Page 119 of Better Than Gelato
“Okay.”
“I love you,” I tell him. And it feels like goodbye. He leans his forehead against mine, and I can tell he feels it too.
“I love you too,” he says.
ChapterThirty-Two
I’m exhausted. I’ve spent the last two weeks studying, making smoothies, and trying to make a long-distance relationship work. Two out of three are going well.
Today is a stormy day, dark skies and a wind that blows the leaves off the trees. All I want to do is curl up and nap. Instead, I finish my classes then put in two hours at the library and four hours at Jamba.
I call Jake on my way home. We don’t talk for long. I tell him what my professor said about my latest photo, and he congratulates me. He tells me about only sleeping five hours last night, and I console him.
“I love you, and I’m sorry you’re not getting any sleep,” I say.
“Thanks,” he says. “I’m sure it’ll get better soon.”
He doesn’t say I love you back, which is not a big deal. It’s not like we say that to each other all the time.
Still, I try to think back to the last time he told me he loved me.In New York at the airport, for sure. But that was ages ago. Surely he’s said it more recently.I rack my brain.Well, just because he doesn’t say he loves me doesn’t mean he’s not thinking it. He’s probably thinking it right now while he listens to my voice.
“We sliced open a really large cadaver today,” Jake says. “We had to get through a foot of greasy, yellow fat before we could get to the organs.”
Okay, maybe not.
We keep things on the surface these days. We don’t talk for long, and we don’t dive too deep. And maybe that’s weird, or maybe that’s just fine.Relationships adapt, right?
When I get home, Maggie is trying on my blue dress from Carmen in the middle of the living room. It’s the only place in the apartment that has decent lighting.
“And which unsuspecting gentleman are you planning to seduce?” I ask.
“His name is Ben. And I’m going for approachable, not seductive.”
“Then that is not the dress for you.”
Maggie digs through a pile of clothes on the coffee table, and I settle onto the couch and pull out my chemistry book and a fat stack of index cards.
“I’m definitely ready for him to ask me out,” Maggie says.
“Who’s asking you out?” Petey asks, plopping onto the couch next to me.
“Ben, if he knows what’s good for him,” I say.
Pirate comes out of her room, and we all take bets on when Maggie and Ben will have their first date. Based on the fact that this boy has never spoken to Maggie, Petey and Pirate choose dates three or four weeks from now. But I, who have seen Maggie’s boy-bewitching magic firsthand, choose this Saturday.
By the time the evening is over, I’ve written out all the formulas for my exam on Friday, and Maggie has put together an outfit that is the perfect combination of seductive and approachable.
The next day, I end up working three extra hours at Jamba Juice. I was supposed to be out by 6 p.m., but someone called in sick, and Manager Mike asked if I could stay until close. He also mentioned six-week evaluations coming up and the prospect of a raise. I know it will only be fifty cents an hour more, but still, I could use it.
I text Jake to let him know.
I have to close the store tonight. I can’t do our 6 p.m. call. So sorry.
It’s okay. Just call me when you get off.
It’ll be after midnight your time.
It’s fine. I’ll probably be up anyway.
