Buzzed Hearts

50: another what if

AS SOON AS HER feet hit the front steps of her driveway, Camila gets a call.

    "I'll be right in, mom." Camila swings her shopping bag against her leg as she picks it up. "Why can't you ever text?"

    "There's no connection over text," Laurent says. "Anyways, isn't Vanilla at the vet? Wanna come pick her up with me?"

    "Why?"

    "I need to pick up my brother's dog."

    "You have a dog?"

    "My brother does."

    "You have a brother?"

    "My mom does."

    "Oh right. Superstar kid in the classroom with ADD. Got you. Sometimes, I think you live alone. Anyway, I think my mom can drop us off."

    "Great. I'm heading into your street."

    "Laurent, you're getting...really..."

    "I was in the neighborhood. It's really not about you."

    "Clearly, it is."

    "Whatever you say, Mila Bean."

    They hang up, and moments later, Laurent is jogging down and greeting her mom. They hug like they're best friends and Mrs. Bean even gives him a kiss on the cheek. Audrey Bean is the poster of hospitality and warmth. Only not in the moment, as she yells to her husband to take the diapers and groceries into the house.

    The vet's only a few minutes drive and Laurent waves goodbye to Audrey.

    "We can walk home, Mrs. Bean."

    "Bye, Laurent! Come anytime."

    "My mom likes you," Camila notes.

    "All parents love me."

    "Do yours?"

    "Ouch." Laurent opens the door for her and the smell of dog shampoo hits her face. He sits down while Camila goes to checkin with the receptionist.

    "So who's your brother? Like, his name, hobbies, stuff? I want to meet the little King."

    "Louis King. Such a bad name. He's not old enough to realize it yet but he will. And then he'll probably go with another name for a while but then he'll mature and learn to laugh at himself."

    "That's the natural progression. I used to hate my last name."

    "Like Mr. Bean?"

    "Yes."

    "As for hobbies, I don't want to speak for him but you can definitely meet him one day."

    "Do you like dogs?"

    "Who doesn't?"

    "Jeremy."

    "I knew it. Sheep has always been devoid of any love."

    "Have you..." she begins.

    Laurent's bright eyes lift up at her question and his lips move into a slow smile when Camila suddenly loses her train of thought. The image of his striking face burns in her mind, particularly the way his ocean and hurricane eyes look in the clinic lights.

    "...ever...let someone go?"

    He licks his lips and ruffles his mop of blonde hair. "Yeah."

    "Was it hard?"

    "Why wouldn't it be? You're letting them go."

    Before they can deepen the conversation, it's time to retrieve their respectful pets. This interruption seems to draw a divide between them, and Laurent has that almost-there face the entire ride back, as if his tongue was trying to reign in tumbling words.

    "See you at prom," he says his goodbyes.

    "See you." Camila smiles and again, her mind goes to what if. What would he have said?