Page 65 of Just A Date

I hide my smile. “Sure did.” I don’t have first-aid training, but I’m worried he’s got a concussion. It’s hard to tell though when he says stupid stuff all the time.

Trent joins us, and Mom directs us to help Sean into a bed. Sean can’t seem to help in return. He flings an arm into my face and body slams into Trent.

“You stink, man,” Trent grunts, pushing himupright.

“Trent,” Mom scolds. “He could have brain damage.”

“We’ve known that for a while, and it’s no excuse for poor hygiene.”

Mom punches Trent’s shoulder, and he smirks. Raising three boys taught her a thing or two.

We get Sean into a bed, and Mom begins to fuss over him.

I’m about to leave the room when Sean speaks.

“Dude, Michael,” Sean slurs. “You’re the poor man.”

Did he mean foreman? “Yes, I know I got the job. Sorry, bro.”

“No. You’re the poor man. You lost Juliet.”

It’s good to see that concussed Sean is still a straight shooter.

And here I’d almost forgotten about her for a whole half hour. The first time all day I haven’t wondered what she was doing or if she was spending Christmas all alone.

I frown at the wall above his head. “Yes, I did. Thanks for the reminder.” The very painful reminder.

“I told her to talk to you, but she didn’t. I’m sorry. I tried.” Sean sniffs, and two seconds later full-sized tears drip down his cheeks.

“Wait.” I blink and step closer to the bed. “You talked to Juliet?”

“Yeah.” He wipes his gross nose on the backof his hand, and I jerk out of his reach.

I’ll die in battle for him, but I won’t take his germs.

“I told her she needed to talk to you because you loved her so much.” He makes a kissy face.

“What?” Alarm bells blare in my head. I haven’t even told her I love her. “Why’d you do that?”

“It’s true, isn’t it?” he asks.

I can’t respond with the complete reality setting in. I do love her. Why didn’t I tell her?

I can’t even be mad at Sean.

My arm itches like crazy. I have to tell her.

My dad told me to fight for her. If I don’t try to make one last shot, I’ll regret it forever. What have I been waiting for? If a job gets messed up at the shop, I goout and fix it. I do what needs to be done. But I didn’t do enough to fix things with her.

I walk out of the room, but Sean hollers after me. “Don’t leave. We still have to play Monopoly.”

“We can play that in a little bit, dear,” Mom tells him.

“But I wanted to win.” He sobs as I continuedown the hall.

I’ll be back. After I win over my girl.

I pull out my phone and slide to the dating app. I could text her, but it feels more poetic like this. Or maybe I’m just a romantic sap.

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