Page 69 of Stick With Me
“Freddie! Stop that!” Hannah calls across the dog park. If it weren’t for the huge smile Hannah’s been sporting the whole time, I’d question whether this was a good idea. The once lush, grassy space is now a muddy mix of melting snow and slush. At least one of us is going to need a bath when we get home.
Hannah and I are bundled up tightly against the cold, each huff of breath creating small clouds, but the temperature doesn’t seem to bother our crazy dog. Freddie charges through the mess without a care in the world, making fast friends with the other dogs.
There’s one in particular he seems especially fond of. Looks like he’s already secured himself a girlfriend. My dog has more game than I do.If only it were that easy for me: stake my claim on Hannah by humping her, and live happily ever after, joyfully running through the park together. I shake my head at Fred’s antics and my train of thought.
“It’s a bummer Mia won’t be moving here,” Hannah says, bringing my attention back to her.
My stepsister called on our way here. I’m pretty sure she called to dig for information on my new living situation, mainly my roommate, but when I told her Hannah was in the car, she was happy to fill us in on her new plans instead.
Turns out the college plan my mom was so excited about was another passing phase. She’s already moved on to her next idea, which I don’t completely understand but seems to involve buying a van and traveling the country. I’m sure the shelf life on this one will be just as short, but that’s Mia for you.
“Yeah, I guess not. Maybe she’ll swing by during her trip around the world,” I deadpan, unable to stop the eye roll that accompanies the statement.
Hannah nudges my side before she resumes shuffling from foot to foot. Offering her the only warmth I can, I drape my arm over her shoulders and pull her close.
She looks up at me with a small, appreciative smile. “Too bad. I think she would’ve liked Rumford.”
I nod, my gaze following the sound of a bark I instantly recognize as Fred's.
“We had a good time back then, right?” Hannah asks.
A smile tugs at my lips. If it weren’t for college, and my inability to pass calculus, who knows when our paths would’ve crossed. The one time sucking at math paid off. “The best.”
She turns her body so it's angled more in my direction. “Do you have any regrets? You know, about how it all worked out?”
I’m surprised by her questions. She’s never once brought up past regrets, if she has any, or asked me about mine. Our conversations about college mostly revolve around inside jokes and reminiscing about the good times, like I’m pretty sure all friends do.
Maybe this is related to her breakup? She’s told me she regrets giving Knolls so much control over her, but I didn’t imagine her thoughts on the matter went all the way back to college.
Do I have regrets? I tell her the truth, “I don’t know. If things were different back then, we might not have ended up here. And I’m pretty happy here.”
Would it have been better to have her by my side six years ago? Sure, but who knows if I would’ve fucked it up as a college kid. There’s still a chance of me fucking it up now, though I try not to entertain that possibility.
“That’s a good way to think about it.” A smile lights her face, but her gaze is distant, following Fred’s movements.
I rub her arm through the wool material of her coat. “What about you? Any regrets?”
She looks thoughtful, as though she’s running through different scenarios in her head and weighing them against each other. “I think I like your philosophy. No regrets. You know I had a crush on you back then?” She says the last part like it’s no big deal, like she didn’t just alter my brain chemistry.
I jerk my head down to see her better. The motion is so quick I worry I might have pulled something.Play it cool.“You did?”
She finally aims her smile in my direction, making my stomach flip in a not entirely unpleasant way. “Mm-hmm. I thought it wasn’t reciprocated. Was I wrong?”
I give her a look I hope says,c’mon, really?“You were a bit off base.”
“I’m maybe seeing that now.”
I’m practically holding my breath, waiting for her to elaborate on this crush and whether it extends to the present moment. She’s been holding things close to her chest, so I don’t expect a grand proclamation of love. But her fessing up to a college crush… Pretty much the same as a declaration of love, am I right?
Unfortunately, she doesn’t expand on her past or possibly present feelings. But what she does give me is just a bit more hope, enough of it that makes me emboldened to put Project Romance into play.
“Do you want to go out to lunch after we get that monster cleaned up?” I tilt my head in the general direction of our dog. After clearing my throat, I tack on the important part, according to Fox. “Like a date.”
“A practice one?”
I consider giving in to my instincts, wanting to tell her “no, a real one,” but I chicken out. Instead, I shrug and respond with, “Sure,” hoping to leave it open for her to interpret however she feels comfortable.
“All right, yeah, that sounds good—” She’s cut off by Fred’s over-the-top bark. “Oh God, he’s at it again. I should probably go help.” She hurries off in the direction of our dog, trying to get it on with his girlfriend.
