New York’s a big place. We won’t see each other. Unless I go to the club, but then she’d think I was stalking her. This sucks.
Somehow, he ended up at a park. He sat on a bench and pulled out his poetry notebook.
Last night, I dreamed of you.
We held hands and walked along the beach.
I woke up reaching for you.
I long to touch you and hold you close.
But you’re not around.
So I sit here and write yet another sad poem.
I close my eyes and see you smiling.
I miss hearing your laugh,
I can hardly remember it anymore.
The only thing I remember now,
Is the pain in your voice,
As you said goodbye.
He titled it “To Jodi” and put away his notebook.
“A.J., is that you?”
He turned around and came face to face with Jodi.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were in New York?”
“I don’t know. We just got in about two hours ago.”
“You should’ve told me.”
“I know. So, how’s everything?”
“Great. David and I just bought an apartment in St. Cloud.”
“That’s great. How’s everything else?”
“My life is just great. I’ve got a few jobs here and there and I’m making enough money to get by, so I guess I’m happy. What about you?”
“Great. We’ve got the next two weeks off after this interview that I’ve got in a few hours.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah. I could use some down time. Touring really takes a lot out of you.”
He hid his eyes behind his glasses, thankful for his trademark. He hadn’t slept well since Jodi left his mother’s apartment that night.
They sat there for another hour or so. A.J. asked her if she wanted to go with him to the interview and she said yes since she didn’t have anything else to do that day.
During the interview, the DJ asked the guys if they had girlfriend Howie and Brian looked over at each other, then over at Rae and Alyson, and finally at A.J., silently asking him to answer the question.
“I don’t have a girlfriend,” was all he said.
Brian and Howie shot daggers at him and answered the question, giving their girlfriends apologetic glances.
“I date as much as I can, but we’re on the road a lot of it’s hard to find someone who will put up with my hectic schedule,” Brian said, feeling horrible as he said it.
Howie said pretty much the same thing.
The DJ asked all the usual questions, including the ever-present “boxers or briefs” question.
A.J. rolled his eyes and gave his usual answer.
After the interview, Jodi asked A.J. to join her and David at the club. He decided to go with them, even though he didn’t want to meet David. Jodi had told him that she wasn’t ready to date anyone, yet she was going out with this David guy. It didn’t make sense to him.
What’s so wrong with me that she doesn’t like me?
He went to the bathroom and as he was washing his hands, he thought of a way to make Jodi like him more.