Twenty-Two
twenty-two
IMPOSSIBLE - JAMES ARTHUR
OWEN - JUNE 6, 2013
B y Wednesday, I’m restless, caught between the pull of two worlds.
On one hand, there’s Callie—always at the back of my mind, her smile a ghost I can’t shake. On the other, there’s Karissa, whose flirtatious glances and casual conversations have become a tempting distraction. I’m telling myself the only way to shake off Callie is to explore other possibilities. It’s a lie I desperately want to believe.
“So, Karissa,” I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel, “how about we grab coffee after work sometime?”
She smiles, her lips curling up in a way that makes my stomach twist. “I’d like that, Owen. Friday sound good?”
I nod, feeling a tight knot in my chest. I should be excited, right? But as I walk back to the mechanical room, the buzz of it all fades when I think about Callie. Why is it always her?
Back at work, Will’s leaning against a pipe, a smirk plastered on his face. “So, did you ask her out yet?” He’s been teasing me about Karissa for days, his eyes glinting with amusement every time we’re in the same room together.
“Yeah,” I say, forcing a grin, “just coffee. Nothing big.”
“Just coffee, huh?” Will waggles his eyebrows. “Remember, chicks dig guys with a sense of humor. Tell her about our TV show idea—'Hospital Maintenance Heroes.’”
I laugh, trying to bury the unease clawing at me. “You’re impossible, man.”
As we head to our next task, I send Mom a text to ask if she would mind running Barrett back to Cedar Bluff Friday night for me so that I can grab coffee with a friend after work, promising to pay for the gas.
Will starts humming a dramatic tune. “Next time on ‘Hospital Maintenance Heroes’–Will Owen and his date ignite a fire that sets off the sprinkler systems?”
The rest of the day is a blur of tools clanking, steam hissing, and my mind wanders to Callie. Even though we’ve talked less, I can’t help but think about her. Hell, maybe that’s why I asked Karissa out. To push Callie out of my mind.
On Thursday, I text her—just to check in, just to hear from her. But I’m careful. I keep it casual. She’s been giving me space, and maybe I should let that be enough.
Me:
Hey Callie, how’s your week going?
Her reply is quick, but there’s something… off.
Callie:
Busy but good. You?
Me:
Same. Work’s been nuts… But I wanted to tell you something.
I hesitate, staring at the screen. What am I doing? I don’t owe her anything–we’re just friends, right? But something about keeping this from her feels wrong.
Me:
We’re friends, yeah?
Callie:
I’d like to think so. Why?
Me:
Well, there’s a new nurse at work and I decided to ask her out for coffee tomorrow.
The bubbles pop in and out of view. What is she thinking? When her reply comes, it’s casual. Too breezy. After seeing the bubbles appear, disappear, and reappear so many times, I expected something more. Something stronger than the lukewarm response now staring back at me from the screen.
Callie:
Oh, that’s great! I hope it goes well. Need any dating advice?
I try to shake it off. She’s being cool about this. So why does it feel like I’m fucking this up? And why do I feel a bit disappointed and brushed off? It’s good that she’s not mad about it… right? Because we’re friends. Just friends. Like I wanted. Wanted.
Me:
Thanks! I might take you up on that. Any tips?
Callie:
Just be yourself. You’re pretty great, Owen.
Me:
Appreciate it. How about you? Any plans for the weekend?
Another pause. Then–
Callie:
Maybe. One of my exes came by the coffee shop. Asked me to hang out sometime. I’m considering it.
The words hit me harder than I expected. It shouldn’t matter—we’re just friends. But it does. Jealousy claws its way up my chest, irrational and angry.
Me:
In my experience, exes are exes for a reason.
Callie:
True. But people change, right? Maybe he’s different now. We were kids when we dated.
Me:
Just… be careful.
Callie:
Always.
My stomach twists, and suddenly I’m not sure if I want this coffee date with Karissa after all.
