Page 20 of Puck the Halls
That wouldn’t be a bad gig. But I’m kind of a straight arrow. The only thing I’ve ever broken into was my own piggy bank when I was five. I really wanted to buy the new Mario Kart game and my mom wouldn’t let me so I tried to make shit happen on my own.
It didn’t, if you were wondering. I only had five bucks and no wheels to get to Game Stop.
“No. I work for Nathan Armstrong. I’m house sitting.”
“Ah. Heard they were headed to Aspen for a few days. So is the stuff a romantic partner? Trouble in relationship paradise?”
I sip my water. I don’t feel like this dude is going to be super sympathetic but at the same time he can’t be any worse than my sisters, who had advice that ranged from “Stay single, trust me,” to my mother’s super not helpful, “She’s awfully short,” like Erika’s damn height has anything to do with anything.
“There’s a girl. I really like her. She’s smart and funny and very competitive. She checked me on the ice the first time I met her. I think I fell in love right then and there.”
The man nods. “Confidence is sexy. So what happened?”
“She lives in Texas. She broke up with me in a text last week. Said she doesn’t feel like the relationship is real.”
“It is hard to be apart like that. She in the military or something?”
“No. That’s where she’s from.”
“She can’t move here?”
“She doesn’t want to.”
“You can’t move there?”
I think about that. I’ve thought about this before. I always come to the same conclusion. “That feels too risky, you know? My whole life is here. Family, friends, my job. Don’t want to lose all of that.”
“Then you must not love her. And she must not love you. Because love is all about risk. If you wanted to be together, you’d take a leap of faith. One of you would move or hell, you’d pick somewhere in the middle. Meet me in St. Louis. That kind of thing.”
“You want me to move to St. Louis? I’ve never been to St. Louis.”
The guy actually chuckles. “That is not the point. The point is, if you want to be with her, talk to her. Tell her.”
“Oh.” I mull that over.
“Do you miss her?”
“Yes.” Like, everything would be better if she were in this hot tub next to me. I’m lonely without her. “I’m just going through the motions.”
“Then call her. None of this text bullshit. Pick up the phone and call the girl. If I were you, I’d want to know I tried everything to make it work. If I loved her.”
For the first time in days, hope sparks in my chest. “Right on,” I say. “Good call, man.”
He nods. “Good luck, son. I’m heading in. Enjoy your night.”
“Thanks, you, too.”
I need to get out of this hot tub.
Time to stop feeling sorry for myself.
No more securing the perimeter of my heart like Erika is a thief out to steal it.
She is not the enemy.
She’s myperson.
I think about the way she smiles at me and flips her blond hair.
