A Life More Complete(39)
“It’s a deli, Tyler. Everything’s good.” It comes out a bit more annoyed than I expected. I order my usual, grilled cheese, tomato basil soup and water. Before I can pay, Tyler nudges his way in front of me, orders and then pays. I thank him as we wait at the counter for our food. He begins to fidget with his hands jammed firmly in his pockets. This is the first sign he has given that he might be slightly uneasy, maybe even unnerved by my company. For some reason it causes me to smirk. Our order is up rather quickly and Tyler grabs the tray making his way to a table in the back of the restaurant. I follow closely behind still trying to figure out what to make of the situation. I take a seat across from him and pull a corner from my sandwich and dunk it into the soup.
“You look skinny,” he says. “Too skinny.”
“Sorry, but that sounds like an insult,” I respond.
“I just like you...” He pauses as if trying not to insult me again, “not so thin. You’re still stunning, though. I think even more so than before.”
“Tyler, you lost the right to say those kinds of things to me when you left. You’re making me uncomfortable.”
“Now I’m insulted,” he says, teasingly. “Really, it’s great to see you. You look well and the last thing I want to do is insult you. If you only knew what seeing you this morning did to me you’d know I’m as nervous as you are.” The mood shifts with his honesty and I feel like maybe I’ve misjudged his arrival and subsequent comments. A fresh emotion washes over me—happiness.
“So, how’ve you been? A lawyer, huh? Never thought you’d actually do it.” I smile at him and he returns it.
“Yep. A few buddies from law school and I started a practice back home in Chicago. Criminal defense, none of that corporate law bullshit my dad loves so much. I’ve always thought about relocating back to the coast and when I was contacted by Trini’s manager, I figured it was a good opportunity for the company to expand.”
“Cool,” I say, actually sounding casual. “So, did you know I was Trini’s publicist when you took the job?” This wouldn’t be so outlandish. If you Googled Trini’s name ninety percent of the time I am pictured standing next to her. He could have very easily located me just based off of her name.
“No. Honestly I didn’t, but I’m glad it turned out this way.” He smiles again and takes a bite of his sandwich. He places his hand in front of his mouth as he chews, beginning to speak before he’s finished the bite. “You’ve done really well. It’s quite impressive, what I’ve seen so far.”
“Thank you. I try. Your mom might actually be impressed with me,” I say jokingly. It’s a known fact that Tyler’s mom hated me. It was the one thing that we would joke about regularly and it always pleased me when he’d use me to get back at her. She was such a controlled, in charge woman, yet she had absolutely no control over me or the fact that Tyler loved me.
“Funny. Shit, she did hate you, but you’ll be happy to know she definitely hates my wife more.” His what? Did he just say wife? The smile drops from my face and the uncomfortable factor returns. Who sits down with an ex-girlfriend, check that, not even just an ex-girlfriend, the ex-girlfriend, the one that lives in infamy, and spouts off lines to her about looking stunning? Tyler, that’s who. Nothing has changed.
“Your wife?” I ask.
“Yes, my wife. Soon to be ex-wife,” he adds casually. “We’ve only been married about a year. Met her in law school, so we’ve been together for a while, but it just didn’t work out. Happens sometimes.” Again, he’s casual; shrugging his shoulders he takes another bite of sandwich.
“How’s your family,” I ask changing the subject. It’s too strange to discuss more deeply. Even though we’re at the age where you marry, maybe even have a kid, I can only picture him at twenty-two.
“They’re fine. Trevor works for my dad. Good thing, because it surely wasn’t going to be me. My mom’s still at the hospital, drugging people before surgery, giving epidurals, the usual. They sold the house a few years ago. Moved to a walk up in Lincoln Park. It’s unreal. The view of skyline is amazing.”
“Of course it is. Have you ever known your parents to do anything half-assed?” He laughs and agrees with me. His parents lived in a magnificent home in a high-end area of Naperville. An in ground pool, the place all marble and slate and sandstone, balconies and peaked roofs, winding staircase and formal everything. The only thing that stood out in that home was Tyler’s room. A messy mix of rumpled sheets and unmade bed, his soccer clothes thrown around and stacks of vinyl albums in the corner. The curtains always closed dimming the unkempt appearance.