My voice barely escaped.
“Mady... call Luke.”
45
Luke
Vanessa and I were sitting on a bench, eating bad gas station food that somehow tasted better than the poached salmon I was served tonight. She was telling me all about her job and wild hospital intern stories. It felt oddly comforting.
“It’s insane what you doctors have to experience. I don’t think I’d have the stomach for that,” I said, finishing my hot dog.
“Well, I’m no doctor yet, but I’ve had my fair share of toys stuck in a rectum. It’s baffling how many men think it’s a good idea. It’s like you’re all daredevils,” she said.
“To be fair, sometimes you have to be a little daring,” I chuckled. “It takes courage to ask a girl out these days. I’ve heard modern dating is a nightmare.”
“I don’t think a plastic cucumber is the right strategy, though.”
“You never know.”
I had no desire to be dragged back into that fish pond. But Vanessa’s eyes, sharp and almost shy, gave something away. The moment stretched in the air.
“I... met someone,” she said, trying to hide a smile.
“You did?” I didn’t hide my surprise.
“Yeah. He works in the ER. We’re not, like, a thing yet,” she hesitated, “but I don’t think I can continue... with us either.”
I nodded, processing.
“His name’s Liam. Moved here six months ago. I didn’t notice him until recently, but now... we’re friendly.” She had that quiet kind of excitement that you try to downplay, but it was obvious she liked the guy. “He’s got three sisters, and he’s really into hiking. Promised to take me on one soon.”
“Have you ever hiked before in your life?”
“No,” she proudly said. “But I’m willing to try.” There was a long pause. I sensed she had something else to say. “Even though we’re not dating or anything, he makes me want to feel things. Or at least not to avoid them, you know?”
Idoknow.
There was naivety in her eyes, but not in a bad way. Similar to when a teenager leaves for college, excited for every little thing—new roommate, new city, new apartment. Naivety in a good way. In a hopeful way.
“I’m really happy for you,” I finally said to her. And I meant it.
“Thanks. And what about you?”
“What about me?” I said, raising my barely alcoholic beer.
“You look different.”
“Do I?” I lowered my gaze, peeling at the label.
She nodded, and I sighed.
“I kind of... met someone, too.”
Metwas the wrong word for finally seeing someone clearly after more than a year of half-knowing them. It took me a moment to raise my gaze.
“Oh, you did more than that,” she said, her eyes softening in that slow, knowing smile. “You fell in love.”
I wasn’t denying it anymore. The more I thought about it, the more sense it made. I just didn’t know what to do. Or how to do it? Be in love. And yet, after the conversation with my parents, everything seemed clearer.
