The Do-Over

by Sharon M. Peterson

“When life gives you lemons, give them back and ask for grapes. You can make wine with grapes.”

“A good friend’ll help ya bury the body. A great friend knows how much rat poison you’ll need.”

I swallowed a sigh. Drinking unsweet iced tea, which was basically tinted water, practically demanded I turn in my Texas resident card, move to someplace like California, and start consuming coconut water without irony. I took a sip. “Thanks.”

“A gentleman never kisses and tells, his lady’s smile does all the talking.”

“Never ask a woman how old she is, how much she weighs, or if she’s pregnant.”

“Now, you’re skinny and a bitch. Eat some cake, honey. We’d all appreciate it.”

And then, right there in the middle of Main Street Bowling Alley under the prying eyes of my family, friends, and most of Hope House, Nate Russo kissed me.

“All a woman needs is a man who treats her like an angel and kisses like the Devil.”

“If you’re looking for a hero, you’ve already lost your way.”

If you don’t like yourself, if you can’t see the good parts, no one else will either.”

Being friends with Nate was an experience. He joked with me more, seemed less tense, smiled more.

Unlike the last time, this kiss wasn’t for an audience. It was just for us and that left no wiggle room for confusion.

“Wishin’ and hopin’ is not the same as doin’.”

“The real measure of a man is not when he does something right, it’s how he reacts when he screws something up.”

“Stick that bottom lip out any further and I’ll sit on it.”

Mimi jerked to a stop. “Listen to me, Perci-girl. You remember that life is full of moments, right? Small moments, big moments. Some moments we don’t realize are moments until long after they happen.”