Friday comes with the promise of the weekend and feels a little less hectic. Will and I are tasked with fixing a pressure issue in the basement boiler room. The dimly lit, cavernous space always feels like a different world, filled with the constant noises of machinery and the occasional hiss of steam.
As we work, Will looks over at me, a mischievous glint in his eye. “So, big date tonight, huh?”
I shrug, trying to play it cool. “Just coffee. ”
“Yeah, sure. Coffee,” he says with a smirk. “Don’t be a fool, wrap your tool.”
“Jesus Christ. I can’t take you anywhere,” I say, shaking my head. “I don’t give my cinnamon away on the first date.”
Will looks at me, his head tilted slightly. “You don’t give what?”
“My cinnamon. My spice. You know.”
“What, are you a fucking Powerpuff Girl now, man? What the fuck are you talking about?” he asks, completely baffled.
“I don’t plan on trying to get in her pants. That’s all I’m saying,” I explain.
He shakes his head and we go back to working in comfortable silence for a while, the rhythmic clanking of our tools almost soothing. The boiler room is sweltering, and the sweat trickles down my back, but the physical labor feels good, grounding.
We finish up our work just as our shift ends. I head back home to say goodbye to Barrett for the week and get ready for my date with Karissa. Back home, Barrett greets me with a big hug. His brown hair is tousled from his nap, and his dark brown eyes light up with excitement. “Daddy!”
“Hey, buddy,” I say, lifting him up. “Did you have a good day with Nana?”
He nods enthusiastically. “We played with my cars and watched cartoons!”
Mom smiles from the kitchen, where she's finishing up dinner. “He’s been a little angel.”
I put Barrett down and walk over to her, giving her a quick hug. “Thanks for helping out, Mom.”
“Of course, dear,” she says, patting my arm. “You deserve a night out and there’s a new little shop that opened in Cedar Bluff I’ve been dying to check out. I’ll take Barrett to Sabrina’s and then go take a look. ”
Mom finishes dinner while I take a shower and we all eat together before she leaves with Barrett.
I arrive at the coffee shop a few minutes early, my nerves starting to build. I laugh when I see the name of the place: Cool Beans. The small, cozy shop is filled with the rich aroma of coffee and the soft murmur of conversations. I spot Karissa at a corner table, her auburn hair catching the light.
She smiles as I approach, her eyes bright, “Hey, Owen!” she says, waving me over to the table.
We order our drinks and settle into a comfortable conversation. Karissa is easy to talk to, and I find myself laughing more than I expected. She tells me about her travels as a nurse, and I share stories from the hospital maintenance adventures. As we get to know each other more, I find out that she has two little girls, both older than Barrett. She reveals that she’s been married before and her kids live with their dad full time because she travels for work.
As she talks about her experiences, I can’t help but compare her to Callie. Karissa seems nice enough – kind, funny, and attentive – but my mind keeps drifting back to Callie’s smile and I wonder what her laugh sounds like.
Karissa notices my distraction. “You okay, Owen?”
I snap back to the present. “Yeah, sorry. Just a lot on my mind.”
She nods, understanding. “I get it. It’s not easy juggling everything.”
I appreciate her empathy and try to focus more on our conversation. We talk about lighter things–favorite movies, places we’d like to travel, funny stories from our respective jobs. Despite my wandering thoughts, I genuinely enjoy her company.
After an hour, the coffee shop starts to quiet down. We finish our drinks, and Karissa looks at me with a gentle smile. “This was nice, Owen. We should do it again sometime.”
I smile back, feeling a bit conflicted. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
We walk out of the coffee shop together, the night air cool and refreshing. As we reach our vehicles, Karissa turns to me. “Thanks for tonight. I had a great time.”
“Me too,” I say sincerely. “Drive safe.”
“You too,” she replies before getting into her car.
As I drive home, my thoughts are a tangled mess. Karissa is great, but the evening has made me realize how much Callie is still on my mind. I pull into the parking lot for my apartment complex and sit in the truck for a moment, trying to sort through my feelings. When I finally head to bed, my mind is still spinning with thoughts of Callie and Karissa.
