” and, “I’m just not able to today.”
“I would go, but I don’t know where”—ping—“he lives.”I glance down at my phone and see a text from Virginia with an address.When I look at her, her face is a mask of innocence.
“Might be nice if you brought him some soup or something from the market, dear.”
I should have paid closer attention.
* * *
After finishingup at the community center, I swing through the market and pick up some homemade chicken noodle soup, crackers, and some ginger ale.And Twizzlers because, even when I’m feeling icky, it’s nice to have a treat.
The street that Virginia sent me to is full of cars with no parking spots in sight.As I turn the corner, I see a small lot behind the building and a spot open next to Finn’s little silver Kia.Once I’m parked next to him, I grab the bags from the grocery store and climb the stairs.
I knock gingerly at the door.If he’s feeling badly and sleeping, I don’t want to be the ass who wakes him up.I shift my weight, popping one hip out and then the other as I wait.Should I knock harder?Ring the bell?
As I lift my hand to rap on the door one more time, it swings open, revealing some guy I’ve never seen before in my life.
“Oh.Sorry, I must have the wrong address.”I back away, looking at the number on the mailbox and comparing it to the one Virginia sent.
“Not at all.”The distinctly Irish accent washes over me.“You’re looking for Finn then?”the dark-haired man says as he steps out of the apartment.“His is the room to the right, through the kitchen and down the hall a bit.”He lopes down the stairs and disappears around the corner.
Tentatively, I step through the doorway and look around.It’s every bit the bachelor pad.Worn dark-blue sofa, ridiculously large screen TV mounted on the wall with a gaming system sprawled on a makeshift shelf under it.
“Hello?Finn?”
It feels weird, walking through the space.Surely, the guy who let me in would have texted Finn to let him know I was here.Well, that someone was here.
I pop into the kitchen and set the bags on the table in the corner.Busying myself, I empty the bags and consider digging through the cabinets for a bowl.
“Are you stalking me, sweet Addie?”
I almost drop the container of soup at the sound of Finn’s raspy voice.When I turn, I’m faced with a lean, flushed chest and low-slung gray sweatpants, a roll of toilet paper trailing from his hand.
Damn it.What is it with stupid gray sweatpants?
“No.Virginia said you were sick, and I gotvolun-toldto bring you soup and sick supplies.”I narrow my eyes and point at him as he takes a step closer to me.“Keep your germs to yourself.I do not have time for sick shenanigans.”
Finn’s eyes are glassy, and his nose is red, like he’s been wiping it with sandpaper.“Right.So, no kissing today.”The words barely make it out before he sneezes three times back to back to back.“Fuck.”He rips off a length of toilet paper and grimaces as he blows his nose.
I roll my eyes and replace the roll of TP with a box of super-soft, antiviral tissues.Then, I reach for the Lysol wipes I bought.Lord have mercy, germs are the devil.Snapping on the gloves I made sure to bring, I go on a mini-cleaning frenzy, wiping surfaces around the kitchen, throwing away trash, and straightening little bits of everything.I’ve gone completely into mom mode.
