Page 48 of Wish For Me

While everyone knows the story about my one-night stand with one of Grandpa’s friends’ daughter, nobody except Grandpa and Connie knows Noelle and I have seen each other every year since. It’s too hard to explain to everyone else.

Luckily I’m saved by a chirpy female voice. “Enzo!”

A blonde woman flings her arms around my bewildered cousin.

“Oh…hey,” he says, his eyes wide on me over her shoulder.

He introduces me to her but not the other way around. After a moment, a promise to call on Enzo’s part and several batted eyelashes on hers, we’re on our own again.

“Who was that?” I ask.

“Fuck if I know.”

“Seriously, dude?”

“I remember her. Just not her name. I was hoping she was going to say it.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

Enzo lets out a weary sigh. I get the feeling this type of thing happens to him a lot.

“Guess you’re not ready to settle down, yet, huh?” I ask.

“Actually I kind of am.”

His answer surprises me. But he rubs the stubble on his chin. “I just haven’t found the right girl. I always thought that if I met someone I really wanted to be with, I’d know, you know? But I don’t know if that’s true anymore. I’ve started to think the love they try to sell us in movies and songs is a myth. Something they make up to sell concert tickets.”

I’ve stopped walking, and I’m having a hard time keeping a straight face. “That’s pretty funny considering your Mom’s career. Hell, your parents’ marriage.” Enzo’s mom, my aunt Reese, is a famous folk singer, though she’s mostly retired now. His parents still look at each other like smitten teenagers, just like my parents.

Enzo shrugs. “I dunno. It just sounds fake.”

“I guess if you didn’t know how it felt it wouldn’t seem real,” I say. I don’t know why I’m almost angry at him right now.

Enzo scowls. “What, you think love is real?”

“Of course.”

“How do you know?”

“I just know.”

“Yeah right. I’ve never once heard of you having a long term girlfriend. Just wake-up naked one-night stands.” He grins.

I grimace, looking away. “She wasn’t a one night stand.”

Enzo’s grin turns into a frown. “So who was it?”

I run my hand over the back of my head. “I’m no expert, okay? I just know it’s real.” I try to walk again, but there’s a group of people moving slowly in front of us and a crowd blocking our way next to them.

“So how does it feel?”

My neck prickles. I’m suddenly embarrassed. Mortified I kept this line of conversation going. I’m no expert.

“You don’t know, do you?” Enzo says. There’s a note of something in his voice. Relief? Mockery? Vindication?

The crowd is too thick to yell at my cousin in, so I duck into a Christmas booth. Handmade ornaments, wreaths and knickknacks crowd the little tent and the person running the booth is occupied talking to a couple of customers.

I pick up a little felt nutcracker, irritation making my movements stiff. “I do know,” I say, my voice low.

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