Page 171 of Only After We Met
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
He nodded, satisfied, and looked straight ahead. I observed him for a few seconds, thinking about how everything had changed. I don’t know who I owed this shift in perspective to, if it was that life had made him smaller, or if I felt stronger, bigger, more mature since the last time we’d seen each other, before I left. But I was certain it was different. Nice, but also sad. I remembered what Ginger had told me about the vision we have of our parents when we’re little, how we think they’re superheroes. And then life takes a turn, and they’re anything but. We get stronger, and we witness how they grow weaker, more delicate, more imperfect.
“Stop looking at me like that,” he grunted.
“I’m not looking at you any way.”
“I know when you’re lying, Rhys. Tell me about her. Or tell me about your music if that’s easier. Tell me about stuff, your plans, what you’re going to do in the future…”
I meditated a few moments, then took a drink.
“I don’t really know what I’m going to do in the future, but I know I need a break. I’d like to try to approach things from adifferent angle. Devote some time to behind-the-scenes stuff, production, composition…” It sounded good saying it aloud—perfect, actually. “The next album’s already done. The first single will be out soon. You want to see the cover?”
“Of course.” He nodded.
I looked on my phone for the image Axel had sent me and showed it to him. He looked at it, concentrating for a few seconds. Then he smiled.
“You’re putting yourself out there.”
I nodded and set my phone aside. “As far asshegoes… I think you’d like her.”
He must have been surprised I didn’t try to avoid the subject.
“What’s she like?” he asked tentatively.
“A talker. Smart. Pretty. Sweet. She’s the most amusing girl I’ve ever known, but I don’t think she does it on purpose. Or maybe I’m the only one who sees her that way. She’s patient, but she doesn’t back down when she’s mad. She knows how to say no.”
“Good. You need a stern hand.”
“Screw you.” I laughed. He did too.
“You know it’s true,” he responded.
“She’s got a kid. Leon. He’s one.”
He turned to me nervously. “Is it…is it yours…?”
“No. I wish.”
“You wish? Who’d have ever thought you’d say something like that?”
“I know. Life, right?”
“It would be boring if it was any other way.”
“I guess it would.” I sighed a long sigh.
110
From: Ginger Davies
To: Rhys Baker
Subject: Got a question
There’s something I’ve been thinking about these past few weeks, and I can’t get it out of my head. I’ve read it over and over, and I just don’t know what to think. In one of the last emails you sent me, you talked about yourself, how contradictory you were, how unpredictable, and you said something about Leon. That logically, you shouldn’t feel what you were feeling. What did you mean? I need to know.
From: Rhys Baker