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I can only figure they were, right? Liv seemed like maybe she could tell I was upset even after I said I was fine, but I don’t think Rae could, too. Most likely, she said that stuff because they were going to the park to improvetheirmood—in fact, damn it, I just remembered the kid actually said something along those lines. Fresh air is good for bad days and they were going to get some because Annie had been upset about something.
I ought to make a list of things to ask Liv about the next time I see her. As bothered as I was about Lolly, I still would’ve cared if my neighbors were bothered about something, too.
Go to Abby’s party,I try to tell them telepathically, wherever they are now.Or if you don’t even know her, just randomly decide to go to the pool tomorrow while the party is going on.
Or I could keep coming across Liv at the stupidest, least flattering times. I seem to be getting pretty good at that.
Thank God I haven’t been trying to get her to want me. She’d think I’m the lamest dude ever. Can’t eat candy without choking. Can’t exit an elevator without trampling people.
Like I said, though, things can always be worse: she could’ve made fun of me for those things, but she was only ever sweet.
I laugh to myself once more and sniff my fragrant Vanilla Violet Rose Satin Whatever The Fuck skin again. Then I down two more beers because those strictly male parts of my brain demand it.
*
It’s weird, but when I wake up on Saturday, I get the sudden urge to go for a run. It’s early and not balls-hot outside just yet, and I feel like moving around.
I’m not a regular runner, but maybe I’ll turn into one now that I’m making some life changes. Who knows? I find some passable exercise clothes, ready up a water bottle, and head to the park so I can jog the path around there.
When I get there, I don’t push myself too hard. I go at a chill pace, enjoy the breeze and the sound of my feet rhythmically hitting the ground. I stop once to pet a friendly cat that someone has on a leash for some reason. By the time I decide I’m done, I’m sweaty and a little out of breath, but I feel good. All in all, it’s been fun.
Back at home, after I’ve showered, I see I have a missed call and a voicemail from a number I don’t know. Upon listening, I learn it was the hospital letting me know I can go visit Lolly.
I quickly get ready and leave the house again, excited to talk to her.
Unfortunately, she’s not all that talkative when I get there. She’s calm and she recognizes me, but it’s clear that the pain medication the doctor has her on is making her drowsy.
Still, I hang around for a while. My presence keeps her relaxed when a lady comes in to begin some light physical therapy for the injured hip. I tell her about Abby’s birthday party and that Bill is always asking about her, and even though she smiles at the news, the couple of things she says about the Kinleys are confused. She thinks Abby is her mom Shannon, and that she and Bill are getting married soon. I can’t tell if it’s her memory or her pain medication causing the mix-up. I guess it’s probably both.
I wonder briefly if she knows more than just my face—if she knows I’m her grandson, the boy she shouldn’t have had to raise but raised nonetheless with endless love and patience, the boy who cherishes her as a son would cherish his mother…or if she thinks I’m someone else, too.
I don’t ask. I don’t even dwell on it for more than a few moments. Instead, I enjoy my time with her.
Once the physical therapy woman is gone, Lolly promptly starts dozing. I give her a careful hug goodbye. “Love you, Lolly.”
“Loves, honey,” she mumbles. “Have fun at the movies.”
‘Loves, honey.’
She has said that to me for as long as I can remember—only to me. Pop always got,‘Loves, my love.’It was her generalization of hugs and kisses and I-love-yous when I was younger; when I got older, it meant those things as well as the bigger, deeper things that couldn’t possibly be written into birthday cards or said aloud in the most emotional of times.
And it means she knows exactly who I am.
“I’m going to Abby’s birthday party,” I correct her gently, even as my heart soars. “I’ll come back after it’s over, okay? I’ll come back tonight.”
She gives a faint, sleepy nod, and she’s snoring softly in moments.
I leave with a smile on my face.
And as my day unfolds, things only get better.
I work a short shift and make a ton in tips off a bachelor party getting an early start on their celebration. Once I’m off, I help Bill and a few of his male relatives set up for the party. I’m going to be in charge of beverages and, thankfully, I’ll be stationed under a small canopy. The manager of the property confirms that the pool will be ours for a full hour, which is great news because I was a bit concerned other tenants might not respect our gathering.
And shortly after the festivities kick off at 6, the two people I’ve been thinking about on and off all this time come through the metal gate.
Rae is looking shy in a pink dress that probably has a swimsuit under it, one hand grasping Liv-Andria’s and the other a purple gift bag. Liv is talking gently to her as they shuffle along, her free arm holding a few poolside essentials. She’s wearing jean shorts and a brown shirt that she clearly took some scissors to—I know because I did the same thing with the Breaking Benjamin shirt I have on. I cut the long sleeves off at the shoulders years ago when I got sick of the Texas heat keeping me from wearing one of my favorite shirts. The curling hem and loose, off-one-shoulder collar of Liv’s brown top tell me that cute thing used to be a boring t-shirt.
Yeah, it’s definitely cute now.She’scute, with her strawberry blonde hair in a ponytail, and that one shoulder bare except for a black strap of some sort, and her slender legs leading to simple sneakers that are also black.
