22. Leo

22

LEO

That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

Like shit-they-do-in-the-movies tough.

It was on the same level as hacking into Las Vegas’s traffic system in five seconds, pulling someone up from quicksand using only one arm, or jumping through a glass window. I bet if I tried that last one, I’d just bounce back with a loud thump.

But I can’t bounce back, and I don’t have a clue how to move forward.

In the morning, I rise before dawn, hoping to run off this pandemonium of thoughts and banging cymbals in my head.

I circle the reservoir, trying to drain my brain of last night, of Lulu, of all the things I want to say to her.

As I near the end of my run, a familiar set of footsteps roars by.

Squeals.

Stops.

“Yo!” It’s Noah. “Hey, slowpoke.”

“Hey, cheetah.”

“I’m breaking through all my land speed records. Also, I owe you a big, huge, massive thank you. I knew you were the man.”

“What are you thanking me for?”

“Your brilliant, genius, insanely awesome advice to ask out Ginny.”

I arch a brow. “She said yes?”

“She let me buy her pretzels. And they were the best pretzels under the sun. It’s a start, right? Gotta start somewhere.”

That is true.

That is very true.

In fact, maybe that’s my new rule to live by.

Start somewhere.

“Whatever it takes to get the girl, right?” he adds with a wave as he takes off to the other side of the world, flying on those Mercury legs.

Taking action.

Making a start.

And the commotion in my head clears instantly.

I don’t need to take a back seat this time.

After a little googling upon my return home, I know what I want to say to the woman I was in love with for the better part of a decade.

You have to start somewhere.