Can he get any more perfect? He freaking coaches a kids’ swim team and all I can say for myself is I grocery shop and make dinner.
He parks the Jeep in front of my house and turns to me, resting his arm around the seat, his fingers dangling dangerously close to my shoulder.
“I want to see you again.”
“I’d like that too.”nbsp;
I’d like that too? How formal can you be? Surely you could’ve said something better? You are sooooo bad at this whole dating thing. Read a freaking Cosmo magazine already, Willa.
He grins. “Cool. I’ll text you.”
“I’ll see you then.”
I unbuckle and slip out of the Jeep.nbsp;
“Bye,” I call, and my cheeks heat as I walk away. “I am the most awkward human being on the planet,” I hiss to myself.
I hear him laugh behind me and the redness in my cheeks burns even hotter.
“I think you’re the most adorable human being on the planet.”
I turn around and he catches my gaze, flashing me a wink, and then he pulls away and is gone.
nbsp;
It’s later that night, after midnight, and I can’t sleep.
Instead, I lie awake staring at my ceiling. I can’t read the words glued to my ceiling, but I pretend I can.
Beside me, the table is now empty, has been for some time, of my dialysis machine.
It’s strange that I kind of miss it. I guess sometime in the years we spent together I grew rather fond of it in a way.
I clasp my hands over my chest, tapping my fingers. I’ve been lying here since ten o’ clock. Two hours of sleep evading me.
Two hours of my mind going round and round, replaying the day over and over again, wondering if I could’ve done or said anything differently. I’m always convinced I’ve made a fool of myself, even when I haven’t.
What can I say, anxiety is a bitch and makes you think stupid things.
I wouldn’t say I used to be an anxious person, but my disease definitely made it develop. Certain things, small things, suddenly became mountains I felt like I had to climb.
My phone vibrates and momentarily lights up my room.
Who’s texting me this late?
I roll over and pick it up. It takes my eyes a moment to adjust to the sudden brightness.
Jasper: Are you awake?
Willa: Yeah.
Jasper: Come outside.
Willa: Outside?
Jasper: Yeah, that’s what I said.
Willa: …You’re here?