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" Is the weather nice?”
“Yeah, we’re in Austin. Got here about an hour ago. It’s probably 80 degrees.”
“Wish I could say the same for here.” I sigh. “Get this: it snowed last night. Like real, motherfucking snowflakes.” I’m trying to act pissed, but I can’t bring myself to it because I’m so happy to be talking to Gus right now. I know I don’t have long, so I need to make the most of it.
He laughs. “No way?”
“Yeah, it’s October. Isn’t snow against the rules or something until at least December?”
“You’re asking the wrong dude that question. Is it cold?”
“Yeah, I had to buy a winter coat today. Though for the locals this is probably still T-shirt weather. I swear Minnesotans have some sort of mutant gene that makes them immune to hot and cold. It’s freaky.”
He laughs again but then turns serious. “What about boots? Did you buy some boots? You’ll need boots.” It’s funny when he acts parental.
I over-exaggerate a full body shiver. “Stop. Buying the coat was bad enough. I don’t want to give in to the snow boots yet. I need time to work up to that. Maybe next month, or the one after that.” The truth is, I’ll need to buy the boots new, because used shoes skeeve me out, and I need to save up for them. That will take a while.
“You’re right, you’d better pace yourself.” He’s teasing me.
I tease him right back. “Need I remind you that you’re touring the United States this winter? That includes the northern frigid states. You’re going to need to buy a winter coat too, you know.”
He exhales through gritted teeth. “I know. I’m still in cold-weather denial.”
“It’s a nice place to visit, denial, but you can’t live there forever, dude.” Maybe I should take my own advice.
“Bright Side, are you quoting Confucius or JFK? That sounds so familiar.” I know without seeing him that he’s wearing this dumb, mocking expression that makes me laughevery time.
“Dude, I think it was Yoda, in The Empire Strikes Back. It was part of Luke’s Jedi training or something. "
― Kim Holden , Bright Side (Bright Side, #1)
134
" Und zu guter Letzt euch, den allmächtigen Lesern: Ihr lehrt mich Demut. Jeden. Einzelnen. Tag. Die Tatsache, dass ihr eure kostbare Zeit damit verbracht habt, mein Buch zu lesen, bedeutet mir mehr, als ihr je ahnen werdet. Es haut mich einfach um, wenn ihr die Wahrheit wissen wollt. Ein Buch zu schreiben und es mit jemanden zu teilen ist wie splitterfasernackt vor großem Publikum einen Vortrag zu halten. Man entblößt alles vor der ganzen Welt. Die Menschen beurteilen dich, gut oder schlecht. Danke für eure ungebrochene Unterstützung! Dadurch fühle ich mich weniger nackt.
Ich verlasse euch nun mit einem letzten Gedanken, weil das Leben manchmal hart ist. Für uns alle.
Ihr seit mutig ...
Und jetzt los ... do epic!
Das ist ein Befehl.
Tut es.
Bitte. "
― Kim Holden , Bright Side (Bright Side, #1)
137
" I point to the kitchen. “You remember my friend, Shelly?”
He looks back over his shoulder. “What’s up, Shelly? Good to see you again.”
Her face is bright red. I’ve never seen her embarrassed like this. She raises her hand and sheepishly waves. “Hey Gus. Good to see you again, too.”
He’s fully turned in his seat to face her now. “I must say that I’ve never seen anyone toss a sidewalk pizza with such commitment and precision as you did the last time I saw you. I never got to commend you.”
Her face is buried in her hands. “Of course you would remember that.” She’s still embarrassed about throwing up in front of everyone.
Gus isn’t mean-spirited. He’s actually being complimentary. He grins. “No, I’m serious. You go for distance. It was impressive. Ride the lightning, my friend.” He reaches over and slaps Duncan on the back. “You’re a lucky dude.”
Shelly mumbles, “Oh my God, I want to die.”
I join her in the kitchen and put my arm around her waist. “He wouldn’t tease you if he didn’t like you. And as gross as it may sound, he was impressed. He’s a boy "
― Kim Holden , Bright Side (Bright Side, #1)
