“Kidding.” He gives me a quick wink as he hands over my shoes. This man sure knows how to make a heart flutter. It’s obvious he specializes in thatarea.
“Lane fifteen,” the guy says, pointing to the rightside.
We make our way through dozens of couches and modern chairs, finding our alley capped off with a dining table and menus. “This is pretty cool,” I tellhim.
“You haven’t beenhere?”
“I'm in the suburbs, about twenty minutes away, and I don't get out to the city as often as I’dlike.”
“So am I. What town do you live in?” heasks.
“At the moment, I’m not quite sure.” I'm currently homeless unless I count Mom's house as home. “I lived with my boyfriend in Waltham up untilyesterday.”
“Oh, yikes, I wasn't aware of how serious it was. You just broke up with him out of nowhere today?” He seems concerned, rightfully so, as I would be if it happened the way he may be assuming it did. I’m sure he’s not up for being a reboundguy.
“Oh, believe me, it wasn’t out of nowhere. It sounds worse than it is,” I tell him. “I've been pulling away from him for a while and spending more time at my mom's than with him. I've beenoverus for a while, but I wasn't forceful enough to make a clean break. However, today was the day he admitted to cheating on me multiple times, and it was enough of a reason to remove him from my life for good. I just need to get my stuff out of his place, and I'll never have to see him again. So, our “date” happened to pop up at just the right time, Isuppose.”
“Wow, so you've wasted no time getting back into the dating scene, huh?” His face has little emotion, and I don't know what to make of his statement until he breaks into a hearty laugh. “I'mkidding.”
“You think you're pretty funny, don'tyou?”
“Actually, I have been told that I would have been great as a stand-up comedian. It didn’t pay as well as being a doctor, though, so I tried to incorporate comedy into my medical career, and I turned out to be a pretty funny doctor. After all, laughteristhe best medicine for the heart, youknow?”
“You’re a clever one, aren’t you?” I ask with agrin.
“If I can’t laugh a little each day, I’d be surrounded by sad, sick people, so I do what I do to get by and try to make my patients smile at the sametime.”
“That makes perfect sense.” Maybe it’s something I should consider trying out. I don’t leave much time for fun and laughter in my life, and it’s suddenly apparent how much I’ve been missingit.
“I’ll be right back. I’ll grab some bowling balls for ourlane.”
The curved bench at the table is welcoming with its plushness, and I stretch out, waiting for Jackson to return with the bowling balls. He somehow manages to do so with one trip, placing them in the holding area of the lane, then slides in next to me. “So, what was this ex-boyfriend’sname?”
“Mike,” I answer, feeling a tightness in my throat just from saying his name outloud.
“I'm sorry you're going through it. Breaking up is nevereasy.”
“It could be worse,” I tell him. Life could be so muchworse.
“You're right aboutthat.”
A waitress comes over to our table with an order pad, but her focus is everywhere except on us. I can understand with how crowded this place is. “Drinks or dinner?” sheasks.
“Both,” Jacksonanswers.
“Do you need a minute with the menu?” shecontinues.
“Please,” Jackson replies. “We could order drinks in the meantime, though.” Jackson gestures to me, waiting for my drinkorder.
“Do you have Smoke and Dagger?” Iask.
“We do,” the waitress says while jotting my orderdown.
“I’ll have a Boston Lager,” Jackson follows. “You like Smoke and dagger?” He hoots with amazement as if my drink choice is a point in the datinggame.
“I told you, I like darkbeer.”
“I guess so. You have good taste.” Up until today, I'm not sure I'd say that about myself, but maybe I can start fresh tonight. “So, I must ask, since I was listening in while you were reading to your grandmother today. Is Charlie your grandfather? She was asking for him before the second stroke happenedtoo.”
