Fall (VIP, #3)

by Kristen Callihan

“Hey, I gave you my cookies. Where’s my thanks?” John runs the back of his finger along his bottom lip. “I know you’re being literal here, but I’m just hearing innuendo.”

I know the signs. They’re pretty damn clear. The weight in my chest, the way it becomes harder to get up in the morning, because the bed is comfortable and dreams are better than reality. Everything becomes heavy. Even my mind. That’s the worst thing about it, not being able to escape your mind.

“We live in a world where people greet each other with ‘How are you?’ But few of us actually want an answer. It’s kind of hilarious if you think about it. We don’t really want to know how someone else is doing, but we want to look as though we do.”

“Fred?” The confusion in his voice makes me laugh. “Out of all the gang, you’d definitely be the one to wear an ascot, so yeah, Fred.” Scottie scoffs. “I’m tempted to say you’d be Shaggy but you’re more the Daphne of the group.” “Fred had the hots for Daphne,” I point out. “This conversation has taken a strange turn and is making my head hurt.”