The Rebound Game

Six

  It is on a Saturday afternoon while streaming Netflix movies that I remember I have been indoors for three days straight. I also come to another embarrassing realization that I have not done grocery shopping in weeks, living on coffee and take outs.

I have just taken a shower and still debating whether it is worth changing out of my sweats and taking a stroll. Perhaps I could check in with Shirley if she has plans. She is a miracle worker when it comes to having a good time.

 "Hey, I have not seen you in ages. You are not purposely avoiding me, right?" She asks, like I have too many friends to chose from that I have to ditch her.

 "Good afternoon to you too. I am doing fine, thanks for asking."

  "Whatever. What are you doing this weekend?" Her voice is a bit croaky, like she has been sleeping or has a cold.

 "Not much. You want to come over?"

  Before she can answer, I ask, "Are you at Eddie's?"
   
" We broke up. I just found out that he has a baby mama and we had this humongous disagreement," Shirley answers after what must be forty seconds and I know her well enough to predict she is on the verge of tears.

  "I am so sorry honey. Look, come over and I'll order pizza."

  "Okay, bye."

  It is two hours later and Shirley is sobbing on my shoulder. I am listening to her give me a rerun of the events leading to the break up and chip in when appropriate.

 "He was the love of my life and for once I let myself believe that I had found my soul mate. We are both Taurus, non practicing Catholics and we rarely fight." The look on Shirley's eyes stops me from commenting that she referred to all her exes as soul mates when she met them.

 I lend her another handkerchief and let her go on.
 
"We both liked cooking and even planned to sign up for classes next month. I just don't get it you know .I try so fucking hard yet I can't I get the love I deserve."

 "Maybe he thought you would dump him if he confessed about his kid. He would be right to have such misgivings seeing that you dumped him," I say trying to insert some sense into her head.

"Whose side are you on?"

  "Hey, I am trying to look at things from both points of view."
 
 "But why wouldn't he trust me? I can't have to find out from an ancient post in his Insta account and have to admit that I have been stalking him shamelessly. How is that fair?" She has stopped crying and is staring at me with a serious look on her face waiting for a real explanation.

 Well, just because I studied psychology does not mean I have all the answers concerning human behavior. I dislike how people tend to make that assumption about me.
     
" Shirley, we are almost twenty five and at this point in life we have been through worse to know that life is anything but fair. Basing on how your relationship barely had bumps, I know that Eddie loves you. "

 "I know I wouldn't do what I am about to advise her but still say it anyway.
      
"You might just have to ask yourself if you love him so much that you can overlook that tiny flaw to do with a baby mama."

  "No. You know what I really want?"
     
" Joseph Morgan? But he's off the market."

   "Stop making fun of me. I want for him not to have a kid and a baby mama that still keeps in touch. I want for him to be the man I have been waiting for all my life."

  "All your  life? You are only twenty four."
        
My phone beeps with a notification and I move to unplug it from the charger. I resume my position on the couch. I have a new message from Bradshaw but choose to handle the task at hand.

 "Look Shirley, you know we can't all be perfect, right? We mess up here and there but that does not define us. Eddie is no different. What matters is whether he is a responsible dad and supports his kid through an arrangement that does not give room for his ex to meddle in your relationship." I take a sip of my wine and continue. "I am not sure if he was supposed to be soul mate though, isn't that what you said about Luke, Adrian and that other guy who relocated to Italy?"
     
" Really helpful,  Edwards,” Shirley says. She clearly had not expected that level of honesty.
        
On most occasions, I echo what she is thinking, that the ex is a loser and she should find a rebound asap.
       
"Hey, at least he did not turn out to be gay. That would have been so depressing on so many levels and a massive blow your ego."

   "Maybe."
         
Monosyllables? Okay, I should try another strategy.