Chapter Sixty

“Oh, Josephine!” Nan said to me when I got off the plane.

“Hi, Nan.” I said smiling.

“How was the flight?”

“It was okay. Where is Pap?” I asked.

“Oh he is at the house waiting for us.” She said.

“Hey.” I said calling Sidney as soon as I got to my room at the house.

“Hey, how was the flight?”

“I only had a small panic attack before we took off. It was okay. I mean I survived. How is everything with you?” I asked.

“Good, just packing. We leave in two days for the Bahamas.”

“Yeah, how could I forget?”

“So what are you doing tonight?” He asked.

“I guess just catching up. I haven’t seen Nan and Pap for like months.” I said.

“Oh that will be nice.”

“What are you going to do?”I asked.

“I think I might go out with Eric or something.”

“Oh, have fun.” I said.

“So tell me about this boy.” Nan said as soon as I came down stairs.

“You met him before, Nan.”

“I don’t think I ever did.”

“He plays hockey for the Penguins.”

“Well, yes dear, we know he is Sidney Crosby.” Pap said.

“Yeah.. that’s my boyfriend.” I said laughing.

“But tell us about him.. tell us why you love him so much.” Nan said.

“Its everything about him that makes me love him. The way he calls me every time I leave to make sure I got home okay. The way he worries about me when we a part. The way that whenever I have a bad day, he can always make it better. He understands me. He is my best friend. He knows everything about me, and loves me anyway.”

“So he is back home now?” Pap asked.

“Yeah, he lives in Nova Scotia. He left a few days ago. He will be back in Pittsburgh in September.” I explained.

“He is an exceptional hockey player.” Pap said.

“Oh, Henry! That doesn’t matter, as long as Josephine is happy.” Nan said.

“He is a good hockey player, Pap. But that just makes it harder.”

“What do you mean?” Nan said.

“Nevermind.”

“You know who is here for the summer?” Nan asked me.

“Who?” I said.

“Ben.”

“Ben?”

“Yeah, you use to be friends with him.”

“Benji?” I said confused.

“He goes by Ben know. He is starting Med school at Columbia in the fall.”

“Seems like he grew up.” I said.

“You two should play tennis together, sometime. It may be nice for you to have someone your own age around.” Nan said.

The past few days have been a drag. I haven’t done anything, which means I just kind of think of Sidney. He is leaving for the Bahamas today. It is just getting harder every day to not think about him.

“Joey, you have a package.” Nan called to me while I was laying by the pool.

“Who is it from?”

“That boy you are so in love with.”

“What? He sent flowers yesterday.” I said.

“Well apparently, he misses you as much as you miss him.” Nan said and I opened the package. It was a vintage Third Eye Blind poster.

“Wow.” Is all I said.

“What is it?” Nan said confused.

“Its my favorite band. They don’t make music anymore, so all their stuff is hard to come by.” I said.

“That was nice of him.”

“Yeah, it was. But not necessary, especially when I am trying to not miss him.” I said and grabbed my phone and went to my room.

“Sidney.” I said as soon as he picked up the phone.

“Did you get it?”

“Yeah.”

“You didn’t like it?” He asked.

“No, I liked it. Its just.”

“what?”

“I don’t get how I am suppose to not be sad when you keep reminding me that we are so far away from eachother.”

“You don’t want to talk?”

“No, I want to talk to you. I want to text you, but I don’t need to every single second.”

“Fine.”

“Don’t say it like that, Sidney. Its just hard trying to not think about you then getting flowers and posters. I love you and I miss you, but I just don’t want to be sad anymore.”

“You don’t have to be sad.”

“Yeah, okay.” I said.

“I’m sorry.”

“Its fine. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Have a good flight.” I said.