I hand over mine without taking my eyes off the road. “Here.”
It took them hours to get his full name out of me. Though the truth is, I want to talk about my new neighbor. I haven’t seen him since the night of the storm due to work. They’ve had me doing extra hours. By the time I go to bed, the light is out in his bedroom. Muriel finds him on social media in no time. I have not been creeping on him, but he is at the top of my most recent searches. Let’s not ask why.
“He was sous chef at a restaurant in West Hollywood with a Michelin star,” continues Hana. “Talk about goals.”
I nod. “He said he needed to slow down.”
“Vermont is certainly a good place to do that,” says Muriel.
“So, you have been talking to him.” Hana sizes me up in the rearview mirror. “And you didn’t say a word. How many other secrets do you have hidden?”
I just laugh.
“This is good news,” says Muriel. “You could do with more people in your life.”
“You’re going to get one of your online contacts to search his credit rating and criminal history, aren’t you?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“No,” says Hana archly. “That would be a massive invasion of his privacy.”
“Of course we are. You can never be too careful.” Muriel peruses the screen. “I didn’t realize you were back on social media, Sidney.”
“I am not really,” I say. “It’s a locked account and I didn’t use my full name.”
“But still…you’re putting yourself out there. Albeit in a limited fashion.”
“It was my therapist’s idea. To embrace some of the activities other people my age are doing.”
“You’re so cute when you’re being all normal,” says Hana with a smile.
“Thank you. I used to like taking photos. It’s been good getting back to that.” I smile. Then I stop smiling. “He asked me what I do for fun.”
“Who?” Muriel turns my way. “Noah?”
I nod.
Hana’s gaze meets mine in the rearview mirror. “And what did you say?”
“I didn’t know what to say,” I admit dismally.
Muriel half turns in her seat and shares a pointed look with Hana. There’s a small chance I don’t like change. Or admitting that my life sort of sucks. But here we are.
“You should ask him if he’d like to be your new hobby,” says Hana.
I just smile.
“Or you could ask him out?” Muriel nudges me with her elbow. “It’s the sort of thing normal people do sometimes.”
“Sidney, we haven’t gone out in ages,” says Hana. “I’ve been so busy with school. What’ve you been doing with yourself outside of this and work?”
“Well…I read and stuff.”
The two exchange another look.
“I like my own company,” I say. “Being by myself isn’t so bad. For instance, I enjoy disassociating and taking long walks.”
“Who doesn’t?” Hana shrugs. “We should all regularly make space in our lives to be antisocial. But don’t you get lonely sometimes?”
I don’t know how to answer that question. Nor do I want to.
