KDBookOnline
Share Us
He squeezed her shoulder. “Thanks for telling me and trusting me.”
She mirrored his smile. “I’m comfortable with who I am, but it’s easy to feel like your brain’s broken when everyone else around you just seems to be sexing up everything that moves at the slightest impulse.”
“Hmm…”
“Anything about that seem familiar?”
“It actually reminds me of when he was telling me about his ADHD. It was a major brainfuck before he was diagnosed.”
“Could be related for sure. Oh.” Joni pointed to a small convenience store at the corner. “Let’s stop there and buy more water before we get heatstroke. It would be humiliating to get carted into our own ER.”
After guzzling about a liter of water each, Joni held the cold extra bottle to her sweaty forehead. “I just read something—oh whatever, my sister sent me a TikTok about something…”
He chuckled.
“People with ADHD have pretty high rates of sexual dysfunction and anxiety. It’s reasonable it could be connected.”
“He takes Adderall for the ADHD. Guess he used to be on other meds too.”
Joni shrugged. “It could be a combination of things.” She led him over to a bench and slumped down on it. “If you’re asking all these questions… seems like you really like him. Hasn’t been something I’ve seen you do over the last year. Not that I’m judging.”
“After that night when I drama-vomited into all that delicious Korean food, it… it was like I needed that. I needed to tell someone everything. So… thanks. For being there.”
“You needed to do a little honest processing.” She scrutinized him. “Much healthier than holding it all in.”
“I still miss Jake, but I’m recognizing that I built the relationship up so much in my head I didn’t give anyone else a chance.”
Her mouth quirked to the side. “And you’re giving Dylan a chance?”
“Maybe just hoping he’ll give me a chance…” Hopefully his post-run sweat hid whatever embarrassing blush was burning his cheeks. Now he just needed to get Dylan to be comfortable enough with him. He was okay with how things were, but he wanted to make sure Dylan trusted him. How did you even go about doing that?
“Olive’s going to lose it when she sees this.”
“Sees what?”
“That she was absolutely right about Dylan.”
“Fuck off.”
“When does she get back? Still pushed out to after Labor Day?”
“That’s the current plan.” He spread his elbows out, cradling his head in his hands. When he turned back Joni’s smile had become enigmatic. “What?”
“It’s just nice watching two people like you and Olive… find your… people. It’s just nice to know that anyone can still have this. That this is possible.”
Derek tilted his head. “Have what?”
“This lovesick-with-unquenchable-sudden-joy thing you’re radiating right now.” She made a small spiraling motion at his face.
“I’m not radiating shit.”
“Sure.” She started down the path toward her aunt’s house.
“What happened with the boyfriend that was weird?”
She shrugged. “I moved in with him. We were together for ten years.”
“Were?”