SCOUT
Luis seemed moreexcited than I was to quit my job and travel with Desi for the summer. He had grand plans for fancy book clubs and things I had never put a stop to but he never wanted to intrude on me by hosting them.
“I just like to remain respectful of my roommates,” he told me when I asked why he waited until I wasn’t around to do these things.
“You don’t have to be. I know we are obnoxious sometimes,” I blushed, thinking about the few times Luis had knocked on the walls to shush us during the throes. “If the time comes when I move in with Desi, do you want this place?”
“I would need a roommate to help with rent,” he admitted. “But yes.”
“Great!” I grinned. “Well, until then, I’ll keep paying my half and if it ever happens, we have a plan.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” he warned me. “Something’s up with that man. But I am enjoying the spoiling too.”
Ignoring his vague warnings, I went to the diner and turned in my notice. Deanna was in when I came to speak to our manager. She waited for me just outside the office and when I came out, she followed behind me.
“Long time, no see, girlie. You forget your apron?”
“Actually, I officially put in my two weeks. Although Stanley said I didn’t really need to, as they’ve already replaced me after the accident.” I waved my arm with the large scar up.
Deanna rolled her eyes. “Yeah, Kelly. She sucks. I kind of figured you weren’t coming back though. I mean, I don’t blame you, landing a guy like that.”
“Yeah? Desi is kind of great.”
“I don’t know. Something about him still strikes me as off.” She scrunched up her nose. “Like, he’s got a secret family or something weird. He got kids?”
“No. And he’s perfectly normal,” I lied. “Stop trying to make me paranoid just because I finally met a decent guy.”
“Fine. You want to run off with a handsome man and let him pay for all your stuff by all means, but can you stop throwing it in my face so much?” She grinned and reached out to hug me. “Best of luck, Scout. You deserve some good in your life.”
“Thanks, Deanna. I really appreciate it. I think while he’s working, I’m going to spend the summer working on my art. Maybe I’ll actually get better.”
“Thank god. I can only watch you scribble for so long.” She laughed. “And when summer’s over, then what?”
“Stanley said I can come back at any time. I might, who knows. I really want to make this thing with Desi work.”
“You should. You’re what, twenty-five?”
“Twenty-six. Twenty-seven in October.”
Barely a week apart from Desi.
“That’s a good age to settle down. You better invite me to the wedding. I wanna see what kind of dough that mafioso puts out for you.”
I nudged her. “Don’t go saying that stupid shit too loud.”
“All right, he can keep his secrets. But if he’s got a single cousin or something…”
* * *
Now that Iwas mostly healed and had my license, I took long rides just to be by myself.I had a handful of tapes in the center counsel and would listen to them on full blast while I drove.
Tonight, I had the tape that I was making for Desi in my player.
I had decided that I’d be giving it to him as a birthday present and to celebrate our one year since we met. I couldn’t afford much, even more so now that I quit my job, but I knew that he’d love the sentiment.
I was about halfway through picking songs. The A side was full, so I just needed to choose some more for the other side.
I was so in the zone, I hadn’t noticed how far I had gone outside of the city. It was nearly two in the morning, and I had no idea where I was.
