Tucker

I kind of like this Cheryl chick. She seems so honest and casual. I can tell how much she adores Molly by the way she fawns over her, and anyone who loves my woman is ok in my book.

“So what’s your deal, Tucker?” she asks as soon as Molly gets up from the table. “You can’t honestly expect me to believe that you have no idea who you are or where you came from. So what’s the endgame here?”

“I swear, Cheryl, I’m not lying to you and I would never lie to her. Why does there have to be an endgame?”

“You’re essentially claiming that you’re walking around with a head injury but everything else is perfectly ok? How does that even work? If I hit you on the head right now will your memory come back like some old cheesy 50s sitcom?”

“Don’t hit me,” I say, putting my hands in the air. “I doubt it will work, and I saw what you did to the waiter over there.”

“Why don’t you let her help you find your home? She does research for a living. You know as well as I do it’s taking every bit of her self-control not to start digging around. The fact that she’s willing to wait around for you to work out whatever life crisis you’re having says a lot about how she feels about you.”

“You seem like the kind of girl that believes in fate, Cheryl. That the universe is always hard at work giving you opportunities, and sometimes you just have to get out of your own way and let stuff happen.”

“Are you trying to imply that because I own a yoga studio you think I’m into new age woo woo stuff?” she asks, squinting her eyes at me, leaning across the table.

I just shrug, not really sure what the next card I have left to play with this girl. She is roasting me pretty hard and it’s just making me like her even more.

“Because I totally am,” she says, laughing. I let out a sigh of relief. “Either way, though, you at the very least need to go see a doctor or something. And if you’re planning on getting serious with my girl, you better be willing to give her what she deserves. And that’s one hundred percent going to be facing your past head-on.”

“I know,” I tell her. Everything she’s saying is the truth. She’s looking out for Molly like a good friend should. How can I go on expecting Molly to just deal with the fact that I appeared out of nowhere seemingly? I can’t even get a driver’s license. I can’t get a real job, because I don’t have a social security number. The list of shit that I’m missing out on by being so stubborn is starting to pile up, and I need to get my head out of the clouds and do what I need to do to be the best man I can possibly be for her.

“She told me about the drawings,” Cheryl says. “Your book. Sounds like you are a talented guy.”

I smile. Other than landing the girl of my dreams, it’s probably my proudest accomplishment of my most recent life.

“Do you think you could help me with something?” she asks. “I’m trying to take the drop ceiling out of my studio so I can put in hooks for aerial yoga classes, and I don’t know what all that might entail, or how I need to space things out.”

“I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about, but I can come take a look.”

“I’m sure I have lots of stuff around there you can do if you’re looking to make some money. I will gladly pay you to help me.”

“That would be nice,” I say. “But can we keep this between you and me? I think I’d like to surprise Molly with a gift or something nice. She’s been basically supporting me for the last month and I really want to show her how much I appreciate her.”

“Aw,” she coos. “I don’t know if you’re a nice guy or if that’s just your head injury talking, but either way, aw. Your secret is safe with me. But you better think about what we were just talking about. Because if she doesn’t start digging into your past, you better bet I’m going to.”

I nod in agreement. “Deal.”

Molly comes bouncing back to the table before Cheryl and I can even start making arrangements, a huge smile on her face. Her hands are shaking and she nearly leaps onto my lap.

“What happened to you?” Cheryl asks. “Did you run into the guy who sells the pot gummy bears and whippets outside?”

“No, but I’ll buy some for everyone if we run into him when we leave. I just got some amazing news from my agent.” Her face is bright red and she looks like she’s about to explode with excitement. “I won an SPJ award!”

“I’ll drink to that!” Cheryl laughs. “What is it though?”

“It’s the Society of Professional Journalists. In Washington State. For my piece about the veteran’s biker gang. We get to go to a fancy banquet and Josh is letting us have his cabin for the weekend so we have a place to stay.”

“You know I can’t just up and take the weekend off from the studio,” Cheryl says, winking.

“But you can watch my bus and take care of Dolly while me and my boyfriend go on a romantic vacation, can’t you?” She’s squeezing my hand so hard under the table that I feel like she might break it. “Pretty please?”

“I think I can arrange that. I do love that little shit of a mutt.”

“I even managed to get Josh to hook us up with a rental car. That way we don’t have to worry about trying to smuggle you in my suitcase,” she says, smiling at me. “I mean, if you want to go that is.”

“I would be so honored,” I tell her. Sure, I’m nervous as hell about traveling. I haven’t been anywhere since my accident, especially not in a car. I don’t have a suit, and even though her friends say I don’t actually look like a dirty vagrant, I’m not sure a classy awards banquet is a place where I can just blend in. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Yes!!!” she squeals. “Oh my God, oh my God, I’m so excited. What the hell am I going to wear?”

“When is it?” I ask her.

“At the end of the month.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll come up with something by then. You could show up in a bath towel and you’d still be the prettiest girl in the room,” I say before pulling her in for a passionate kiss. I do feel proud of her, and it really moves me to want to be the best man I can possibly be for her.

“It’s ok,” Cheryl says. “You guys can screw right here if you want to. You’re both attractive enough. I won’t complain.”

“You’re sick, woman,” Molly laughs. “Am I gonna have to check my place for hidden cameras when we come back from our trip?”

“You might want to invest in a motion sensor monitor outside your bus for the time being. I can’t believe how thin your curtains are.”

As we’re getting ready to leave, Cheryl casually slips me her business card. “9 a.m. tomorrow,” she whispers over Molly’s shoulder as they hug goodbye.

It’s going to be a challenge trying to sneak around, both with Molly and my crew, but I’m going to do whatever it takes to make it work. For the woman who deserves a good man. For us. For the first steps towards our future together.