Leo's Chance(9)

"Grumpy," she says, standing up, slipping her shoe on and walking around my desk to one of the chairs. She sits down, crosses her legs and goes on, "We used to be friends, Jake. What happened?" She pouts, crossing her arms and sticking out her bottom lip. She literally sticks out her bottom lip like a petulant two year old. I almost laugh.

"I’ve already told you, Gwen, we can be friends. As long as you keep your foot, and other body parts away from my crotch, we’ll get along fine."

"You used to like it when I paid attention to your crotch," she says, raising an eyebrow. "You know I’m good at it. Why deny yourself?"

I stare at her for several moments. I got myself into this mess by leading her on all those years. I used her to get back at Lauren and Phil. Any time there was a company sponsored trip and families went along, or her dad brought her with him for business in San Diego, I went out of my way to make sure we were "caught" together in the most compromising positions possible. She’s one of the most shallow people I’ve had the displeasure of meeting, but the fact remains that she’s a person, and deep down, maybe she has feelings. I’ve never seen them, but there’s a chance that they exist. "Listen, Gwen, anything we had has been over for a long time. A really long time, actually. I’m trying to get my life back on a better track and I need to focus on doing that, okay?"

She narrows her eyes at me. "Fine. I’m glad to see you cleaned up, don’t get me wrong about that. Just know that I’m not giving up on us."

I take a deep breath, conjuring patience. "This is why it’s really challenging to be your friend. Do you get that? God damn." I run my hand through my hair. How many times do you have to tell someone something?

"Calm down, Jake. Fine. You need some space to go through your fourteen steps or whatever. I get it. I actually came here for a specific reason. I have the tickets for the autism fundraiser." She grabs an envelope out of her purse and places it on my desk. She stands up and fluffs her hair and makes a show of adjusting her dress down her hips. "Pick me up at seven thirty?"

Fuck. I almost forgot about taking Gwen to the fundraiser. I almost tell her that something came up and I can’t go but I can’t do that. It’s a benefit for autism, for Seth, and there’s no way I’m bailing on that, even if I have to put up with Gwen for a couple hours. It will be in public, and there will be lots of other people from the company there. It should be fine. "Yeah. Seven thirty. And Gwen? It’s twelve steps."

She squints at me, pursing her lips. "What’s twelve steps?"

"You said fourteen steps. I’m assuming you’re talking about AA, which, incidentally, I’m not in. But it’s twelve steps."

"Oh-kaaay. If you’re not in it, then who cares how many steps there are?"

Uh, lots of alcoholics and their families probably do. People who grow up in homes like the one I did. "Never mind, Gwen. I’ll see you Friday. And Gwen? Friends."

She sails out calling, "Whatever. See you then!" She turns at the door and pauses for a second. "Oh and I’m wearing red. You know, in case you want to match your tie or something."

"I’m not taking you to the prom, Gwen."

She smiles big and closes the door behind her. Clueless. I grit my teeth. Why do I have the feeling this is going to be painful?





CHAPTER 7


The next morning, I get up early and shower and pull on jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt. I’ll need to come home and change before I head to work, but after I check on Evie, I’m going to go visit Seth. I can’t go to a cemetery dressed in a suit. I take a deep breath. This is not going to be easy.

When I was in the hospital, I had followed up with the lawyer who had located Seth for Lauren. I had held my breath when I called him, hoping against hope that she had been lying to me. I could see her doing something like that just to get back at me. But no, she had been telling the truth. When I heard the words, it felt like I lost him again. I had held it together long enough to ask him to find out where Seth is buried, and then I had hung up and let the tears for my baby brother fall once again.

I drive over to Evie’s apartment, wondering if she’s doing okay. I thought about her late into the night last night, tossing and turning, sleep elusive. I need to see her face and make sure that she’s alright.

I park down the street, and as I get to her building, I see her locking up her apartment through the front glass doors. Nice timing. I lean against a car right in front and wait for her to come out. I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. I feel so f*cking deliriously happy that she’s back in my life. I realize it’s on completely casual, practically non-existent terms right now, but it’s a start. The happiness in that thought is so consuming that it’s even easy to push away the fact that I’m here under false pretenses. The niggling reminder that that needs to be dealt with is there in the background, but forefront in my mind is that Evie is right in front of me. After all these years, she’s right in front of me.

She steps out and spots me and halts in her tracks, a surprised look briefly flashing across her face. She crosses her arms and tilts her head to the side as her eyes roam my body and finally land on my face. "Need help 'finding your puppy' I suppose?"

I laugh. "I was actually just going to offer you some candy. It's in my van over there." I grin bigger. I must look like a f*cking loon.