You’re mine.
You were always my lover, for a lifetime in my mind.
It’s all within our grasp,
No more longing, angst or anger.
Because you’re too afraid to ask,
We’ll let go, come back, imagine.
Our present becomes our past.
Growing old like this... letting go, coming back again.
Telling tales like this... of how it all began.
I’ll hold your hand and your babies, I’ll watch your children grow,
And one day you’ll say, “Howdy, old chum.”
And I’ll say, “No, I’m your lover... remember? And you’re mine.”
It’s been this way forever. I’ve always been your lover... for a lifetime in my mind.
Penny was a blubbering fool by the time I was finished singing.
“Did I make you sad?” I asked. It was hard to tell because she was smiling and crying hysterically.
“Is that a song about longing?”
“No, it’s a song about lifetime friendship.”
“I loved it. It’s our song,” she whispered. Reaching up and hugging me she said, “So you forgive me? You’re still my best friend?”
“Always. Now let’s go get our groove on.”
“Deal.” She wiped away the tears.
I led her onto the dance floor just as the Talking Heads song “This Must Be the Place” came on. She wasn’t dancing goofily and neither was I. We were just kind of swaying to the music, bobbing our heads, circling each other and smiling at one another, thinking about the wordhomein the song, and what it meant. True to the lyrics, we would have to make up our story as we went along because we refused to let go.
Twirling her, I said, “Isabelle is shooting me googly eyes.”
“You gonna tap that?”
“You’re so ladylike.”
“You love that about me,” she said.
“One of the many things, P.”
Moments later, Lance showed up. He looked a little sauced and had no rhythm at all. He was trying to dance seriously, but Penny was just laughing at him, poor schmuck. Moments after that, I was fucking his sister in a bathroom stall. I had to find some way to cope.
28.Three Months Ago
GAVIN
After meeting up with my aunt and letting her have whatever she wanted from my dad’s house, I headed over to see Lance. It was dusk and I could see lights on inside the house, so I knew he was home.
