Page 10 of The Girl with No Name

Charlie Dunn is my good friend from high school. We were sprinters on the track team together, and then he went off to West Point. I barely saw him after that. But when he comes to town, he’s always got something up his sleeve.

“I think we’re just going for a run, maybe get a quick workout in,” I say. “Wendy is pregnant, so I’m sure we’ll be mostly taking it easy.”

“That’s so sweet. Well, tell them I say hi.”

“I will.”

There’s an awkward pause. Maybe it’s that she just did the digital equivalent of turning me down for sex. And mentioned the possibility of getting a job in San Francisco.

Thing is, we’ve got six years of relationship between us. But it’s more than that. It’s a best friendship, too. Lovers and best friends—that’s always what I’ve wanted in my partner. Corny, I know.

“Super excited to come see you in a couple of weeks,” I tell her.

She nods. “Seems like it’s been forever.”

Awkward pause number two for this phone call.

“Hey, can I play you a song I wrote today?”

“Sure.”

I play “Why So Serious?”for her. It’s about three minutes long now, and Sam smiles dimly while I play.

“Great,” she says when I’ve finished. “I think it’s good for you to have that outlet.”

“Yeah,” I respond, but find myself feeling sad. “It’s good for you to have that outlet”isn’t exactly the same as, “That song is amazing!”

Not that I need her to be my cheerleader. Besides, maybe the song just isn’t that good.

“All right, I have to go,” she announces after a moment. “Some friends are coming in from Europe, and I have to get the apartment cleaned up.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Some old classmates from Denmark who studied abroad here for a term. I have to run the Berkeley booth at this conference for international entrepreneurs.”

“Sounds so cool. Have a great night. Love you!”

“You too!” she says.

“Have a great night? Or love me too?” I joke.

“Silly goose. Both, obviously. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

I shut my laptop and look out my window at the brick wall next door. Something doesn’t feel right in my heart right now.

Am I imagining it?

No compliment on the song, and “you too” instead of “love you too.”

Is thatsomething?

Or nothing?

I look over at the ring box, which is now on my dresser.

I’m imagining it. We just need some IRL human connection. I tend to be an overthinker.

I go out to the living room and find Mason sitting on the couch with the girl he was texting earlier, I assume. They’re watching the end of the Cubs game. I continue on to the kitchen.