Her head is up against the backrest, but she rolls it toward me. “You think? Do your problems seem smaller?”
“Yeah, they do.” I look down at our clasped hands. “Being inside that cavern hit me with perspective. It’s hard to see my past as this huge specter when a formation back there the size of my hand is a thousand years old.”
She smiles at me, her head still resting on the seat behind her. “I like introspective Patty.”
I sniff. “Don’t get used to it. This guy comes out once every thousand years, too.”
“Then I should keep him around as long as I can,” she says with a teasing laugh. The sound settles into the spot in my chest that I thought had been hollowed out long ago.
Does she actually mean it?
Does she want me to stay?
Could I?
Until recently, I never would have thought it possible.
But now …
Over the radio, a DJ lists events happening in Springfield that night, and I sit up when I hear one event in particular.
“Tonight, the Springfield Yetis are set to battle the red-hot Mullet Ridge Blue Collars, who’ve been on fire this season thanks to their powerhouse scorer, Anton Volkov, and the rock-solid goaltending of their captain, Sean O’Shannan. With Volkov lighting up the scoreboard and O’Shannan shutting down opponents, the Yetis will have their work cut out for them in what’s shaping up to be a high-intensity showdown!"
I feel Lou’s eyes on me for a beat before I look at her. We both start smiling at the same time.
“Are we going?” Lou asks excitedly.
I can’t help the grin on my face. “I’ll call Alicia.”
PATTY
You’d better play smart tonight, because Lou and I are coming to your game.
SEAN
What? How?
PATTY
Bus broke down. It’ll be ready in time for us to get to KC tomorrow.
SEAN
So you two are playing hooky?
PATTY
We’re adults. We don’t play hooky.
SEAN
Uh huh. You want to play something with that girl.
PATTY
Funny guy. Catch up after the game?
SEAN
