Chapter 19

Ricky

“Goodnight, Ricky.”

I look up to find her already at the door, waiting for me to respond so she can vanish from Moka’s. 

Why not stay a little longer? Maybe the entire night? 

“Night, Patricia,” I say with a smile.

“You know I’m not Jon. You can call me Pat.”

I laugh a little. It sounds robotic in my lungs, but she doesn’t notice. I’m glad she doesn’t notice. Glad she doesn’t notice a lot of things.

What I did notice today are her lips. It has been almost impossible for those two to stay without breaking into a smile, one I wish she’d make for me. I didn’t ask, though. It’s not my business, right?

Relieved that the day is over and I can go bury my head in more poetry, I pad my legs together and begin the journey home.

Outside, my legs break formation, and I stand glued to the floor.

On the other side of the road, sitting by the steering wheel, no sign of music playing, his phone’s light burning into his face is Jasper