Page 48 of Considering Us

A snowflake landed on my nose as I walked back to my apartment from the dining hall. I looked up at the gray sky and pondered how cold it was in New Hampshire and that it would be about forty degrees warmer in Los Angeles twenty-four hours from then. Not feeling motivated to pack yet, I pulled out my phone and called Tam.

“You’re procrastinating about packing for your trip, aren’t you?” she asked upon answering.

“How’d you guess?” A few more snowflakes filled the air. “It’s snowing here.”

“You don’t like winter,” she retorted. “Go pack your sunny California clothes. It’ll be a welcome break from reality.”

“I don’t know about any of this, Tam.” I sighed. “Where are you? You love winter. Is it snowing there?”

“Not yet. Hopefully later. I just got on the T at Charles Street. I’m heading to Professor Plum’s place. I want to snuggle up by his fireplace.”

“Plum has a real fireplace? He’s definitely a catch.”

“Wood-burning. His place is so cool,” she said. “I love Porter Square.”

“Am I making a big mistake, Tam?”

“Going to LA with Heath or going with him instead of Kyle?”

“Both.” I could hear the rumble of the subway and knew the call might cut out soon. “What do you think?”

“Okay, I’ve given this some thought,” she rattled off. “Maybe you’re like Harry and Sally. You should rewatch that tonight for some further guidance.”

“But they didn’t talk after they slept together—except for that awkward dinner where they ate those big leafy salads and didn’t really say anything. Kyle and I talk all the time. Except for those couple of weeks before his karaoke performance. But you know what I mean.”

“You two didn’t talk for over fifteen years,” she responded.

“Well, this is different. Considering us, I think—”

“What, Dev? The call keeps cutting out. I just need to move in with this man and stop all this public transit back and forth. What did you say?”

I practically whispered, “I said,considering us.”

“So?”

“He always says that. Kyle. Or at least he did, back when we used to talk about us and what we were going to do.”

“I think you know, Devon.”

Kyle was walking up the path, his sweatpants jammed into L.L. Bean boots, oversized flannel shirt, no coat despite the weather, his beard overgrown, and his hair sticking up everywhere. “I gotta go, Tam,” I said, ending the call.

“Hey,” I said as he approached.

“Hi,” he said. “Such a good dinner tonight. I loved that chicken shawarma. I can’t begin to tell you how much better the food is this year. That sauce with the dill. Yum.”

“I’m so glad,” I said, looking at Kyle and noticing crumbs stuck on the collar of his shirt. “Have some cookies at dinner, too?” I asked, lightly brushing them off onto the sidewalk that was now frosted with snow.

“I think four or five,” he said with a smile. “Oh, I’ve been meaning to tell you, I did a whole thing in U.S. History today about presidents and their favorite comfort foods. I figured withwinter and the holidays it would break things up a bit and keep them entertained. And you’re in good company. Not only does Joe Biden love ice cream, but James Madison was a big fan.”

“Wasn’t he tiny? I would think he was more of a veggie guy.”

“A hundred pounds, but he loved the ice cream, just like you do.”

“Sweet. What’s the grossest thing you told the kids?”

“Oh, that’s easy. Nixon. Cottage cheese and ketchup.”

“You’re making this up.” I loved bantering with Kyle. There was always something for us to talk about.

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