The next morning, the house is quiet without Barrett’s playful energy. It’s strange not having him here, and I already miss his laughter. I get up and make myself a cup of coffee, staring out the kitchen window as I try to process everything. Needing advice, I decide to text the guys. I open up the group chat with Will, Luke, and Vince.
Me:
Hey guys, need some advice.
The responses come almost instantly.
Will:
Oh boy, what did you do now?
Luke:
This should be good.
Vince:
Did you accidentally set the hospital on fire ?
I roll my eyes, chuckling despite myself. Leave it to Vince to throw out the most off-the-wall scenario.
I lean back against the counter, staring at my phone before typing out a response.
Me:
No, no fires. Went on a date with Karissa last night.
There’s a pause. I take another sip of my coffee and brace myself for their inevitable teasing.
Will:
And you survived without her stealing your cinnamon? Impressive.
I nearly spit out my coffee.
Vince:
His what?
Luke:
Was she wearing safety goggles?
Vince:
Did you tell her about your adventures in the air duct?
Me:
THAT WAS ONE TIME!
Okay, guys, seriously. I need help.
Will:
We know this. But I don’t think you’re going to find the kind of help you need in this group chat.
Me:
Haha, very funny. It went well, but I couldn’t stop thinking about this girl I met online a couple of weeks ago.
Will:
Ah, the plot thickens.
Luke:
The chick from Hawkridge?
Me:
Yeah, it’s complicated. I care about Callie, but the distance is too much. It wouldn’t be fair to her if I try to pursue a relationship with her because I wouldn’t be able to actually spend very much time with her.
The silence stretches out this time. I pace the kitchen, waiting for a reply. I stop by the window, looking out at the parking lot. It feels too still, too empty without Barrett here.
Will:
Dude, if she’s on your mind that much, it’s worth figuring out.
I sigh, scratching my beard. Maybe he’s right. But how do I figure this out without screwing things up more than I think I might have already?
Luke:
You’re also single, man. There’s nothing wrong with dating more than one person as long as you’re clear with both of them that you’re not interested in anything exclusive yet.
Vince:
Or you could start a reality show. ‘The Bachelor: Blue Collar’
Me:
What is it with you guys and reality shows? That’s the last fucking thing I need right now.
I shake my head, imagining myself standing there with a bunch of women, handing out pipe wrenches instead of roses.
Luke:
Maybe consider talking to Callie about it again. At least you’ll know where you stand.
Vince:
Plus, you can always call us for more terrible advice.
I chuckle again, but my thoughts are already spinning. Maybe I should talk to Callie. I lean against the counter, staring at my phone, debating. Not today. I’m not ready yet.
Deciding to put off reaching out to her a little while longer, I open the FlameFinder app, hoping that seeing her profile picture will help ease my mind a bit. I scroll through, searching for her. But nothing comes up.
Frowning, I search again. Still nothing.
Maybe she changed her username? I check my messages, but where her name used to be, it now says, “User Not Found.” My heart sinks. She deleted it? Or blocked me? My stomach tightens, a pit forming in my gut.
I quickly type out a message to the group.
Me:
Callie deleted her FlameFinder profile. Should I be worried?
Vince:
Are you sure she didn’t just block you?
Luke:
Hang on, what’s her username? I will see if I can find her profile.
Me:
ChaosCallie. If you find her and message her, I’ll end you.
I hold my breath, waiting for their responses. It was one thing to have Luke hooking up with Heather. Callie is off-limits.
Will:
Oh boy!
Me:
What?
Vince:
That’s a hell of a username.
Will:
Exactly.
I let out a frustrated sigh. They are not helping.
Luke:
User Not Found
I close my eyes, the reality settling in.
Will:
Maybe she found someone she likes?
Luke:
Or she’s just done with online dating. It happens.
Vince:
Find out next time on ‘The Bachelor: Blue Collar.’
I sigh, closing my messages and exiting out of the FlameFinder app. Callie is clearly moving on, and I need to figure out what I want before it’s too late.