Page 23 of The Other Guy

JACK

Unknown: So last night was…

I groan, hardly believing this is happening. Again. Or, rather, continuing to happen. I’d hoped after this guy realized I knew what he was up to that he’d stop the insanity.

Me: Was?

I prompt the question, not knowing whether or not I really want to see the response. But old habits die hard.

Unknown: You were there. Don’t you remember what you said? It was… Incredible. Now that I think of it… Life altering? Is that possible?

Unknown: Oh, darn. I sound really crazy. I promise I wasn’t sitting there memorizing everything.

Me: I assure you, you don’t sound crazy.

Unknown: Phew. **wipes brow

I bark out a laugh and toss my phone on my desk. I wasn’t lying when I said she didn’t sound crazy. If she only knew how many others have sounded — or looked — crazier, she’d likely feel relief. I’m going to have to change my number if he doesn’t stop giving it out to every woman he spends time with.

Scrubbing a hand down my face, I sigh and think back to yesterday. Sierra is a force to be reckoned with and the only fault I can find in her is that she’s taken. Her uncle said she was here for a reason, alluding to the fact that she’s going through something, but for the life of me, I can’t think of what it could be. She seems genuinely happy and never once through the entire day that we spent together did I get the impression that she was battling anything other than a bit of sanity.

I can’t help but smile at the last thought. She’s not insane, but she is. In the endearing way. Is there a way to be endearingly insane? Apparently so, because she is. In the way that makes people want to be around her. Want to be a little crazy as well. She brings a certain something to life that only people truly confident in themselves can bring. And unless you’re lucky enough to be around her, spend time with her, you’ll never realize it — she — was missing in your own life.

Sierra stood in line with me at the post office as I waited to send my boxes of gifts for my cousins’ kids for their birthdays that are only a few weeks apart. Joined me when I walked into the local auto parts store to get oil and a filter so I can change the oil in my Jeep, which she demanded to watch me do tonight. Begged for burgers and fries for lunch and poked me in the stomach to remind me that I could afford to have a day of crappy eating.

Followed me around the large home improvement store three towns over while I priced flooring and showers for my bathroom remodel. Not once did she complain that it was taking forever or that it was boring even though I was only taking down prices and options so I could compare to other stores.

In fact, it seemed like she was enjoying herself. Walking ahead of me most the time, offering up her (completely unsolicited) opinion on everything I looked at.

“Well, if it were me…”

“Well, it isn’t so…”

She rolls her eyes, not caring that I’m not asking her opinion.

“Oh! This would be perfect!” She coos in front of a shower before climbing inside and spinning around. “Wouldn’t it? Seriously, it’s the perfect shower! And with one of those shower heads that rains down from above? Ahh. I can practically feel how relaxing it would be. You have to get it, Jack. You have to.”

I shake my head at her theatrics but grin just the same. “You have no idea what my house looks like,” I remind her.

She shrugs and bites her lip, looking around the small space of the tiled shower. “I have a good imagination. Just look! Room for more!” She yanks me into the shower with her but I quickly make my escape. No way do I need to be thinking of showering with her. She pouts and tells me I’m no fun but I don’t respond. She’s taken. She’s taken. She’s taken. I repeat it to myself as much as I need to because she’s getting under my skin, and quickly.

After two hours of going through the entire store three times, I had all my prices written down and she was ready to pull the trigger on about three grand worth of home improvement items. Very few of which were needed for my bathroom remodel.

Sierra pouted playfully as we drove away, whimpering and placing a hand on her window. I laughed at her and told her she was ridiculous. She laughed right along with me and agreed, making sure I knew she was joking, as if I couldn’t tell. I rolled my eyes. Then she said she was hungry and wanted pasta for dinner. I have no idea where she put all the food she ate throughout the day. I think her plan was to make me eat every kind of junk food I’d been depriving myself of for the past two years, not even knowing that I’d been doing it. Today I keep waiting for my stomach to revolt against the drastic change in my diet. Before I dropped her off at her car, she followed me around the grocery store at the end of the day, throwing stuff into my cart that I haven’t purchased in longer than I can remember but somehow knew I wanted.

She’s quickly reminding me that life is way too short to be so concerned with counting calories and spending a day running errands that I’d been putting off for too long can actually be fun if you change your mindset.

Yet I need the reminder that she’s in a relationship and she doesn’t live around here. In fact, I don’t even know where she lives. We have talked very little about her, only getting to know each other on the surface level. But what I see on the surface makes me jealous of whoever it is who gets to claim her as his.

Phone buzzing again, I groan and pray it’s not another text from this guy’s latest.

Unknown: So I have a weird question…

Me: Wow. That’s never a good way to start a conversation.

Unknown: I know. I know. But indulge me.

Me: I thought I did last night.

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