High Water Read Online Free PDF Page B

predictable.”
    “That’s what I was about to say. You two are like twins, if twins weren’t both the same color. And if you needed glasses.”
    “Yeah, twins,” Pete chuckled.
    “I have no idea what he’d be doing if he wasn’t friends with you.”
    “I tell you what.  He wouldn’t be in the moving industry!”
    They took a hit each, the medical grade herb hitting back very quickly. “You know you could have hired professionals,” Liz pointed out.
    “On my salary? That’s why I’m moving,” Pete said.
    “Sounds like you got what you paid for,” she replied.
    “And less, yeah, you’re not wrong.”
    “Maybe you should take him with you,” she said. “Lord knows you guys spend more money on weed together than you do on anything but rent.” Pete nodded and made an affirmative expression. “Besides, Pete, you lived with him once.”
    “Oh no, never doing that again,” Pete said, waving his hands in front of him, a warding gesture. “ Never again! You have no fucking idea.”
    “I can imagine.”
    “You can try. I don’t recommend it,” he said, and they shared a laugh. “Besides, you know, I was hoping you’d come with me,” Pete offered nervously. There was no point in letting it remain unsaid.
    “Yeah…” Liz trailed off. She cleared her throat. “I don’t know.” Pete felt the moment slipping away, wanting to say something clever. He’d told himself earlier that he wasn’t going to guilt her. It was her choice whether to stay or move with him. Pete just nodded, remaining silent.
    She spoke up, “Yeah, I mean, my parents are around here. Kind of feel responsible.”
    “Sure, I understand,” Pete replied, nodding stiffly at her reply. They sat for a moment in strained silence. Feelings welled in his chest, but he couldn’t find words for them.
    Pete decided to break the silence with something else that was on his mind, avoiding any touchy subjects. “Anyway, Walt destroyed the Corolla’s bumper.”
    “You mentioned that.  What happened?” Some of the tension in the room bled away. He was glad since he didn’t want to spend the night in an argument.
    “Come on, I’ll show you.”
    They walked outside. The sun had slid lower in the sky, the warmest part of the day past them. The family of sparrows flew off as Liz cackled with laughter, pointing at the bumper resting on the ground in front of the Corolla. She continued laughing hard, as he walked over to it, holding it up for her to view the damage. Leaning over in breathless mirth, Liz was slapping her knee, her hair convulsed with each laugh. Chuckling, Pete shook his head at the jagged piece of metal in his hand. It was pretty absurd.
    “Oh my god,” she got out between laughs. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in my entire life.” She walked over and put her hand on his shoulder, head leaning against him. Liz still snickered as she wiped away a tear.
    “I’m glad that this was amusing to you,” Pete said, throwing the bumper on the ground with a metallic clank .
    “Sorry Pete, it was just so funny,” she said, leaning her head into his chest. “I’m glad you can laugh about it too, that’s why I like you.”
    He put an arm around her waist, and she looked up at him. Liz’s eyes were large, endless oceans of blue and had struck him dumb the first time he saw them. Once, early when they were dating, he’d been explaining the recessive genes responsible for giving humans blue eyes and how animals rarely had blue irises. “So you’re dating me because I’m not an animal?” she’d responded playfully, sitting on his lap. “I have standards,” he’d responded, and she’d thrown her arms around him, sliding up his lap sensuously. Smiling at the memory, Pete leaned down, kissing her softly. She responded, gently, but with growing insistence. Pulling away, Pete saw longing in her eyes.
    “I love you,” she whispered.
    “I love you too,” he said, his heart beating quickly.
    A noise behind them