She keeps walking in front and I don’t know why I feel the urge to tell her all of this.
“I should probably shut up now.” I pant. “This hill is getting steeper.”
“Yeah, time to piggyback me, Miles. Impress me with your power.”
I laugh and we keep climbing.
“You know, I wish you were a plumber,” she says casually.
I frown. “Why?”
She turns. “Because then I wouldn’t have to share you.”
We stare at each other.
“And you could be a normal boring guy and fall for me.”
That would be the easiest thing in the world to do.
I smile softly. “That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“If that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever heard”—she laughs and turns back to climbing—“you must know some real assholes.”
“True, I do . . . I’m very good at cleaning out pipes though. So, I am a plumber . . . of sorts.”
She laughs out loud. “I know. A damn good one too.”
I lie on the deckchair and sip my cocktail.
The afternoon sun is just going down over the water and the sound of the gentle waves lapping on the shoreline fills my senses.
Kate is playing volleyball with some kids by the water’s edge. I watch as she laughs and talks with them as if they are long-lost friends.
She’s animated and laughing loudly, so carefree and happy.
She’s in a white bikini and I don’t think I’ve ever seen something so beautiful and flawless.
Calm.
That’s what she is . . . she brings me a sense of calm that I don’t ever remember feeling before.
I don’t have to try to be something I’m not, I can just be myself.
She doesn’t care about my name or my money, or how cool she looks.
She hasn’t worn makeup or styled her hair for our entire trip and I don’t think either of us have looked in a mirror once.
It’s liberating not trying to impress each other. She’s seen me at my absolute worst . . . and I’ve seen hers; and yet somehow, we just work.
I take out my phone and open my messages, smile when I see Pinkie’s name.
I’ve missed her.
Hi Ed,
I hope your holiday is going well?
Things are going well for me, my new boyfriend is turning out to be lovely.
It’s cold here, wishing I was in the sun somewhere . . . next year I hope to be away.
Enjoy your trip, in no time you will be back to being a garbologist.
Pinkie
Xoxo
I smile. Kate’s laughter echoes and my eyes rise to watch the volleyball game.
This is the weirdest friendship I’ve ever had. Pinkie Leroo is the absolute opposite of the kind of women I date, but she gets me, and I somehow get her.
I like our friendship.
What will I reply?
We walk home along the water’s edge holding hands. “I got you something.”
“What’s that?” She smiles up at me.
God, this could go either way . . .
I put my hand in my pocket and pull out two Cornettos.