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“Nothing.”
“Laney.”
“You’re getting to know me scary well.”
“Scary bad?”
“No. Of course not. Devin well.”
“That’s good.”
“It’s awesome,” I say with a shaky voice. “You’re awesome.”
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
“It’s just Gran. She’s not here.” I don’t realize how much I’m hurting until I say the words and I’m misty-eyed. “This is my first Christmas without her and I just…I miss her so much.”
“I wish I was there to grab your hand right now and pull you to me.”
His words warm my heart.
“Me too. Why are you whispering?”
“I’m in my closet.”
“The three stooges messing with you?”
“I told them I was going to call you and they all had conniptions wanting to meet you. It took me an hour to slip away undetected.”
I laugh, and it feels good.
“Tell me about her.”
“I’m afraid I’ll cry.”
“So, what? She was with you for twenty-one of your twenty-two years. You’re allowed to be upset.”
She was painfully absent on my birthday last week too. Luckily, I had a Grand Band Man who picked me up after his last game day and took me through the drive-thru just before midnight to let me eat my weight in Dorito shell tacos. Right after, he’d presented me with a bow covered box of Famous Amos cookies. I insisted it was enough and that he cancel any other plans he’d made. He’d briefly fought me on it, but finally relented.
“I really wish I could see your face.”
“I can see yours. Hi, Max.”
“How did you know he was with me?”
“He’s the other man you’re sleeping with. I just assumed.”
“He’s at my feet whining now because he misses you,” I say honestly.
“I miss you too. Come on, tell me about her.”
“Well, she was strong, like unbelievably strong, and strong-willed, funny.”
“You just described yourself.”
“Yeah, well she knew her place in the world.”
“You will too.”
