Page 39 of Keepsake
“But heseemedold. He was never interesting enough for you.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I mean, he’s cute and everything. But I always thought he was too fastidious. If I put a cup down on your kitchen table, he’d sprint into the room and wash it. He alphabetized your books against your will.”
“You’re right, May,” I deadpanned. “How could I have been so blind?”
But my friend just ignored the sarcasm. “I bet he alphabetized your sock drawer. I bet he got manicures. Wait—was he manscaped?”
“No comment,” I said, unwilling to admit that Gilman’s fastidiousness was very, very thorough.
“Was the sex good at least?” she asked.
“Oh, my virgin ears,” Zach teased, bringing his hands up to cover them.
In spite of my dark mood, I giggled. “The sex was just okay.” I sighed. “But he madeexcellentcoffee.”
Both May and Zach howled with laughter.
“But that’s important!” I argued while they doubled over.
“Oh, honey,” May said when she could breathe again. “He was so boring! Gilman doesn’t even like Asian food, not even sushi! He had the palate of a twelve-year-old. He just didn’tfitwith you, Lark. You’re more interesting, by a factor of a million.”
“Mmm, Asian food.” I sighed. “That’s the one problem with rural Vermont. No ethnic food for a fifty-mile radius. Unless there’s a new sushi joint you’re not telling me about.”
“I’ve never had sushi,” Zach volunteered.
“Really?” May squeaked. “You’veneverhad it?”
Zach winked at her. “When will you people stop being surprised by the things I haven’t done?”
“Good point.” She reached out and squeezed my hand. “I hope you’ll forgive me for telling Gilman he could stop by.”
“Somehow I think he would have managed to make me feel like shit even without your help. But did hehaveto say that we were never right for each other? At least he stopped short of saying that the time we spent together was a total waste of his life.”
“Sweetie, you’re better off without him.”
I brought my knees up to her chest. “True. But I wasalreadywithout him. Now I’m without himandoffended.”
May giggled. “Tell you what—the next time we have a free afternoon, let’s drive to Burlington for Japanese food, to celebrate Gilman’s stupidity.” She nodded at Zach. “You can come, too. We’ll order the sushi deluxe, and get you a little life experience.”
“For you two? I’ll do it,” Zach said. “I’ll eat raw fish.”
I laughed again, trying to picture it. Their silliness was just what I needed. “I’m having déjà vu. The bunkhouse reminds me of college. The close quarters. The way everyone here knows everyone else’s business.” The lack of privacy was strangely comforting tonight.
“Yep,” May confirmed.
“So there’s no hiding my embarrassment. It’s all just hanging out there. Like underwear on a clothesline.”
“Seems that way,” Zach said.
I opened my mouth wide, and yelled toward the ceiling. “Okay, listen up! My boyfriend never loved me, and he’s marrying someone else!”
A barely muffled male voice came from the other side of the bunkroom wall. “Bummer!”
Another one followed with, “Do I get to fuck him up?”
“I’ll let you know,” I called. “Also, Zach is a sushi virgin!”
