Convenience and Compatibility Read Online Free PDF Page B

pick up an extra shift – why the hell not? What else am I
going to do? My last day of work for the week finally comes to an
end and I’m looking forward to taking a shower and watching
mindless TV on the sofa in my pajamas.
    I get home and Tara is in her room with the
door closed. I take my shower, grab a bowl of cereal for dinner and
plop on the couch. I’m deeply engrossed in some home-improvement
show when Tara comes out of her room and sits next to me.
    “Hey what’s up?” I know something is wrong
between Tara and me; I haven’t heard from her usual chatty self all
week.
    “Can I talk to you?” she asks, biting a
nail.
    “Sure.” I put the show on mute and turn to
face her. Oh shit, what’s going on?
    “Have you spoken to Greg lately?”
    “No, why?”
    “He’s just really upset about your
break-up.”
    Now I’m kind of pissed, this is none of her
business. “But we broke up a few months ago, we’ve just been
fucking since then. That’s what I put an end to last week.”
    Tara interrupts, “He’s still in love with you
Mallory.”
    “He’s a big boy, he can handle it.” I turn
back to my food and turn on the volume. I’m not about to let her
try to make me feel bad for breaking up with Greg… again.
    “That’s where you’re wrong Mallory.” Tara
walks away and I know she is mad.
    Fuck this. I tired of constantly taking care
of people. I know I should go knock on Tara’s door and talk this
out, but instead I zone out on the backyard makeover I’m watching.
I’m just too tired to handle this right now. Once again, there’s no
call from Dean.

Chapter
6
     
    The next month drags on endlessly. I spend
Christmas with my family, New Year’s evening with Tara and the
gang. Greg brought a date, a blonde, tall and beautiful – just the
opposite of me. I couldn’t help but think he did it to make me
jealous. I tried not to admit it to myself, but it sort of did. I
obsessed about it for a week until I realized that this means Greg
is over me and I can date other people without Tara or Adam
harassing me.
    January comes to an end and I know I’m in a
funk. Dean hasn’t called, and I have a sinking feeling that he
never will. I’m just so confused. I consider showing up to his
parent’s house under the guise of checking on him, but having
enough self-control not to do that and embarrass myself, I stay
away from Medina. I keep reminding myself that he would find me if
he wanted to. He knows where I work, where I live, he could easily
see me. Guys can be such assholes.
     
    It’s the day after Valentine’s Day and
I’m just getting off work. The day has been relatively easy, my
patient load light. It’s raining and dark outside and I zip up my
coat and raise my hood as I exit the front doors. I hear what
sounds like someone shouting my name and I lower my hood and look
around.
    He’s sitting on the bench under the eaves by
the front door. His ankle crossed over his knee, wearing a wool pea
coat and matching grey knitted cap, a huge grin from ear to ear. I
stare in disbelief. He looks hot! Even hotter than I remember. My
knees go a little weak, and then I remember that this is the
asshole who hasn’t called me in months.
    Motionless, I stand staring while my mind
tries to make sense of the situation. Why does he show up the day
after Valentine’s Day? I thought all men knew that this day is hard
for a single woman. I deliberate between pretending it’s nice to
see him, and being mad that he didn’t contact me for so long. It
takes only a moment before I choose something in between.
    “Hello Dean.” I slowly walk towards him,
carefully stoic.
    He stands gracefully and walks towards me,
without a walker! I stop short, in shock, my mouth opening on its
own accord. I stand there in astonishment as he surprisingly
embraces me, and buries his face in my hair. He inhales and murmurs
my name and something else I can’t quite understand. I lightly hug
him and pat his back while he is holding