Page 32 of How to Lose at Love

“Via the boy on his team.”

“Right.” Though I wouldn’t actually call him aboy. Don’t know if I’d call him a man, either—he’s somewhere in between from what I could discern.

“And was he at least nice about it?”

“Eh. Define nice.” I laugh. “The fact that he even had the balls to do it should tell you everything you need to know about the guy.”

“The only people I know who would be willing to break up with a friend’s significant other are in middle school.”

“Exactly.”

“And you were at work when he did it?”

“Technically I was done with work, but yes, he basically ambushed me outside when I was trying to leave. The good news is I got a ride home from him.”

“Sounds to me like this young man probably has issues of his own if he’s willing to take on a task like that.”

Take on a task like that? Ha.

“He wasn’t the friendliest chap,” I allow. “Bumped into him again today—he’s in one of my classes.”

“Oh? Which class?”

“Business communication.”

“And how is that going?”

“Fine. We have to write a paper rather than take a final exam, which I guess is good? I definitely like it better than biology.”

“Why do you have to take biology if you’re a communication major?”

“Because I need one science class to fulfill the gen ed requirement.”

One science class and that’s it.

Thank God. I’m barely passing and can’t wait for the semester to be over.

We chat a bit longer; she tells me how she and Dad are going away for the weekend to a little boating town on the coast to reconnect, to eat some good seafood, and take a lighthouse tour. I tell her about Winnie, Rookie, and how I should start saving for a car so I don’t have to walk home in the dark.

She tells me to take an Uber.

I tell her it’s not cold enough for that yet.

She tells me it will be soon and says she’ll talk to my dad about paying for the charges in the app.

Later when I’m lying in bed, I get a text from Winnie.

Are you coming out this weekend now that you’re single?

You can’t just assume I’m ready to mingle…

Ha, good one.

But seriously, Rookie and the guys are having a party.

Is that supposed to be news? They have parties every weekend.

True, but this one is a Snow Pants or NO Pants party since it’s getting cold out.