Page 24 of Worth the Risk
“He wasn’t even here three days and you wenthikingwith him?” I laugh a little at that.
“Four days.”
“Huh?”
“He was here for four days,” I say with an eye roll and she loses it. “It’s not that funny, Mare.” She sobers a bit.
“I know, I know. It’s just you told me after you went to see him at the hospital that you were done pining. You were going to move on. Then he comes back to town for all of five minutes and you’ve spent an afternoon with him?”
“When you say it like that I sound incredibly pathetic.”
“No, Winnie. Not at all. You’re just not really over him.” I sigh.
“No I’m not. I don’t know if I ever will be. Sunday was just proof of that.”
“Oh, honey. So, what’s the hold up?” I look at her.
“Don’t look at me like that. You know what the hold up is.”
“Why won’t you believe what’s so absurdly true, Win?” I let a long breath out.
“And what’s that, Marigold?”
“You get to have a great love.”
“I don’t want to have a great love. A great love just means greater the heartbreak.”
“Why are you so convinced you’ll get your heart broken? What if it lasts?”
“It won’t. Not for me. I’m difficult. I’m a lot.”
“The right person wouldn’t feel that way, Winnie. You haven’t given him a chance to prove you wrong.”
“It’s too much of a risk.” I spoon the pasta onto our plates and walk to the table where she sits with our wine. “Oh I almost forgot the garlic bread.” I remove it from the oven and transfer it into a bowl. “So, how’s it going at the hospital? Are you still having it out with the doctor from the radiology lab the other day?” Asking her about work is my attempt to deflect. I don’t want to talk about this any more. I just want to have a fun nightwith Mare and let my issues fall to the side. I smile when it works and she launches into a story about stolen fridge yogurt and?—
“—and he had the audacity to tell me if Ilabeled my container more clearlythen he would have known it was mine, but like he obviously knew it wasn’t his!” She holds her wine glass in the air, moving it around while she talks and I’m waiting for it to slosh over the side as I laugh.
“Let me guess. You didn’t take that well?” She flashes me a sassy grin.
“It’s like you know me or something.” She places her hand over her chest when she says this and I grin.
“So, what did you do?” She laughs.
“Nothing.” She takes a sip of her drink then tilts her head and adds. “—yet.” Laughter bursts out of me. Marigold is the life of the party to my wallflower tendencies. She’s a head turner in every sense of the word. She’s a lot like Colt in that way. That’s probably why they butt heads so often. I’ve played referee to countless matches between them over the years and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
“I thought aboutnot clearly labelinga laxative brownie.Not clearly labelingexpired cream that he uses for his coffee. I’m not sure which direction to take this.”
“I’m sure you’ll come up with something good.”
“I always do.” She winks. I take our plates to the kitchen and rinse them before putting them in the dishwasher. I listen to more of Mare’s ideas on how to get back at Dr. Steals Your Food. I cackle when she introduces that nickname to the conversation. After cleaning up I make a plate of snacks and she grabs the wine so we can move into the living room. We have at least three episodes of The Bachelor to catch up on. I’m thrilled! Nights like this are such a great reset for me.
When all the roses have been handed out and the snacks are gone I look over and see my best friend sleeping soundly. Herlong shifts are catching up to her. I cover her with a blanket and take our dishes to the sink. After condensing all the food and cleaning up I remember tomorrow is trash day. I gather all the trash from the rest of the house to take it out to the curb. I open the door in the kitchen that leads to my side yard and throw the bag into the bin. A thud startles me.My hand flies to my throatas I snap my head up. I look over to see my neighbor taking his trash out as well. I relax and let out my breath.
“You scared me, Rhett.” He smiles and starts walking to the fence that separates our yards.
“Sorry about that.” I walk towards him.
“I guess it’s not your fault, I just haven’t had a neighbor in awhile.”
