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“Right. A ball of gas. Perfect recipient of a soul-vow. Use your imagination. Anyway, I promised to write a funny movie. And I did. And it feltgreat.”
She smiles, then, and it catches me off guard.
Talking about her movie makes her happy.
I should be glad that she has an exciting life out on the West Coast. I should only want the best for her.
It takes me a minute to realize that the water is now teeming with bubbles. I lower the noodle-bricks in and poke the mass with a fork.
“Don’t overcook them,” she says.
“You’re gonna back-seat chef me? Really?”
She chuckles. “Just a friendly reminder.”
“Keep your friendly reminders to yourself.” I poke the fork in a few more times. “Kidding aside, though, that’s great—that you did it. I hope to one day see this movie on the big screen. Scratch that… IknowI will. And your name will be there when the credits roll.”
“And more importantly, I’ll get paid for my efforts. A big fat paycheck would be pretty sweet right now. Plus, these big production companies are way more likely to look at a script by someone who has a proven track record. Once I have one movie in the bag, I’ll get way more work.”
“You’ll get there. I one hundred percent believe that.”
“Thanks.” She eyes her watch. “You know you’re going on four minutes with those things, right?”
“T-minus two minutes to go. Stand back. I need free range of motion.” I flap my elbows to demonstrate the space I need.
That earns me another laugh.
“You look ridiculous. Hey, you remember the water-to-noodles ratio we like, too?”
“Please. You offend me by asking.” I pretend to take a runner’s stance, with one silver packet in my hand.
Maddison eyes her watch again, then rattles off a countdown. I make a big show of tossing spices in at the last minute, giving the pot a stir with a flourish at the end.
As we settle in at the table with matching bowls, she grins. “I think we’re the only two people in the world who can get this much entertainment out of thirty-three cents’ worth of dehydrated starch and sodium. Is this why we’re on the brink of using walkers?”
“I think we all age, and we have to appreciate whatever we love without worrying too much about it. In the big picture, enjoying a bowl of soup with a good friend can’t be a bad thing. I’m all for being careful and health-conscious but come on. There has to be a limit.”
I expect a laugh.
Instead, she studies me.
I look down at my bowl, stir the curly noodles around with my spoon. “That was some more off-the-records medical advice. Don’t sue me, down the road.”
Chapter 9
Maddison
Nick’s words ring in my mind.
Enjoying a bowl of soup with a good friend.
So, he feels it too.
The way we clicked again. It’s incredible, having a friend that gets you like Nick and I get each other.
It’s like the feeling of waking up on Christmas morning, only it’s a quarter after seven on a weeknight, and all we’re doing is sitting around gabbing.
I can’t believe I ever let this friendship slip through my fingers.
