The Idea of Romance and Other Lies: Stories

By Caleb Bedford

A short story collection containing stories such as: "The Meet-Cute" "Even Better" and "O Freezing Night" and many more!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Caleb Bedford
• Release date: May 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005336103

Caleb Bedford

Caleb is a twenty-eight-year-old, full-time college student living in the Jackson-Metro area of Mississippi. When he is not writing, he enjoys playing music, reading, and annoying his dog, Belle (though to be fair it goes both ways).

Book preview

The Idea of Romance

and other lies

The Idea of Romance

and other lies

——

CALEB BEDFORD

STORIES

This is a work of FICTION. Names, character, places, and

incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are

used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2022 by Caleb Bedford

All Rights Reserved.

First Edition, May 2022

CONTENTS

THE IDEA OF ROMANCE

Side by Side

The Meet-Cute

O Freezing Night

Even Better

When George Met Abbi

As Promised

OTHER LIES

A Notable Napkin

Fire and Brimstone

Keys to the City

Keys to the City: Part II

Day One

this book is dedicated to

all the romantics

and other liars

The Idea of Romance

Side by Side

Remember that time we sat and listened to music in the rain? I asked.

   No, she replied.

   "Really? What was the song…it had just come out."

   No idea.

She was staring at her phone.

   It was one of the best nights of my life, I admitted, more to myself than to her.

   Sitting in the rain? she asked, still not looking up.

   With you, I clarified.

She said nothing.

I think we both knew it was over by then. We were seated side by side, but in completely different worlds.

The Meet-Cute

This is the story of a boy and a girl.

It is not a long story and there are many such stories—many better than this one, surely—but this is the one you are currently reading, so that must count for something. After all, possession is nine tenths of the law, as the saying goes, and I have in my possession, at the moment, your attention—hopefully undivided. If not, I’ll take what I can get.

It is the story of a beginning and goes no further than that. Some might find that frustrating, but often beginnings are the most interesting parts of relationships. After all, one of the best parts of every romantic comedy is the meet-cute, is it not?

Andrew and Emily met under circumstances most would consider perfectly normal, in the cafeteria of the university they were attending. They were both sophomores, a fact that’s hardly important, but one that I mention anyway to help set up the bigger picture. Andrew was a literature major with a passion for history. Emily was a psychology major with a passion for literature. The day the two met, Andrew had his nose buried in a book. Emily had just finished reading that book the night before. Had it been the other way around, the two likely never would have spoken, because Andrew never would have started a conversation with a girl as beautiful as Emily without excessive provocation from a friend, and none of his friends were around to do anything of the sort. Emily, however, was much more outgoing, and not at all intimidated by anyone, particularly someone so very average-looking as Andrew.

Excuse me, she said.

Andrew turned around, more out of curiosity than any sense that he was being spoken to, which rarely happened.

Sorry to interrupt, Emily said, but I just finished that book last night.

Really?

Are you enjoying it?

I just started it, but so far it’s not too bad, Andrew replied.

It’s so good. The ending is… Emily struggled to find the right word. …well you’ll find out when you get there.

Andrew noticed she was blushing and then realized he was beginning to do the same. He wasn’t used to getting attention from strangers, even if the attention was more on the book he was reading than on him. To be receiving any sort of interest from someone as beautiful as Emily (though he did not yet know her name) was a new experience for him entnirely.

Suddenly,