Page 85 of My Own Kind of Person

The server puts down the receipt and some mints, Tony writes an exorbitant tip in giant numbers, and I smile blankly.

“You need a ride?” Andi asks.

Elijah turns to me. “I have a full tank of gas.”

“Sean’s with me,” Tony says, standing. “Manager needs to run through a game plan for Saturday.”

“I thought you weren’t his manager anymore,” Andi says.

I look at Tony. “We should probably still talk, though.”

He smiles.

I turn to Elijah. “If that’s all right?”

He couldn’t look more peaceful. “Of course.”

Andi takes out a stick of gum and I grab one of the mints. Tony is already standing by the door like a bodyguard securing the path.

Elijah stops. “Going to the restroom before I drive.”

Tony gives him a hard look. “Kegels.”

He blinks only once before replying, like a true gentleman, “Thank you.”

The goodbyes are quick and when Elijah leaves for the restroom there’s a small letdown in my chest. It appears to bring most of my chest with it, so maybe it’s a big letdown. By the time I’m aware that Andi is saying goodbye, they’re driving away. I give a wave to their departing taillights. Tony stands next to his car and checks different apps to see which one suggests the shortest route to my house. I only live ten minutes away and there aren’t many roads to choose from. He scrutinizes the maps, zooming in and muttering. I look at the clouds in the sky and try to find the moon.

“You’re still here!” Elijah shouts from the diner door.

I smile. “We are.”

I look at Tony. He’s going to wait for me to say it.

“Do you mind if I ride with Elijah?”

“Of course not.” He doesn’t blink. “But first, I wanted to tell you that when you made that joke at the end, I could tell you didn’t know what you were going to say until you said it.”

I adjust my stance. “I figured it out and I got the laugh.”

“But what if you hadn’t?”

“I don’t know, I would’ve—”

“You were on the verge of a breakdown in front of a room of strangers. If you keep throwing yourself off these cliffs, at some point nobody will catch you.”

Elijah stands by his car, not getting into it but not coming closer.

“Somebody’s already caught me,” I say.

Tony takes a long inhale. “I hope you’re right.”

Chapter 28

Elijah’s house has real hardwood floors and a significant number of plants—in the windows, in large pots on the ground, even hanging on the wall. Everywhere is green and lit by warm lamps on tables and shelves. No bright overhead lights. The living room has two big couches facing each other. The kitchen counter is filled with big bowls of fresh fruit.

“We probably have an hour until my mom gets home.” Elijah opens the fridge. “Do you want some seltzer?”

I stop at a framed, professionally shot photo of Elijah and his parents. He and his father look identical in shirts and ties. His mother is shorter with a bright yellow dress and thick purple glasses. Her big hair comes down in tight curls. She smiles wide with a gap between her teeth.