Page 22 of Every Move You Make

Jeremy looks up at me as I make my way in and sit across from him. “Hey, you’re looking better, man,” he says.

“Yeah. Almost have my full range of motion back in my shoulder.”

“And your neck?” he asks.

“Eh, I’m still at about seventy percent there.” I’ve been going to personal training for nine weeks at this point.

“It’ll come. Hey, I wanted to talk about renewing our contract with you, but I was hoping we could cut a deal.”

Settling further into my chair, I take a sip of coffee. It’s nearly 10:00 p.m., but I’m more than halfway through my shift. “What did you have in mind?”

“I was hoping I could get a better price if I signed a two-year contract with you instead of one.”

Jeremy did recommend another bar owner hire me just last week, and that contract is almost buttoned up, whichwould make them our sixth customer. I’m sure I could make something work for Flanagan's Pub.

“How about ten percent off?” I offer.

“Done,” he smiles, then leans over to shake my hand.

“I’ll send you the email with the updated contract Monday. Other than that, is everything good?”

“Yeah,” he nods. “Thanks again, Isaiah.”

“You’re welcome,” I reply and stand up. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Will do.”

As I leave Flanagan’s and head to my SUV, I quickly check my personal phone to see if Dell messaged me back. But my last text to him lingers unanswered from 7:25 p.m.

How r u so far ahead of me? I'm only on ch 3

My second and third sessions with Dell went as well as could be expected. He was mostly focused on finding the right exercises for me. As we found our rhythm, we’d talk about sports andTwisted Sistersin the moments between sets. But after our third session, I was nervous to tell him I was actually going to see a live Q&A in Newark with Kate and Tiffany from the podcast. I felt like if I told him about it, I would definitely ask him to go with me and that probably wouldn’t be appropriate.

But when I showed up to the Q&A that night, Dell was already there, surprise and happiness radiating off him like rays of sunshine when he saw me. All night we sat next to each other. I didn't have to explain myself to him about anything. The podcast, the minute details of the show—all of it he understood. When our conversations drifted in other areas, I found myself curious about what makes him tick. I wanted to dig deeper.

He checked on my pain levels throughout the evening to make sure I was comfortable, and even went so far as stuffing his hoodie under my arm to create a better resting position.Which was really fucking nice and it did help.

We talked each other’s ears off about the podcast after the Q&A, too. Not just at the event, but after. We got a couple beers at a nearby bar and exchanged numbers. It’s been a constant flow of communication between us ever since.

We started texting about the show, and we binged the crap out of it. That turned into talking about our favorite crimes, which turned into true crime documentary recommendations, which turned into live-texting as we watched and reading true crime books.

Now there’s a mild compulsion to text each other about anything and everything. Like last week:

Dell: How was the concert last night?

Isaiah: Ended up not going

Dell: This is the part where you elaborate, jackass.

Isaiah: Raf and Ang came down with a stomach bug, and so Dad and I watched the twins so they could sleep.

Dell: Awwww. What kind of tricks can they do?

Isaiah: They can roll over.

Dell: Sweet! You know I was a wrestler in high school and college? I could teach them a thing or two.

Isaiah: Why does that not surprise me?

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