Hold the Forevers

“We should have probably left Tweedledee and Tweedledum,” I said, gesturing to his friends. “They take up more space.”

“Hey!” Barry said.

“We take offense to that,” Tony added.

“No, you don’t.”

“No, we don’t,” Barry agreed. “But it’s fun to appear upset.”

I shook my head at the pair of them. I couldn’t believe in ten short days, all three of them would be graduating. Two years since Cole had asked me out that afternoon in Intro to Kinesiology. I was in all major classes and working at a physical therapy place in town. Tony and Barry were both moving to Atlanta after graduation with jobs in sales. But Cole …

“So, have you heard anything else?” Barry asked Cole as the first round of cyclists rode past.

“No,” Cole said tightly.

Cole didn’t have a job. Not for lack of talent, but he was much more specific in his interests. He wanted to work in marketing and development or scouting for a professional football team. As anyone could imagine, these were sought-after positions. And not many people were getting those jobs right out of college without experience in marketing or scouting elsewhere.

“Are you sure you won’t ask your dad?” Tony asked.

“I’m not going to do that,” Cole said. “You know that I don’t want to ask him for anything.”

That was the other problem. Cole could have had any entry-level job that he wanted if he dropped his dad’s name or asked for his help. But he was resolute that he was going to do this on his own. He didn’t need anyone’s help or a leg up. It was admirable, but again, he didn’t have a job.

I’d learned not to bring it up. Tony and Barry could get away with nagging him about it. I knew the depth of his despair, the longer he didn’t get a position. As job after job came back filled. He wanted to prove that he could do it on his own, and … he was finding out that he couldn’t. I could see the existential crisis building.

“Don’t badger him,” I said. “We’re supposed to have a night off.”

“We’re just messing around,” Tony said.

Cole put his arm around my shoulders and pulled our bodies closer. “Thanks, babe.”

The guys changed the subject from there as we watched the cyclists. People left around us, and the spaces were filled back up with more eager watchers. Channing and her new girlfriend, Kandice, showed up for a half hour before retreating to a nearby bar.

“I’ll be right back,” Cole said against my ear. “I have a phone call.”

I waved him off. It was almost too loud to hear him right next to me. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to hear a phone call. Right as Cole left the vicinity, another round of cyclists came barreling down the street. I leaned in with Tony and Barry as they veered in our direction. And one cyclist cut the turn too sharp. He skidded sideways, taking out three other cyclists. All of them hitting the bales of hay on the corner at alarming speeds.

The crowd all around them cheered as if they’d won the whole thing. It was what we’d all been waiting for. And of course, Cole had missed it.

“I can’t believe he walked away, and it happened,” I said to the guys.

“If that was all it took, we should have sent him away a long time ago,” Barry said.

We all laughed, making jokes about when the next one would happen and waiting for Cole to return.

“He’s been gone awhile. Maybe I should check on him,” I said.

“We’ll save your spot,” Barry said.

I nodded at them and then bullied my way back through the crowd. I inhaled deeply once I was past the crowd and back on the slightly less busy sidewalk. Cole wasn’t immediately visible. I stood on my tiptoes to find him. At least he was taller than the average guy. So, even if no one could usually find me, I could always find him.

Sure enough, as soon as I stepped around the corner, I found him leaning up against the brick wall on Jackson Street. His phone was pressed to his ear, and his finger was in the other to block out the street noise. He hadn’t seen me yet, and I watched his adorably serious face as he talked on the phone.

I got close enough to hear him end the call.

“Yes, thank you so much.” He chuckled. “I look forward to meeting you. Thanks again.”

He hung up and then stared forward, as if lost in a daze. Then he blinked out of it and saw me approaching.

“Hey, you were gone forever. Everything all right?”

He scooped me up into his arms and swung me around right there on the sidewalk. I held him tight. People grumbled as they passed us. A few girls aww’d at the scene.