Holding Her Hand (The Reed Brothers 9)

Lark McCapSnatcher: Thank you. And thank you for telling me about them. Grief can either make you or break you. I let it break me for a long time. Now I think I’m ready to let it make me. I hope he gets to that point too.

Me: You’re there.

Lark McCapSnatcher: Got to go. The girls are looking at me like I’m messing up their whole day.

Me: TTYL

On Thursday, I really want to see her. There’s a famous book about how to tell if a guy is into you. I’m definitely into her. I can’t stop thinking about her. I want to talk to her. I want to hear about her day. I want to know how she’s feeling. I particularly want to know how she’s feeling about me.

Lark McCapSnatcher: What’s the dress code for your mom’s party?

Me: Dress code?

Lark McCapSnatcher: What will everyone be wearing?

Me: If I tell you nothing, will you show up wearing nothing?

Lark McCapSnatcher: I’ll show up and kick you in the balls. How’s that?

Me (instinctively putting out a hand to protect my nuts): It’s casual. A cookout. So you can wear something cookout-ery.

Lark McCapSnatcher: Cookout-ery. Okay. Will your brother be there?

Me: Why do you ask?

Lark McCapSnatcher: Because there’s safety in numbers. And I already met him.

Me: No need to be afraid. They’re harmless.

Lark McCapSnatcher: Said the spider to the fly. I have to go. Studio time.

Me: TTYL

On Friday, I text her to find out what she’s doing.

Lark McCapSnatcher: Girls’ night. My sisters and the Reed wives.

Me: Where?

Lark McCapSnatcher: I’m not allowed to say, or the Reed boys will show up to claim their women like cavemen on steroids. They’re all together at Paul’s. You should go join them.

Me: Who is watching the kids?

The Reeds have a million and one children now.

Lark McCapSnatcher: The kids are with the men.

Me: Then hell no. I’ll pass.

Lark McCapSnatcher: The kids are adorable.

Me: Maybe when there’s only one. But they have fifty or a thousand of them.

Lark McCapSnatcher: Do you want kids?

Me: Never thought about it.

Silence.