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My eyes drop to her hot-pinkplastic shoes. “Does this mean I should call you Crocsy Roxie?”
She smiles on one side of hermouth. “If you dare.”
“You want to come in?” I move tothe side to let her pass.
“Thanks, but I didn’t plan onstaying.” She takes a single step into my apartment and hands me afolded piece of paper. “My phone number if you need anything. AndI’m just down the hall, in 3B.”
“This is great. Thank you.”
“Sorry if I was a bit standoffishearlier,” she says, holding my gaze. “You just caught me bysurprise. Of course I’m glad to have you around, and I’m happy tohelp you get settled.”
I give her my goofiest grin. “Doesthat mean we can hang out?”
“Don’t push it, Dunn,” she replieswith mock seriousness. “I’m still on the fence about whether or notyour old nickname needs to be resurrected.”
“Of course it does. You sure youdon’t want to come in?”
“I can’t; I’ve got plans. Anothertime, perhaps.”
“Anytime you want.”
“See you around, Dunn,” she saysas she steps out.
“Good night, Crocsy Roxie.”
She gives me one of thosebehind-the-head waves as she walks down the hallway in thoseridiculous plastic shoes.
Her ass looks magnificent.
****
It’s almost 8:00 and there’s noway I’m cooking right now. I don’t even feel hungry. I shouldprobably skip dinner and head to the gym. The one in the buildingis small, but will have to do for now, until I have some time tofind a proper one nearby.
I take off my work clothes andmake a mental note to find a dry-clean place and a laundry service.College me would be shocked at all the suits and button-ups in mycloset. College me didn’t know who he was or what he wanted, and hetried very hard not to let on how lost he was.
I met Amy my freshman year. Shewas pretty and determined, and I was honored she’d plucked me fromthe rubble. We cared about each other and had plenty of fun andfirsts, but I don’t think we were in love. I never felt she wasinto me, more like I was someone safe she could develop her skillson for the benefit of better men down the road.
When Roxie moved in with Amy andopened the door for the first time, I felt like I’d been punched inthe gut. Staring head on into those eyes, I’d never felt such avisceral pull toward someone, a kind of instant recognition, and Ithink she felt something, too, because I remember her eyeswidening, quickly scanning my face, and her lips parting just alittle. All this took a fraction of a second, before we spoke andrealized who we were to Amy, but the connection was strong anddisorienting.
She made me so nervous, I didn’tknow how to behave around her. I made really stupid jokes and, ifshe’d worn pigtails, I swear I would’ve pulled them. That’s whenshe started calling me Dunnoying Chris, but I hope I amused morethan annoyed her.
It never would’ve occurred to meto make a move on her. I already had a girlfriend, and it’s notlike I had any game back then. Mostly I didn’t understand what Ifelt for her, but it was alien and confounding.
Roxie took the end of herbasketball career really hard. She’d dreamt of going pro in theWNBA, but it wasn’t meant to be, and she swiftly re-dedicatedherself to her computer science major, which had been on the backburner while she’d played. It was amazing to watch her make thishuge change in trajectory, and commit to it quickly and completely.I admired her for it.
I loved listening to her talkabout her programming classes. I’d always liked science, but I wasalso good at writing and debating, which my father had taken asconfirmation that I should follow in his footsteps—major inpolitical science, then become a lawyer. Only, it turned out Ireally hated poli-sci courses, and I felt increasingly desperate atthe prospect of more.
Then Amy broke up with me. Iwasn’t surprised, as I’d suspected for a while that she was readyto move on, plus I’d seen Brad sniffing around when I picked her upafter class. I wasn’t even jealous. If anything, my pride was alittle hurt, but, at my core, I was mostly relieved that our anemicrelationship was finally ending.
The breakup was the kick I neededto say “screw it” and change my major. Having witnessed how Roxiehandled her own career challenge gave me the courage to make theleap. I told my father I’d stay on campus during the summer tospeed up graduation, but instead I took a bunch of courses inbiomedical engineering.
I hadn’t seen Roxie in years, notsince the breakup. Other than that flash of connection when we’dfirst met, she always kept me at a safe distance. I figured shedidn’t consider me a friend, just Amy’s annoying boyfriend, so Inever contacted her, even though I often thought about her.
****
It takes me a little while tolocate my earbuds, but I finally do, and then I’m off to the gym,phone in my pocket, water and towel in my hand.
The gym is in the basement, and Iwill have to go past Roxie’s apartment to get to the elevator andstairwell.
