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My accountability partner, Brooks, and I have a saying: It’s for the plot. Car breaks down on the side of the road? It’s for the plot. Dealing with a total asshole in the middle of Whole Foods? Potential material for the plot. Babysitting Tyler’s goofy-ass clients who throw temper tantrums in the middle of nightclubs? You guessed it—it’s for the plot. Any life event—whether it’s happening to me or around me—is up for grabs. The juicier, the better.
Holy shit. Is this the woman of my dreams? For tonight she is.
“My dad once told me not to live my life for others. To do what makes me happy. He said life is more fulfilling that way.”
If the last twenty-four hours has taught me anything, it’s that life doesn’t always need to be planned to be beautiful.
When it comes down to it, bad things happen to good people all the time. Searching for a reason won’t change the facts. It’s what we do next that matters most.
“It’s a coming-of-age novel about a girl. A woman,” I correct, “who was raised by a mother who’s addicted to painkillers and how she struggles to find her way in life.” Cam is silent, studying the ancient steps beneath us. When I don’t offer more of an explanation, he speaks up. “And does she?” “Does she what?” “Does the woman find her way in life?” “I don’t know.” I bite my bottom lip. “I haven’t gotten that far.”
She changes into a bathing suit and cover-up, then snags my Kindle off the nightstand. “Don’t you dare judge my smutty books or the stickers on my case,” I call over my shoulder. My newest sticker, from a niche romance bookstore in Brooklyn reads Begging for a Pegging. “Oh, we both know you wear them like badges of honor.”
I’m greedy, sure, but I’ll take what I can get. Even if it breaks me in the end.
It’s a well-known fact that women can’t focus when in the proximity of men wearing gray sweatpants. If Scientific American hasn’t published an article on it already, they’re sure to release it any day now.
You can do whatever the fuck you set your mind to. That’s been obvious to me since the moment I met you. I don’t want to be your knight in shining armor. You don’t need one. And I’m nothing like the dipshit you wasted all that time with. I will not hold you back. I will support you in whatever capacity you need.
“Life’s a lot like riding a bike. As long as you keep pedaling, you’ll keep moving forward!”
“That’s not my name, baby, but I love that you think so highly of me.”
“Worrying about things going wrong won’t make things go right.”
“Anything beyond the headlights is dark. We can’t see whether there’s a bridge ahead, and we can’t tell if the road will be closed. We don’t know yet. But despite the uncertainty, we keep driving.” “That’s right,” she agrees. “We don’t know what’s at the end of the road, but we look out our window and embrace the journey. One step at a time, boo.”
I used to think the fear of failure was only reserved for one’s career. But Cam is showing me that there’s more to life than just what I do. Who I do life with is just as vital.
