Chapter 6
Chapter Six
JASPER
TheFriendlyGhost
So I did a thing today
CatsRCool
What kind of thing?
There’s a lot of things you could have done
Going for brunch
Driving a sports car
Skydiving
Skydiving? Really?
>
Wait.
Did you get a cat?
I got a cat
I was told she’s an Abyssinian cat
Not sure what that means
It’s the breed
That’s a good one
That’s what they told me at the shelter
You know, when I told you to get a cat, I didn’t mean you had to go out and get the first cat you see
She was sitting there looking so cute
It was impossible to say no to her
>
I think she looks even cuter sitting with you
What’s her name?
Zucchini.
Or as Noah likes to call her, Twatopotamus
Twatopotamus
I’m sorry, what?
She hissed at Noah when they first met
He called her that and then she warmed up to him
I’m hoping the name won’t stick
Send me another picture of Zucchini
>
Is she purring and having little cat dreams?
Yes
Dreams about what? I don’t know
Probably dreaming of all the toys that you’re going to give her because you’re going to be such a pushover
Going to be?
I already bought half the pet store for her
Yep, I knew it
You’re a total pushover
What do you say you come over and meet her?
See what a real pushover I am
You want me to come over and meet her?
Well, and meet me too
Added side benefit
I don't know
How long are we going to chat on this thing before we take it to real life?
I don’t know
I was thinking at least a solid year
Might as well make it two years then
Don’t give me any ideas
I’m serious
I want to meet you, Quinn
Would you really say no to Zucchini?
I mean, that face is very hard to say no to
I mean, I can barely say no to my cat and I’ve had her for two years now
So…is that a yes?
Can I think about it?
I’m not sure what there is to think about
Either you want to meet or you don't
But if you need time, take it
Yes
To what?
To meeting
Wait, really?
Yes.
I thought I’d have to send more pictures of Zucchini to get you to say yes
You can take more time if you need it
If I say maybe again, will you send more pictures of Zucchini?
>
Okay. Zucchini is the cutest damn thing ever and I’m only coming over so I can meet her
I’ll take what I can get
When do you want me to come over?
Free Sunday afternoon?
I can be
I’ll text you my address
See you around three?
It’s a date
I’m pacing. I’ve never been a pacer. Zucchini is sitting on her cat throne, staring out the window without a care in the world. It’s her favorite place to be—looking down on Broadway high up from my condo.
Every so often, she glances over at me to make sure I’m still here.
We’re still feeling each other out. From what I can tell, she likes me.
She loves lying next to me or on my lap.
Having her here when I get home is nice.
Even if she doesn’t greet me half the time, knowing I’m not alone is comforting.
I glance at the clock on the oven. It’s three now.
“She should be here soon, Zucchini.”
All I get in response is a meow.
“Why am I talking to a cat? It’s not like you know what I’m saying.”
For all I know she’s thinking about what’s for dinner or where she’s going to sleep tonight.
I’d like that life. Not a care in the world.
Instead, I’m sitting here watching the clock hands move farther and farther away from three with no sign of Quinn.
Three ten.
Three fifteen.
Nothing.
Well, fuck. This isn’t good. I scrub a hand down my face and grab a beer from the fridge. Too early for the hard stuff.
Taking a deep breath, I crack it open and let the icy cold liquid slide down my throat.
I thought I finally made progress. That we were going to meet and that’d be it. That we would have gotten past her nerves of finally meeting.
I guess not.
I hope I didn’t screw this up before it even started.
Pulling up the Music City Matches app, I fire off a message to her.
TheFriendlyGhost
Are you still coming?
Did you get lost?
Are you okay?
Nothing. No response.
What if something did happen?
TheFriendlyGhost
Are you there?
I’m worried something’s happened to you
Will you at least let me know you’re okay?
Three thirty comes and goes before my phone finally buzzes from where it’s sitting on the counter.
Thank fuck.
CatsRCool
I’m sorry
I thought I could do it but I can’t
TheFriendlyGhost
I don’t know what to say…
I stalk toward the living room and drop onto the sofa. Anything I say right now would come off as angry. Because I am. I don’t want to be, not with Quinn, but fuck. I don’t know what it’s going to take to meet this woman in person.
We’ve been talking for months. That’s a full-blown relationship at this point. We’ve never even exchanged phone numbers.
TheFriendlyGhost
It feels like I did something
CatsRCool
It’s not you
So it really is me then?
No!
I told you I got my heart broken before
And…
I get that, I do
But you’re not even giving this a chance
What if we meet in person and we have absolutely zero chemistry?
Well, we’ll never know unless we meet
But I don’t want to lose what we have now
Like I said, you have to take a chance on us
And if you’re not going to take a chance…
What are you saying?
What am I saying? Do I want to keep this thing going over the phone for another year? Two years? What if Quinn is never ready to meet and I’m just stuck waiting for her? I don’t want that.
Zucchini comes and curls into my side. Clearly she knows what I need right now. It helps make up my mind. I take a pic and send it to Quinn.
When you decide you’re ready to meet us, we’ll be here
But until then, I can’t keep doing this
Jasper, please
Figure out what you want, Quinn
Because I know what I want
I want us to give this thing a chance
A real chance
Take your time, Quinn
It’s obvious you need it
I’ll be here when you’re ready to meet
My heart twists as I close out of the app. There is nothing I want more than to meet Quinn. To keep talking with her. Confessing things I like and don’t like. What movies I’m watching.
But I can’t.
I want more. I want what my teammates have. If Quinn ever gives us a chance, we could have it.
Until she’s ready, I’ll wait.
Even if it might kill me.