I can feel your breathBatman has no patience this morning, cutting me off and asking me to put Caleb on the phone. Caleb bites his lip and nods at the phone as if Batman can see his acquiescence and hangs up, telling me Go.
I can feel my death
I want to know you
I want to see
I want to say hello
Just like that I am squishing across the lawn from Daniel's to Batman's (because we smartly put in a paverstone path at least that far, to next door), passing New Jake on the way in who stands up from where he was leaning over his bike, tinkering. He smiles and my heart thuds but just once in return and I shake my head and rush into the house. Never keep a man with money waiting, I hear the advice echo through my child-sized brain from way back when I was just starting out learning how to read people to get the very best of them, or rather their most valuable part. Their wallets.
I leave my rainboots at the door and stalk-slide through the main level looking for the man of the hour. I'm peeking into the study when he comes up behind me, asking me what I'm doing. I lose my footing and almost splay on the floor like a deer learning to walk for the first time.
I need some runners for the floors?
Probably. I look down and he's wearing shoes. You ever kick those off when you're home relaxing?
If I were relaxing I would. He smiles though. He's a tough nut to crack most of the time.
What can I do you for?
You sound like a truck-stop waitress.
That's 'server'. This is the twenty-aughts.
It's what I can do for you.
Listening.
I have his number, Bridget.
And?
It's bad.
Then leave him be.
But you don't underst-
I'm not going through this again with you. Please don't touch him.
You have to hear me out.
I'm going now. You could have called me.
I wanted to give you a chance to flirt with your latest victim.
Nice. You bring me over just to twist my pins? Have a great day. Seriously.
Bridget, stop!
What?
Don't move.
WHAT IS IT? (I'm thinking spiderweb? Or maybe a storm of locusts.)
Nothing, I just want you to stop and pay attention for a minute. You don't and you miss valuable information because you let your heart override your brain.
It's the way people are supposed to work, you idiots!
He collapses laughing into a chair. At least I can count on you to always say what you're thinking. God, you're such a breath of fresh air. You excuse everyone. You give out too many chances. You leave yourself wide open to heartache and disappointment.
Exactly. That's what I'm meant for.
Even if it kills you in the process?
Naw. Haven't you realized it yet? It doesn't kill me. It makes me stronger.
So now what?
I was being facetious. I'm not any stronger. I wish for that but it doesn't happen.
That's why I want to talk to you about Cale-
STOP IT! I told you to leave him alone and I mean it!
I squish back across the lawn. No one follows, of course. He doesn't chase anyone and New Jake is no longer outside when I leave. I told Batman not to pursue this but he just keeps going. I'm starting to understand what they mean when they tell me I don't listen either.