Page 104 of Her Goal
“They’re spicy,” she says as she shoots water into a glass from the soda sprayer.
Chewing, I notice a hint of a kick and read the box and the different flavors. “He got mehotchocolates. You tried the Cubanelle, which is relatively mild.”
Emerson looks at the box. “And you ate the habanero, which is the spiciest.”
“Must be used to it.”
The next day, I get a dozen orange roses at work with a note that says,These roses are orange and nothing rhymes with orange. Xo Hudson.
Of course, everyone thinks this is the most romantic thing ever.
On Wednesday, I get a stuffed animal camel. Emerson has to nudge me toward laughter when she says, “It’s because it’s hump day.”
“He’s so cheesy.”
“Not as cheesy as the mozzarella Cook is making today. I say you and me get a plate after our shift and discuss these developments.”
There’s not much to say because I’m not sure how I feel. It’s exciting to receive all of these gifts, but if I didn’t have to work to get this month’s rent covered at my dump of an apartment, I would’ve been at the game with Chuck. He said if I don’t start going with him again, he’ll find a new travel buddy. Talk aboutcheesy, my brother is the king. However, I miss him and seeing the Knights … and a certain goalie.
On Thursday, there’s a box waiting for me at my apartment. I’m shocked it wasn’t stolen, but delighted to find a collection of Jane Austen’s novels that aren’tPride and Prejudice. As with the other gifts, there’s a note.I read P&P. I fancy myself Bingley, but I think you’d disagree. However, I thinkI shall start using words like supercilious and writing letters to you. Xo Hudson
I stay up way later than I should becausejust one more chapter. Halfway in, I find myself rereading the same line over and over.
Hudson, who flooded me with thoughtful gifts this week and replied so kindly to the email he didn’t know I sent with genuinely helpful advice, and who saw my vision for Happy Hockey Days and the museum, readPride and Prejudice,wants to start writing me letters.
There’s just one problem with that. He already is.
Closing my eyes, I psych myself up to tell him the truth.
from:
to: Hudson Roboveitchek
date: October 19, 10:52?PM
subject: Coming Clean
Dear Booger Butt,
Your advice was received and appreciated. My friend hasn’t made a decision because there are multiple factors involved and several of them have gotten tangled up in a complicated mess. I imagine you’d suggest taking a practical approach and untangling the simplest thingfirst, but I think the situation has moved beyond easily identifying what that is.
However, I have another question for you, per this individual. What do you suggest my friend do when someone is being exceedingly nice and they don’t deserve it? A pie in the face was one recommendation I received. Actually, I imagine you’d suggest making an apology in this instance. However, I’m still curious to hear what you have to say. If you’re wondering why I’d want your advice, given I’ve told you that I hope you get stuck in quicksand, it’s because you seemed to forgive me when you could’ve written me nasty letters in response all of these years. That says a lot about a person.
So officially, I’m sorry for all the nasty things I’ve written. None of them are true, but you know that, don’t you?
Sincerely,
Your Former Secret Adversary
P.S. TED is neither a Theodore nor the former Knights player, Ted ‘the Bear’ Powell. Rather, it stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design. The more you know.
It’slate and I don’t expect Hudson to reply, but my phone dings just as I turn out the light.
from: Hudson Roboveitchek
to:
date: October 19, 11:17?PM
