Page 19 of Considering Us

“Probably best not to draw attention to that situation,” he said, running his hand through his hair. “Like I said, it’s the scotch talking. Let’s talk food. I like meat.”

We spent the next forty-five minutes coming up with some fall appetizers that could easily be enjoyed while standing up and socializing. As we conversed more, there was something familiar I kept noticing about him, and I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. Finally, I asked, “You do look awfully familiar to me, Ward. Did you ever have an event at a restaurant I worked at in Boston? I was at Minx for five years, and before that, Bee’s Knees and Cardamom.”

“I don’t believe I have, but I frequent the gardens and galleries of our city to the south quite often. Perhaps we passed by each other once or twice. You never know. Such is life with its fleeting moments.” He spoke in such an interesting manner I wondered if it was authentic or a huge heap of bullshit. Regardless, we had a plan for a reception.

When I got back to the fourth floor of Wentworth, I went straight to my laptop, logged into the employee portal, and searched “Connelly.” Surely, Ward’s daughter would have his last name? Perhaps not. But I was curious.

The only name that emerged was Adrienne’s. Adrienne Connelly Preston.No. There’s no way.

It probably wasn’t her. But I needed to find out.

10

“How’s Jamie?” I asked, sitting across from Kyle at a picnic table outside the dining hall. I was an absolute mess after a very sweaty breakfast shift in the still-sweltering temperatures, and I was feeling a bit awkward after what he had said to me the previous night in the emergency room, but I knew I needed to check in about Jamie. Plus, avoiding him at Rockwood would be pointless. It was small, I saw almost everyone on campus daily, and he was my only real friend there. I pushed past it all and tried to be an adult.

“He’s good,” he replied, taking a last bite of his cinnamon roll. “We got back around eight. No serious head injury, luckily. I honestly wasn’t prepared for ninety-plus degrees in October, but I should’ve been better about pushing the fluids with these guys. I think it’s going to cool down this weekend.” He took a sip out of his Yeti mug. “The cinnamon rolls are killer, Dev. Anything else on your mind this morning?” he probed.

I couldn’t escape it. Despite my attempts to shove it all out of my mind, there was plenty I was still thinking about. “When I got back to Norwell senior year that fall, I tried to look for you. I walked by soccer practice, assuming you’d be there. Senior year, you’re the goalie, presumably a team captain. I never thought you would have stayed in London. I got to the field, and I saw Ragnar running after a ball. You remember him?”

“Of course. He was a defensive back.”

“He was my next-door neighbor freshman year, so I knew him well. Anyway, I called out to him, and he ran over. He asked how DC was, and I said it was enlightening.”

Kyle chuckled. I had told him plenty in the past few weeks about my forays into avoiding classes and instead running around shadowing event chefs all around town.

“Then I asked if you were there. He told me that you never came back. That you met a girl in London and were staying.” Kyle looked down and nodded. We had already talked through all of this, but I hadn’t shared with him how I had found out that he wouldn’t be returning for senior year. Or possibly ever. “And that’s it. That’s how I knew I had to move on from you.”

“Did Ragnar say anything else?”

I felt a small smile drift onto my lips, remembering it. “Yeah, he said something along the lines of that you were really fucking them over by not coming back and that the freshman goalie sucked balls. His words, not mine.”

“It’s true. I did hear that the dude was terrible. Those guys were so pissed at me.” He looked around, and most students had gone to class, leaving the outdoor area empty except for us. “What would you have said to me? If I had been there that day at practice?”

“I would have probably ignored you for a while.” I forced myself to look at Kyle. It wasn’t easy because I felt such a strong bond with him. It was something that spanned years, even if for so many of those years, I didn’t see him or talk to him. And now, it was confusing as hell.

“After you looked for me?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes.”

He smiled and kicked my foot softly. “And then when a while was over? Would you have let me try to explain?”

“Eventually, I think. It was a small school. It gets a little crowded to avoid people.”

“But then, maybe? Something more?” Although he was supposed to be talking about over fifteen years ago, I think he was really talking about the present.

“Look, you weren’t here—or, um, at Norwell—anyway. I didn’t see you again until, well, now.”

He sighed. “I need to go to class. I don’t want to. I’d rather stay here and talk to you. I’m teaching Calvin Coolidge’s presidency today. They called him Silent Cal for a reason. It’s not that exciting.”

“I’m going to go on a date with the paramedic,” I blurted out. “I want you to know that. It’s just a date; it might turn out to be nothing, but I owe it to myself. I don’t know what the future holds for you and me, but sitting in my apartment alone watching rom-coms probably isn’t doing me any good. I need to get out there a little. I’m sorry if this makes things awkward or anything.” There. I said it. “And I’m sure you have a way of making Calvin Coolidge’s presidency interesting. I’ll be overhearing all kinds of chatter from the students later about some great story you told them.”

Kyle stood up. “He rode a mechanical horse in the White House for exercise. He had a pet raccoon named Rebecca. Those are my greatest hits for Cal.” He started walking but turned around. “Considering everything that has transpired between us, I get it. I’m really sorry. I messed up a long time ago. I hope you can forgive me one of these days. It’s been fifteen years.”

“I’ve forgiven you, Kyle, I promise. But for fifteen years, I didn’t see or hear from you. So, for me, it’s more like it’s only been a few months if that makes any sense. It feels very fresh still. I just don’t think I’m totally past it yet.”

“Okay. Have a good time with the paramedic. That guy’s, like, way too good-looking. I don’t feel insecure or threatened at all,” he said, trying to make a joke out of the situation. I had to give him credit for that. “Oh, and there was a bear.”

“What bear? Here?” I knew there were bears in New Hampshire, but the idea of one on the Rockwood campus was terrifying. How did it get there? Did it really walk across the bridge onto the island? Could it climb all the way up my fire escape?

---