Love, Lies, and Deception(20)
Rubbing his reddened arm, he chuckled. “I’ve been trying to find a job and I think I might have one. I go for an interview in a couple of weeks. I didn’t really want to say anything until I worked out all the kinks.”
“What does your family say about it?” I asked, knowing very well they probably didn’t care. I’d never met them, but from the information I’d gathered from Kristian over the years, it seemed like they gave him money just to get him out of their hair. He was an only child, and I couldn’t imagine how lonely that must’ve been growing up. I usually never brought up his parents, but I was curious to know if he told them.
“Did you really just ask that?” Kristian asked dryly. “Marissa, I haven’t talked to my parents in months. I get a check deposited in my account every month from them and that’s it.”
“What about Natalie? If you two work things out, what do you think she’ll say?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “She once mentioned me moving to New York to be with her after graduation, but I can’t stand it up there. If things work out between us, I’m sure she’ll be pissed when I tell her.”
“I’m sorry, Kris. I know it had to be a hard decision,” I said softly.
“It was,” he admitted. “But I’m happy with it. You, Justin, and Emily have been my family for the past couple of years. I’m not ready to give that up just yet.”
Linking my arm through his, we walked slowly, enjoying the cool spring air that blew across our skin. I would miss the cooler, dry weather of the mountains, but I also couldn’t wait for the heat.
“My thoughts exactly,” I exclaimed.
From the sound coming from the apartment complex, it appeared Emily was rocking out to our usual band. I could hear it before I even started up the three flights of steps. Kristian had separated from me to walk to his house, which was only a couple of blocks away.
I always thought he was lucky to be able to afford his own house, but then I found out how he got his money; a monthly check from parents that didn’t give a shit. Even though my parents were gone, I was lucky enough to have had ones that loved and cared for me.
As I started up the stairs, I was half-tempted to knock on Alec’s door since I saw that his motorcycle was in its usual spot out in the parking lot. However, I decided against it so I could tell Emily of our evening plans to go to the bar.
Alec must’ve gotten done at his aunt’s house early, because normally I would hear the roaring of his motorcycle pulling into the parking lot every day around five o’clock. Surely that wasn’t the only mode of transportation he had, but over the past two years that was all I’d ever seen him drive.
Motorcycles were fascinating, but they scared me. Alec’s silver crotch rocket no doubt could fly, and I’d seen the way he handled it on the road when I saw him around, but I would probably shit myself if he rode like that with me on the back.
I was perfectly happy being grounded in my bright green Jeep Wrangler. For years, I had always wanted one and my parent’s had forbidden it, but out of the blue one year they surprised me with it. Unfortunately, it was the same year they died.
When I need time to myself, or when I just want to get away, I’d always ride on the parkway in my Jeep with the top off. My favorite time to cruise the parkway was in the fall when all the leaves would be changing colors.
When I opened the door to the apartment, Emily was in the living room folding a load of laundry and singing the worst off beat tune I’d ever heard her sing. Emily was many things: beautiful, athletic, amazing at chess, a piano player, a wonderful dancer, but a singer … no.
“How about you let the radio do the singing? My ears are starting to bleed,” I yelled out over the blare of the music.
Emily huffed and threw a sock at me before going to her room and turning off the music. “I was just getting pumped up for tonight. It’s been forever since we’ve been out to the bar, and for your information, not all of us had singing lessons as a kid.”
I laughed. “Yeah, and not all of us had piano lessons as a kid. How did you already find out where we were going?”
Emily grabbed her phone and opened it. “Oh, Justin called me and told me. He must’ve heard it from Kristian.” Wow, that was fast. I guess I could’ve gone straight to Alec’s.
Emily closed her phone and began speaking again. “You know, I miss playing the piano. Once we get out of this small apartment, I’m gonna get my piano from my parent’s house and play it every damn day to make up for lost time.”
Excited, I smiled. “I look forward to it. Hey, did you know that Kristian is moving to Wilmington, too?”
“Really?” Emily cried in disbelief. “I didn’t know that. I keep waiting for Justin to tell me where he’s going after we graduate, but he won’t tell me. It’s infuriating. Be lucky you don’t have to worry about that.”
In a way I was glad I didn’t have to think about leaving someone serious behind, but what if things did turn out that way with Alec? What was I going to do then? I was in lust with the guy, but was that all it was. I knew one thing for sure; I looked forward to figuring it out.
Emily flopped down on the couch where the rest of the laundry sat, waiting to be folded. Lowering myself onto the cushion beside her, I began to help. I didn’t know if I should tell her what Kristian told me, but looking at my friend’s forlorn gaze I had to tell her something.