Page 3 of Undeniably Perfect

“Fine, what about coffee?” Di suggests, ignoring the fact that she is clueless about playoffs or what I need to do during them.

“I could later this afternoon,” I say as I pull up my calendar on my phone. My next game is in three days and it’s out of town. Normally, I’m pretty quiet during the end of the season, introspective. I have to stay in the zone, but that’s my exact problem, I can’t get in the “zone.”

“Yeah, oh hold on. Uhhhh…OK, I can after three but before five,” Lanie says.

“I can after two thirty but then I need to be at a meeting at four,” Di says.

I groan. “So, coffee at the usual place at three?” I ask.

“Can we change it to the coffee shop by my office?” Lanie asks.

I groan again. “Fine, three at the coffee shop across from Lanie’s office,” I repeat.

“Yep,” “Roger that,” my sisters say in unison.

“OK, over and out,” I say as I click end on the call and toss my phone back on the bed. It’s only ten in the morning, but I’ve already worked out and been to a meeting. I stare up at the ceiling. I need to pull my shit together and I need to do it fast.

Chapter Two

The coffee shop is in downtown Silver Spring, which is convenient because it’s sort of halfway between the stadium and my house. I get there at two forty-five. I order myself a decaf cold brew coffee and find a seat near the window. I watch as the world goes by. I have so much shit to figure out that I’m overwhelmed just thinking about it. A young mom walks by with a kid holding each of her hands. They are obliviously adorable as they each hold stuffed animals and nearly walk into every person in their path. I realize how jealous I am as they turn the corner, disappearing from my view. I envy the kids for being able to have no cares in the world and I envy that mom for having a family. I’m officially in my late twenties now and most of my friends are getting married, talking about getting married, or at least with someone. I’m none of the above. I’d be lying to myself if I said I didn’t want a family someday.

“Earth to KJ?” Di’s voice cuts into my thoughts.

I turn and she’s holding a coffee and motioning for me to scoot over. I do and she sits down with a thump. I look over and see a giant bag full of papers and strange felt things.

“What in the actual fuck is that?” I ask.

She sighs. “Kids have a project tomorrow. We had an in-service day and just finished, so I decided to go buy some supplies. Being a teacher is such a thankless job.”

I nod. Di and Lanie are the most hardworking of all of us kids. I’ve never seen two people so committed to their livelihoods. It’s not shocking that neither of them is in a relationship. Although for Di, it’s not for a lack of trying. I swear she chases guys away with her romance overload, but she won’t take my advice to back the fuck off the Romeo and Juliet talk.

“Where’s Lanie?”

“She’s coming. She had to meet with a new client.” Lanie is the lawyer. She couldn’t have picked a better career. I’m waiting for her to become a law professor or a judge. She’d rock at either. I see her getting burnt out at her law firm, but she’d never admit it because that’s just not like her.

“Sooo…about your nine-one-one emergency. We need a game plan.”

I roll my eyes. “Di, there’s nothing you can do. Listen, I appreciate the sentiment. Really, I do, but I think this time, I need to figure shit out for myself.”

“Well, what’s your big plan, then? I can recommend some great self-help books.”

I nearly spit out my coffee. “Self-help books?”

“Yeah, there’s this one—”

“Please tell me you’re not recommending self-help books?” Lanie’s voice comes from behind me. I turn to see her holding her normal coffee, which is black. It’s straightforward and without frills, just like Lanie.

I look over at Di and laugh. I’ve never thought about how their choices in coffee represents their personalities. Di sips her caramel macchiato with an extra shot of caramel and an extra shot of espresso, coconut milk, and cinnamon dusting on top of whipped cream. It’s complicated and girly, just like Di. I stare down at my coffee. Cappuccino with a shot of vanilla. It’s simple but too simple. I decide I need to start paying attention to how people take their coffee. It does say a lot about you.

“What’s so funny?” Lanie asks.

I shake my head. “Just pondering the stranger things in life.”

“Well, screw that book. We need a real plan. What did they say?”

“I already told you.”

“No, like word for word.”

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