Diners and Deep Conversations–2
His eyes widen slightly, a flicker of emotion crossing his face before he schools it back into place. The question would be random and totally out of the blue if it weren’t for the
setting.
He understands why I’m asking.
His gaze flickers to the window before he answers. “She was kind of a burst of energy.”
My heart races in my chest as the memories rush through his eyes.
“She thought aliens were real, had a theory about how they hide in plain sight.”
A smile widens across my face. “Really?”
He nods. “Did you know her and my dad were together since college?”
Warmth spreads through me. “That’s sweet.”
He presses his lips into a tight line. “She actually dated my uncle John before my dad.”
I tilt my head, studying him as he speaks. “Your dad stole her from his brother?”
Zaid’s eyes narrow slightly, “I don’t think so; they were good friends, the three of them. But it’s also one of those things we didn’t really talk about. Like it was weird that she
dated him before my dad.”
I can’t help the chuckle that leaves me. “I wonder what she would think of us.”
He exhales, running a hand through his hair. “That’s a good question.”
I hum softly, considering his words. “Aiden said you were her favorite. Is that true?”
His frown deepens at that. He hesitates, like he’s weighing the answer. “I think she loved us both equally. But Aiden was always kind of distant. Not in a bad way, just got along better with my dad, you know? And my dad prefers him, too.”
There’s a heaviness in his voice when he says it, an ache in his words that pulls at my
chest.
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Diners and Deep Conversations–2
“We were on our way home from my physical therapy.”
The comment comes out of nowhere, but I lift my eyes to watch him stare out the window and I know exactly what he’s talking about. My heart races, tears burning the back of my
eyes.
“She believed I could play basketball again. Insisted on it. I was being stubborn, telling her I couldn’t.”
I
press a hand to my trembling lips.
“We were arguing. I was looking at the road, and I didn’t move fast enough. Maybe if I had been calmer, I could’ve moved faster. I could have avoided him.”
I reach for him, placing my hand on his. “Zaid, it’s not your fault. He was drunk.”
He looks at me, giving me a forced smile. The same one I’ve given hundreds of people when I can’t stop the guilt.
We eat in silence after that. It feels like we’re drifting, like the words we need to say are caught somewhere in our throats, too difficult to bring to the surface.
Later, as the night falls, we pull into a nice hotel. The neon sign outside flickers as we
check in.
We open the door to the room, and my heart sinks when I see two beds. For a second, I
wish we didn’t have to share a room at all.
I sit on the edge of the bed, my fingers tracing the quilt as Zaid sets our bags down on the floor. We don’t say anything for a long while.
We get ready for bed in silence. Zaid turns off the light, and I lie down, staring at the ceiling. I’ve never felt so alone with someone so close.
My heart aches for him, for the man I love and the man I’ve lost.
Sleep doesn’t come easy. I lie there, wide awake, thinking of how we got here and where we might go, if anywhere at all.
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