Chapter 30 Lewis #2
“Since I don’t really have a choice…” Carrie rolls her eyes. “Let’s start with the basics, Lewis. Did you tell her you’re sorry?”
I pause. I think I did…?
“Kinda.”
“Okay, so you didn’t,” Carrie says calmly. “Great. Have you considered doing that, you total jerk?”
I turn to Don. “And this is who taught you to be a better boyfriend? Because she’s a monster.”
“Hard agree.” He nods.
Carrie starts to hum to herself. “Okay. I guess you’ll just have to clean up your own mess, then.”
“It’s bad news when she starts singing, Lewis,” warns Don.
I shoot her a sweet smile. “I’m listening.”
“Did you at least tell her that you finally realized you actually like her?”
“Kinda.”
She punches my arm. “Say kinda one more time, and we’re done here!”
“I referred to myself as her boyfriend!” I counter.
“Oh no. No, no, no.” She covers her eyes with a hand. “Just how dumb can you get?”
“This is why I need help,” I say sadly.
“You Campus Drivers really struggle with this, don’t you?”
“In my defense, I was so worried about her, and she didn’t let me finish explaining! She was super cold. And then she called the nurse and got me kicked out.”
“That’s amazing.” Carrie laughs.
“I did my best.”
“That’s what’s so pathetic about it all—what did your best sound like, exactly?”
“I said I’d been worried about her. I told her I’d missed a game to be at the hospital for her,” I add.
“For real?” Her eyes widen. “That is such a shitty way of explaining things! No kidding, she got you kicked out!”
I frown. “What? I did miss a game! What I’m trying to say, is that she matters more than basketball!”
Adam nods eagerly. “That’s so deep, man.”
Carrie is tearing out her hair. “It isn’t, though! That’s the point!”
“Hey, Lewis and basketball go way back,” Don says.
“Don’t encourage him! This might just be the lamest ‘I love you’ speech I’ve ever heard…” She drops her voice to a low, manly drawl. “What, like ‘Amy, I need to be real with you—I love you more than basketball. Will you forgive me?’ ”
“I don’t sound like that!” I protest.
“You’re making me look amazing,” Don whispers in my ear.
“Okay, guys.” I slap my hands on my knees. “Thanks for your help.”
“Oh, come on, Conley! You spent ages trolling us about having girlfriends—it feels good to see the tables turned.”
My friends lean in for a round of high fives, and I roll my eyes. I’ll get my revenge—just as soon as I get Amy back. And I know she’ll be full of payback ideas.
“Let’s not forget you straight-up lied to my face when you slept with your mentee, too,” Don reminds me.
“I’m sorry, dude. It just kinda happened. But if it makes it any better, you should know that every time we did it, she was about to get her ass fired.”
“It’s fine.” He smiles. “This has definitely been worth it.”
Carrie is staring at the wall, lost in thought.
“Okay, I think I’ve got something for you.
It’s a little clichéd, but it works every time—so, listen up.
” She clears her throat. “First, you need to wait until she gets back home. Make sure she’s on her turf.
Second, you drop by unannounced. And then, you get down on your knees… ”
“Not this again.” Don groans. “Trust me, buddy—I’ve been there, done that. And I’m telling you… The knee thing is a killer.”
“I’m not done!” She glares at him. “Third, you tell her that the moment you thought you’d lost her in that car crash…
That’s when you suddenly realized.” Carrie’s eyes mist over.
“You say it was like an actual light bulb moment, and since then, you’ve been deeply, madly in love.
You tell her you can’t live without her, you feel this desperate, gaping void open up inside you whenever she’s gone, you—”
“Whoa!” I hold up my hands.
I’m exhausted just listening to her.
All eyes are on Carrie as silence falls over the room.
Her cheeks flush. “Sorry, I maybe got a little carried away there… I forgot you’re just a beginner.”
I shoot Don a look—Amy’s like a walk in the park compared to this girl. I feel for the guy.
“I’ve got an idea,” Adam starts.
Praise the Lord!
“You’re my last hope, buddy. Better make it good.”
He thinks for a moment. “You need to show her that from this point on, you’ll always be there for her. No matter what. You need her to understand that whatever you’ve got going on with college and basketball, you care about her.”
“Exactly.” I nod. “That’s exactly it.”
“What does she need, right now?”
“A working right leg—think I should check the dark web?”
“Try again,” Carrie snaps.
Suddenly, it dawns on me.
“Drivers. She needs drivers. Her Pontiac is screwed; she needs help getting around campus and going to PT.”
“So, there’s your hook. We’ll take it in turns giving her VIP service,” Lane says. “We can make it work, I’m sure of it.”
“You think she’ll be okay with getting in a car with me?”
“Let the others do the heavy lifting—save the best for last.” Lois winks. “You said her car’s out of action… Can you repair it? That’d be a pretty big way of making a statement.”
I’m making statements, now?
“It’s in really bad shape, but I can talk to RJ about it. We’ll think of something.”
“Yes!” Don’s eyes are gleaming. “See, when we all get together, we come up with the best ideas.”
“ ‘We all’?” His girlfriend snorts.
I jump to my feet, reaching for my jacket and keys.
“I’m going to the shop; I’ll keep you posted. Oh, and by the way…” I turn to smile at them. “Thanks for being there, guys. Even if you are all insane.”
Just as I reach the door, Lane calls me back.
“Remember the time you joked that what with Lois Lane and the Wolinskis, you needed a girl with a fun name that matched yours?”
I frown. Honestly, I don’t remember saying that.
“This fall. Out on the court,” he adds. “I said you should get yourself a Hamilton. But it turns out you’ve got all the driver you need in Amy.” He taps his nose. “I’ve got a sixth sense for these things, I’m telling you.”
I laugh. “Yeah—guess I found my own little Hamilton.”
I found her. Now all I need to do is hang on to her. I swore I’d catch up with her. And I plan on staying true to my word. Now that I get just how much she means to me, I’m never letting her get away again. She might be stubborn. But I can be ten times fiercer.