Page 18 of Be My Summer

“Until now.”

“How so, Mister?”

“How about you begin to tell me about all the things you love, things you love to do, places you want to visit some day, restaurants you want to try, adventures you’ve been dreaming of– you know, things to help me steer this boat in the right direction. I have a path in mind, but I want to carve one with those stories you read in mind.”

“Saul…”

“I am a real man with a real life and real issues, but they’ll never reach you if I can help it. With me, you’ll experience far more good than bad, and I am not saying that just to see those cheeks of yours fluff. I’m saying that because I was raised by a woman who doesn’t play that shit and a man who has never played that shit.

“I was taught how to be a man. Not because I had no other choice, but because I had a two-parent household that represented much of what you read in those books. Stability. Equality. Wealth. Education. Romance. Elegance. Structure. I had all the essentials, Summer. It made me a good man.

“All across the board. The only thing I suck at is picking good women, but somehow I think that changed yesterday. September 21st.”

“How many have hurt you?”

The hollowness of his words as he volunteered his faults was awakening. I wanted to know more. I wanted to know everything, but in time.

“Two,” he confessed. “But they say third time’s the charm.”

He kissed the skin of his teeth. Discomfort had found him.

“Summer, I–”

“Another time,” I said, cutting into his response.

“Yes. Another time.”

The wind greeted him as my thoughts circled.

“You’re outside?”

“Yes.”

Saul exhaled. Paused. Then, continued.

“You sound like a dream.”

I squeezed my eyelids together. Both lips raced between my teeth. I pressed down as I wiggled my feet underneath the thin blanket.

Ahhhhhhh. I squealed, inwardly.

“I–” I stuttered, trying to calm my nervous system. It was a wreck. “I was thinking the same.”

“Oh yeah?” He sniggered.

“Um hm. Admittedly, I was quite surprised to see your name on my phone.”

“Why? I’ve been stopping myself from hitting you up all damn day.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because everything would stop for you. I wanted to wait until my day calmed down and I could hear your sweet voice in the silence that often meets me before it’s time to rest.”

“Everything would stop–” I emphasized, realizing how true his statement was for us both.

Everything was as it was when answered his call.

Nothing moved.