“You, too,” I mumble, trying not to get in my head about how annoyed with me she seemed. Everyone has bad days. Maybe today’s a bad one for her.
I shake off the thought and stare down at the box, reading my name printed neatly in bold letters. I instantly recognize the blocky handwriting.He wrote me back.A smile creeps across my face as I tuck it under my arm, not wanting to make Harlee wait any longer.I’ll just open it up in the car.I slip outside, breathing in the fresh air before spotting a passenger rear window of a blue Tahoe rolling down.
“Brittany!” Harlee calls out to me in her cute southern accent, waving her hand around in the most dramatic manner. “Come on! I’m ready to see those beautiful blue waves!”
“I’m coming!” I call back, giggling at the urgency in her voice. I scurry down the front steps of my apartment building, juggling all my things at once. I feel off-balance and nearly trip over my own two feet as I reach the sidewalk. I let out a huff of frustration and look up just in time to see Harlee hopping out of the car.
“I’m so excited!” she squeals, as she comes to help me. I let her take my bag and toss it into the back of the SUV, loading up my backpack alongside it.
We then climb into the back seat, and I untuck the package from my arm. She eyes me, then the box.
“I don’t mean to be nosy, but … is there a reason you’re bringing your mail with you to Florida?”
I look over at her cocked brow and then laugh. “Well, it’s from my…” My voice trails off as I try to come up with what Weston really is to me. A friend? An acquaintance? “Pen pal?” I say the last one out loud, sounding more like I’m asking rather than telling.
“That’s … interesting.” Harlee giggles. “But super cool. Is there like a website or something where you can sign up for one? I kinda want a pen pal that sends me packages.”
“I’m sure there’s gotta be some kind of website out there to solicit pen pals, but I wouldn’t know from experience.” I chuckle, tearing through the packing tape. “My, um,pen pal,is my brother’s best friend. We just kind of started this weird thing … I don’t really know what it is…” My train of thought dies as I flip open the lid.
What in the world?
I pull out some sort of red cape. Upon further inspection, I realize it has the Superman logo on it. I’m both confused and amused as I lay it out across my lap, searching the package for whatever else might be inside that might explain what the meaning of this is.
“Okay, so I didn’t know you were into cosplay.” Harlee giggles from beside me. “I dig it. That’s cool.”
“I’mnotinto cosplay.” I laugh. “And I’m honestly just as confused as you are.”
She falls into silence, watching as I dig through the packing paper. I eventually find an envelope and quickly tear it open to retrieve the card. It’s got Superman on the front, but it doesn’t say anything, so I flip it open.
Brittany,
So, I found out it was Superman’s birthday. Well, mostly. It’s on February 29th, and I get that it might not be a leap year this year, but can we really skip Superman’s birthday? Polly and I are having a great time celebrating together. All this time, I knew my apartment was missing something. Turns out, it was a cat.
I figured you could celebrate with us by adorning the lovely cape I enclosed. It seems like it might be fitting for the pantsuits you have to wear at work. I wonder how that’d go over in court? Hmm … Maybe you shouldn’t try it.
For the record, I’ve been okay. I’ve decided I might be the permanent third wheel for Parker and Amy, but I’m happy for the two of them. They belong together; she’s the polar opposite of his perpetual grumpiness. Maybe, eventually, if we’re lucky, they’ll somehow balance each other out. Do you think that’s possible? Somehow, I picture them staying at their current extremes of happy and grumpy.
How has your new apartment been treating you? What have you been up to? How have you been? Is that too many questions for one letter? I can’t decide.
Regardless, Happy Birthday, Superman.
Sincerely,
Weston
P.S. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? I think mine would probably be invisibility. I could totally people-watch without anyone knowing.
I giggle at the last part of the letter, and when I look up and fold it shut, I see Harlee watching me with a newfound curiosity. I hand her the card. “Go ahead, indulge yourself. I know you want to.”
A grin stretches across her face. “I mean, I won’t say no to that.” She takes the card from me, and I take a closer look at the cape. It’s not some cheaply-made costume piece. It’s actually pretty nice, which only makes me smile harder.
“This is seriously adorable,” Harlee says, nudging me with her elbow. “I’m so into this! It’s kind of romantic.”
I furrow my brow, taking the card back from her and tucking it into the box. “Romantic?What do you mean,romantic?” In my mind, writing silly letters to Weston is anythingbutromantic. Not to mention, my brother wouldn’t be cool with it if it were more than just a friendly exchange.
“I mean that letter writing is practically a lost art, and it’s so beautiful. That, in and of itself, isromantic.” She gets this distant look in her eye as she continues. “Just imagine! What if you two were to fall in love through the pen?Ugh,then you’dhave your whole love story right there, in written form. You’d be able to re-live it as much as you want. Your kids could read it.”
My heart squeezes at the notion. “But he’s my brother’s best friend. Parker would murder me if I pursued him. Well, actually, more like murder Weston. But still.”
