Page 116 of A Matter of Time

He groaned loudly.

“Are you positive?” I asked again.

“I’m positive.”

“Why?”

“I have no idea.”

“Maybe you’re in some kind of fugue state from going to Texas.”

“You really do watch far too much television.”

“You’re emotionally vulnerable from making the trip.”

“Certainly, let’s go with that.”

“And so I get to⁠—”

“You get to.” He cut me off, sighing heavily. He looked worn out.

“I’m so happy!”

“I know,” he said, chuckling. “I can tell.”

I couldn’t contain myself. I smiled so wide. “I can’t get fired anymore?”

“No.”

“Not that I could have before,” I clarified, looking at him hard, daring him to contradict me.

“Not that you could have before.” He smiled in defeat, shaking his head. “Good Lord, what have I done? This is how Frankenstein felt after he threw the switch.”

“You know I love you,” I blurted out before I even thought about it.

He looked at me hard.

“Don’t you?” I asked, holding my breath. Of course I had gone and pushed right over the edge, as was my way. Anything else would not have been honest, would not have been authentic.

After a moment he said, “Yes. I know.”

The look I was getting was pure annoyance, and as I watched him scowl at me, I had an epiphany. Big word for a simple thing, but most times, it took me longer than other people to reach the same place. “You—” I couldn’t bring myself to say the word, so I substituted an easier one. “—you like me too, huh?”

“Yes.”

“You’re compelled against your better judgment to take care of me.”

“Yes.”

Like I was his brother. “I’m very lucky.”

“Yes, you are.”

A thought crossed my mind. “Can we drink our lunch at Boca? I feel like celebrating.”

“Fine.”

“Cool.” I beamed at him, so very pleased.