Page 10 of The Slug Crystal
He smirks. “You read my Strava?”
I roll my eyes, trying to play it cool. “I know this is a joke because Strava doesn’t track naps. Also, you literally made me sign up so I could follow you, even though I don’t understand why. Everyone else who actually runs already follows you. You’re marked as a local legend in almost every neighborhood of Boston. You’re the LeBron James of cardio flexing.”
He mock bows, one hand over his heart. “Thank you, thank you. Please direct all future compliments to my agent.”
I laugh, and the air in the cab lightens, just a little.
We merge back onto the highway. After a few minutes, I ask, “Do you ever think about how weird it is, the way people try to fix things?”
Jake raises an eyebrow. “You mean, like, with spells?”
“Or, like, with anything. My mom has a home remedy forevery problem—cold sores, heartbreak, car trouble. She swears by duct tape for all three.”
He chuckles. “Your mom is kind of a badass.”
“Yeah, well, she still thinks I’m an intern. I can’t bring myself to tell her I quit the law office and am now working for minimum wage at event planning gigs.”
He considers this. “You could always tell her you’re an entrepreneur. Technically, you did start a small business in the last forty-eight hours.”
“What, cursing my enemies?”
He nods solemnly. “It’s a growth industry.”
I snort, then fall silent. Outside, the trees are a blur of summer green, the kind that only looks alive when you’re speeding past. I glance at Jake’s hands on the wheel, the little white scar over his knuckle, the way he taps out rhythms only he can hear.
My brain runs a catalog of questions, most of them inappropriate. Instead, I say, “Okay, random questions. Go.”
Jake doesn’t hesitate. “What dinosaur would you be?”
“Triceratops. No contest.”
“Favorite food?”
“Spicy ramen with the soft-boiled egg and extra scallions.”
He grins. “No, it’s not. You love that pizza from Gio’s. You tell everyone how you would die for that pizza. That is definitely your favorite.”
“Hmm, you’re right,” I agree. “Why are you asking questions you already know the answer to?”
Jake laughs. “Are there many things we don’t know about each other at this point? It’s been like ten years.”
He has a point. “Fine.”
“If you could have any superpower, what would it be?”
I have to think about that one. “Telepathy. Or teleportation. Maybe both? Imagine being able to know if someone is lying, then immediately leave the room.”
He laughs. “You’d use it to ghost people faster?”
“Obviously. Your turn.”
He considers. “Definitely teleportation. I would never have to commute again. If you could be any cartoon character, who’d you pick?”
I lean back and think. “Probably Daria. Or maybe Kim Possible.”
Jake: “You’re way too cheerful for Daria.”
“Only on the outside,” I admit. “And you?”
