Six
Rafael
Six
Rafael
He remembered me and Huey. Then again, it’s not every day you meet a pig at the park. I kept thinking of ways to tell him we’d met before the last time he called, but I couldn’t find the right words. I was kind of hoping we’d run into each other at the park again and I could tell him then. That didn’t happen, though. I never saw him there after the first time, but I kept going to that same bench anyway.
However, I did spot his boyfriend doing the downward dog in front of a group of people way more than I would have liked. He made eye contact with me the second time, holding it until Huey and I disappeared into a grouping of trees leading to our favorite trail. Did he not join Henry at the family cabin? I don’t see or hear him anywhere.
Would Henry have agreed to keep me on the line for the movie if he was there? Doubtful. Maybe he’s working and meeting up with him later. I don’t ask and just keep describing people and places in detail in the movie. His laugh does things to me. Same thing with that cute half smile and those sparkling eyes. I manage to catch a glimpse of it all in the reflection of the TV at every scene change.
The movie is cute and funny like he said. I encourage more laughs out of him whenever I say, “They’re decorating a Christmas tree that looks like a Christmas tree.”
“What? A Christmas tree that looks like a Christmas tree? You don’t say,” he muses. “I gotta say, you’re not the best at this.”
“They say practice makes perfect, so I’ll be much better with the next movie.”
“Next movie, huh? You offering this kind of service to more people, because I’m not so sure they’ll all be as lenient as me.”
“Maybe. If they want a great description of Christmas trees.”
More laughter flies from his mouth and it has my heart doing this weird pitter-patter thing. For a minute I feel as if I’m sitting right beside him. Would he let me hold his hand if I was? Why am I thinking about that? I’m putting dating on hold, remember? Besides, he has a boyfriend and wouldn’t want someone as broken as me anyway. My ex made it clear just how broken I am too, while moving on to someone with way less baggage.
I wanted to be better for him. I tried to be. But no matter what, I kept pushing him further away while subconsciously trying tokeep him close. Yeah, no way could I stand to go through that with someone else or subject them to wherever it is I sometimes go when I’m not conscious. To the things I do that I can’t fully remember. How would he react if he woke up to me sleeping on his porch? It’s best we keep things as they are. I can help him while also keeping my distance. It’s why I joined this app—to help people. But I’d be lying if I said it’s why I never want to leave it. He needs it so much right now, and I don’t know why but I’m hating the idea of someone else doing it.
“I hate to say this, but the robot did it better this time,” he says, pulling me away from my gnawing thoughts.
“I’ll take that challenge. I’m going to go into so much detail with this next scene, you’ll feel like you’re in the movie.”
“Looking forward to it.” His voice is teasing. Why is this starting to feel so much like a date? Popcorn crunches between his teeth, the kernel falling in front of the phone screen.
“You dropped something over there.”
“Huh?”
“In front of the propped-up phone. Runaway popcorn.”
“Oh. This is probably why I kept walking on chips and Cinnamon Toast Crunch back home.”
“Eh, you’re just leaving snacks behind for later. I usually store some in my desk drawer or a basket on my nightstand, but hey, whatever’s more convenient for you.”
His throat makes a noise. “Yeah, sure. We’ll go with that. Travis sure didn’t see it that way. He hated sweeping up after me. I tried to do it myself but kept hitting him in the process while he was making his morning coffee.”
“Sounds like a more effective way to wake up than caffeine if you ask me.”
“You say that because it didn’t happen to you.” He curses under his breath. “I’m over here chatting away and probably missing important parts of the movie.”
“Eh. Nothing much. One just told the other they were dying from a rare disease.”
“What?” His voice wavers.
“I’m kidding.” I grin. “They’re just at the store talking about things the other guy likes.”
“Want to give me a play-by-play real quick?” He pauses the movie and I nod, hitting myself on the head when I remember he can’t see me.
“Sure.” Leaning back in my recliner, I rest my phone on my knee and give him an overview of what all took place within the last ten minutes, adding in how the store looks like a store.
