Could I be happy in Ruby Lake?
Could I build my life here and leave Seattle, the only place I’ve known my whole life?
When I was in college, I never really had to think much about the future because in that moment, I knew I’d be spending at least four years in school. But slowly as time passed, so did the years in school and now here I am, graduated, with no idea what to do. I got a degree in Finance because I’m good at math and know that there will always be a need for it, but is that really what I want?
Now is not the time to have a quarter-life crisis before my life has even begun. The reason I’m here is to help Miles out.
I remind myself that right now all I need to worry about is getting to see my favorite girl that has taken up every part of my mind.
The same girl that is fast asleep on the couch when I arrive at her house twenty minutes later.
22
MAISIE
My tired eyes slowly open to the smell of pizza waking me up. When did I make pizza? When did I evenbuypizza? When did I–
“Hi, sleepy head.” Henry is cuddled in a blanket on the chair next to the couch. How long have I been asleep? I don’t even remember him getting here. “I thought you might be hungry since you’ve been sleeping for a few hours so I’m making you a pizza. But if you don’t like pizza, I can–”
I cut him off—“I love pizza,” I yawn, “all kinds of pizza.”
“That’s good, because I bought three different kinds.”
That causes me to laugh and I sit up from where my head was laying on my couch pillow. I look over at Henry, who looks too big to be sitting in that chair, yet it somehow looks like it was made for him. Like he was made to be sitting in my living room with me.
The more I’m around him, the more comfortable I get and that’s a scary feeling. He’s leaving soon and even though Miles lives here, I don’t want to just be someone to him whenever he comes back and visits.
I feel bad for even thinking that Henry would think of me like that but it’s the only way for me to get these feelings that I’m having toward him to go away. We’re just friends.
Friends are allowed to go to the store and buy their friends their favorite snacks and have a movie night while sick on the couch.
Friends are allowed to buy three different types of pizza because they don’t know what their friend likes.
These are all very friendly things to do.
“So, have you been watching me sleep like a stalker?” I ask to get my own brain back to normal.
“As cute as you are sleeping, I’ve just been reading on my phone.”
Ofcoursehe reads for fun, because what else is he if not perfect?
“So you think I’m cute?” I yawn again, my sleepy brain must be at low battery because why did I say that out loud? I’m not one to flirt outwardly but around Henry, it just feels natural.
This whole thing with Henry feels natural. I left the door unlocked for him which feels like a metaphor to my heart.
He eyes me from his chair. “I think we both know the answer to that, Maisie.”
I think we both know the answer to that, Maisie.
I can feel my neck getting hot all the way up to my cheeks. He can think I’m cute and still want to be friends, that’s what I have to tell myself.
I cannot have a crush on Henry Bellwood.
Henry Bellwood cannot have a crush on me.
It would never work?—
Beep.
