Page 95 of Time Loops & Meet Cutes
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
I don’t confirm, but I don’t deny it either.
I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit. Our first time—but not actually our first time—seems like a good way to begin the year, though I still feel a bit mixed-up about the whole thing, the fact that he doesn’t know the whole truth.
Veronica leans forward and drops her voice. “Is something wrong? You don’t need to put out just because it’s the third date and you’re going to his place.Iwould, but that doesn’t mean you have to. If you’d feel more comfortable—”
“No, no. It’s not that.” I eat some congee. “I want to. I’m just a bit nervous because…”
“It’s been a while.”
“Yeah.”
She nods and pats my arm. “We should do this more often.”
I’m grateful for the change in topic.
“We should.” I mean it. After my breakup, I retreated from the world, but I wish I hadn’t. In a way, it was like I put my head in the sand and never took it back out.
I can’t change what I did then, but going forward, I can do things differently. Though I doubt I will be as close to Veronica as I am to Avery, I still want her in my life.
It’s exciting to be able to make plans for the future, now that I’ve gotten past June 20.
36Cam
This isn’t how today was supposed to go. I was supposed to get home by six o’clock, which would give me plenty of time to make the curry that I had planned.
Unfortunately, when you run a small business, there are always new problems that you never imagined, and you’re the one who has to deal with them—especially since Justin is out of town this weekend, visiting his family.
By the time I get back to the apartment, it’s after seven. I won’t have time to cook. In fact, I only have three minutes to consider what kind of takeout we should order before Noelle’s in the lobby, waiting to be buzzed in.
Punctual, as always.
Last-minute changes to plans don’t usually bother me, but I’m a little annoyed that we won’t be doing exactly what I told her we’d do. I put on some music and open the door as soon as she knocks.
“Welcome,” I say with a bow.
I take her jacket. It’s not the parka I’ve seen her wear before; it’s an unseasonably warm day for February, so she’s gone with something lighter. Underneath, she’s wearing a sweater with little buttons down the front. I try not to think too much about those buttons as I hang up her jacket.
“There was a bit of an incident at Casa Cam,” I say.
Her eyebrows draw together in concern.
“Nothing to worry about,” I assure her. “A bear broke in and stole all my food, so we’ll have to order something for dinner. It’s on me, of course. My fault for not bear-proofing the apartment.”
“That sounds serious to me,” she says. “Bear invasions are no joke.”
I beckon her into the kitchen. “I had to work late and didn’t have time to cook. Would you like anything to drink while we figure out dinner?”
She declines alcohol, so I decide I won’t drink either. Instead, we pore over the menus of nearby restaurants, eventually settling on some souvlaki meals from a Greek place. Then I give her the grand tour of the apartment, which really isn’t all that grand; it was chosen mainly for its proximity to the brewery.
I try to see it through her eyes. Framed band posters on the walls, the same ones I’ve had for years—a record of who I used to be. A few nonfiction books on an end table—I forgot to put them back. The middle shelf of the bookcase, which is next to the TV, contains no books; instead, there’s a row of beer bottles with cool labels.
I suspect Noelle’s place is neater than mine, though it’s not like I’m a complete slob, and I did make some effort to clean before the Lunar New Year began.
I gesture toward my bedroom without stepping inside. I admit I do hope we’ll be making use of that later, but I have no expectations.
Once I’ve shown her around, I pour her some water, and she sips it daintily as we sit on the couch and wait for our dinner.
