Page 40 of Best of Me

He shrugs. “I know this sounds…” He trails off, waving his hand dismissively. “You just seem happier, more upbeat. Just more…here. I like it.”

I push open the glass entry door, holding it for him. “Uh, thanks, I guess,” I mutter as he passes. We both stop and greet Mary, the department receptionist, on our way back to the break room.

Nate heats our food and slaps out a portion for me. We eat in relative silence, his earlier words replaying as I chow down. “You meant what you said out there just now?”

He nods as he finishes chewing his bite. “Yeah. Something’s different in you. It’s like…your light’s back on or some shit.”

“I feel different.” I gulp down a few sips of water. “Better. I feel better.”

“It’s got something to do with Mallory?” He’s fishing; Nate Reynolds can out-gossip a granny.

“Yeah, it does. She…soothes me.”

“Good, man, that’s real good.”

“You don’t think it’s wrong?”

“It’s all relative, Duke. Sometimes what’s wrong for one person is right for another. If y’all make each other happy and are willing to wade through a little bullshit, then who is to tell you any different? Sure, it’s an unusual situation, but that’s life, brother. It’s messy and complicated and with jagged pieces that cut. Not everything fits into nice little boxes. Sometimes we can’t help who we love; you’re both consenting adults. I say go for it. Plus, it’s not like y’all being together hurts anyone.”

I laugh, but it’s lacking all humor. “Nancy would lose her mind.”

“Fuck Nancy!” Nate punches a fist into the air. “I’ve been wanting to say that shit for so long. I know she’s struggled since losing Val, but seriously, Duke, don’t allow her a say in this. If it were up to her, she’d have you alone and miserable, pining after a ghost for all of eternity right alongside her. She’s the kind of woman who takes twenty miles on an inch. Straight up, there are only two people who should have a say in a relationship, and that’s the two in it.”

“You’re right. Damn, you’re right.”

He winks, balling up his water bottle and shooting it toward the trashcan where it sails in. “Usually am.”Jackass.

I text Mallory at the end of my shift as promised, all too eager to see her. I don’t even care what we do tonight; we could sit and watch paint dry for all I care. I just want to spend time with her.

Me: Still wanna get together tonight?

Mallory: Absolutely. Got any ideas?

My mind swan dives right into the gutter.Why yes, Cricket, I have plenty of ideas.

Me: I’m open to anything.

Mallory: Would you be open to touring a gym with me so I don’t have to go alone?

Me: Sure. Which?

Mallory: The one on the corner of Main.

Me: I work out there. I’ll pick you up at 5:30?

Mallory: *Squee!* See you then!

While showing Mallory my gym is definitely not the third date I envisioned, I’m down to spend time with her any way I can. Not to mention, the thought of her sweaty, dressed in spandex?Yes. Please.

I pick Mallory up at exactly five-thirty on the dot, and like the last time I picked her up, she’s on her front porch waiting on me. What really makes me smile, though, is the fact that she’s cozied up in her lone Adirondack chair, reading the copy ofWatchmenI bought her. In fact, she’s so absorbed into it, she hasn’t even noticed me, which is some feat with the way my truck growls. My old metal beast lacks automatic windows, so I settle on tapping the horn. She jumps about ten feet in the air when I do, and I’m still laughing my ass off when she yanks open the passenger door and climbs up into the truck.

“You asshole!” she squeals, but she’s laughing, too. “You scared the shit out of me, and you almost made me lose my place.”

“Does that mean you’re liking it?”

“Yeah, I am. I didn’t think I would, to be honest, but it’s really good.” She secures her seat belt, knowing I won’t even put the truck into gear until she does. “What about you? How are you liking Jeff and Gina?”

I duck my head. “Are you gonna be mad if I tell you I haven’t started it yet?”

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