“You want me to tell her that? Or do you want to offer up that little tidbit to her when they’re complaining in the car later?”
I chuckled. “Answer the damn question, Mike.”
He smiled. “I mean, we’re good. Planning things together. Trying to get everything figured out. Packing up our things and trying to keep our families at bay.”
“Still writing up flow charts of how you two will spend your free time once you’re both Ivy League bigshots?”
He rolled his eyes. “I hate you for bringing that back up.”
My jaw dropped open. “Holy shit, is she still doing that?”
“Yep. Especially now that I changed my schedule around a bit. It’s driving me fucking crazy, dude.”
I laughed. “Well, just show her she doesn’t need to meticulously plan all this stuff out.”
“Is that even possible with someone like Allison?”
“Look, nothing is impossible with a girl you like.”
“Love.”
I paused. “Come again?”
He snickered. “I love her, Clint.”
I blinked. “Holy shit, have you told her that?”
He shook his head. “Not yet. But I want to. You think it’s too soon?”
I clamored up beside him. “Hell, no, man! Congratulations! When did this happen?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I just looked at her the other day while she was talking about her schedule and when we might encounter one another on our walks to classes, and it just hit me. I love her. I said it in my head and it made me smile. I love Allison, man.”
I clapped his shoulder. “Sounds like you should do something special with her this weekend while Rae and I are in orientation.”
“Wait, this is your orientation, too? Did you decide to go to college?”
I snickered. “Hell, no. You know me. But I did tell Rae I’d walk with her around campus and attend a couple of the formal gatherings of incoming freshman with her. She’s really nervous.”
“Is she finally talking to you about things?”
“She’s getting better. It’s not perfect, but nothing is ever perfect.”
“Tell that to Allison.”
I chuckled. “But, back to my original--well--thing. Plan something nice for her while we’re out. Let her know with your words that you want the same things she does when you start school. Let her know you want to keep her as a priority going forward. Even with school changing. All she needs is a bit of reassurance. Because if she’s still on this trip or something, you probably aren’t communicating the way she needs you to.”
He sighed. “Fuck, girls are complicated.”
I shrugged. “Not really. They want reassurance, romance, and good snacks. Oh, and they want to know they don’t have to be strong all the time.”
“Uh huh.”
“No, I’m serious. Half of the shit between me and Rae cleared up when I looked her in her face and told her I was here for her. That she didn’t have to be strong for me anymore. I mean, we started our relationship with her being strong for me. I had to let her know it was okay--and time--to switch gears.”
I watched him ponder my words as we turned down the main road through town toward Ally’s house.
“When the fuck did you get so wise?”