Carter
“Yo yo!” I say, immediately taking the FaceTime, even though I’m just leaving the soccer field and it’s already starting to
get dark.
“Hey!” Lincoln says, sitting in his dorm lounge. “Are you . . . in the woods? Searching for Bigfoot?”
“What else would I be doing on a Tuesday?”
Lincoln laughs. “Seriously, though. I can barely see you.”
“I’m walking to my car. Just took photos of the last boys’ soccer game of the season. Got some good ones.”
“Oh man! Those pics you sent me from the skate park were unreal. Seriously, CT.”
“Thanks, Link. That’s . . . I’m really glad you’re into them.”
“Anyone would be. You’re so good at this.”
“Aw, stop.” I arrive at my car, but I don’t get into it yet. I’d rather keep talking.
“Look,” Lincoln says, “I’ve gotta get back to my reading in a sec, but I wanted to check in. Since, you know, we’re at the
one-month mark. Are you doing okay?”
I stare at the high school, the soccer field, the parking lot. The tree I swung from when I shouted to Maggie. And thought
her name was Lindsey.
All the moments I’ll lose. This moment right now. Gone.
“Oh, I’m fantastic,” I say. “Never been better.”
“Yeah,” Lincoln says. “It’s not the best.”
“You’ll be there, right?” I ask, my chest tight. “The night before my birthday? I mean, I know you’ll be home for Thanksgiving in a week. But then . . . You’ll be able to make it back in time. Right?”
“Of course, yes.”
I exhale. “Good. Hey, before you go, how are you? What’s the latest with Terrell?”
“Oh, that boy.” Lincoln rolls his eyes and grins. “Honestly, I feel like he’s in touch with me more now than when we were
together.”
“I told you those Spaniards can’t compete with you.”
“Well. We’ll see. I’ve been meaning to ask—have you reached out to . . .”
“Maggie? No.” The sun has completely vanished. “I’ve thought about it. A lot. But I can’t mess up her life again. The only
messed-up life should be mine.”
The parking lot lights blink on.
“I mean,” Lincoln says, “I guess that’s fair. But you should at least know that, whatever mess there was, you and Maggie were good together, you know? And I’m sure you’re gonna find that again with other people.”
“Yeah,” I say. “Maybe.”
“We can’t always avoid the mess, CT.”
“Right.” I finally get into my car. “I guess not.”