by Sandra Alex
“I’ll take a slice next time.” I say, winking at Christopher. “It was nice to finally meet you.”
“Likewise.” He says. “Hey, bro, I’ll save you a piece for lunch tomorrow.”
“Thanks. I shouldn’t be too late.”
As we head out the door, Daniel walks to the passenger side door and opens it for me. He tilts his head. “I think our friend Greg needs a lesson in choosing the right friends.”
I slide in the car and wait for Daniel to get in before responding. When he puts the key in the ignition, I start. “Yeah…I mean, who hangs out in a bar so often, when they know that their friend is a recovering alcoholic? And why is this friend of his who’s always offering to give him a ride, never around when he’s at a bar?”
“Maybe he doesn’t approve and vetoes any rides when he’s out with his drinking buddies.” Daniel says.
“You’re right. I think Greg needs to make some new friends.” I pause. “Did he call the police?”
“No. It sounds like he’s a little freaked out. He said he’s made the call to the credit card company to cancel that, but I don’t think he’s done much more.”
When we arrive at the bar, Greg is standing outside waiting. “Hey, man, thanks for picking me up. I’d walk but this is a sketchy neighborhood.”
I give Daniel a look. Really? Why are you hanging out in a bar? Least of all one in a sketchy neighborhood? “Greg, I hate to sound like your mother, but…you gotta lay low for a while. Stay away from these kinds of places.”
Greg slides into the back seat and buckles up, giving my arm a squeeze from behind when he’s done. “I appreciate that, sweetheart. But this is where my buddies have always hung out. I’m not sure that they would be willing to change on my account.”
“No offence, man, but it sounds like you don’t have the greatest set of friends. Maybe you should venture out and get some new ones…ones that don’t like to expose you to all this crap.” Daniel chimes in.
“I thought of that…for real. But these are friends I’ve known since high school. Ditching them would be difficult.”
“Sacrifices, man.” Daniel says. “Were you able to cancel your cards?”
“Yeah,” Greg answers as his voice lowers an octave. “I’m not so worried about those. There’s no money in any of my accounts. I’d drained it all to pay child support and rent. The money was in my wallet.”
“Well, you should be worried about it. Christ, the thief could be halfway out of the state by now, charging your cards for who knows what.” Daniel is clearly irritated. “How much cash was in there?”
“Twenty-five hundred. I owe for the whole month; both for child support and rent.” Greg shakes his head. “Tina’s not going to let me see Shyla now until I pay up. Her birthday is in a couple of weeks. There’s no way I’m going to be able to get her the cash again by then.”
“Can’t you just explain what happened?” I ask.
He tilts his head. “I can try. But Tina has trust issues with me. I don’t think she’ll ever get past them. That’s what happens when you’re a drunk; nobody ever trusts you again.”
Daniel glances at Greg through the rearview mirror. “You’re not a drunk. And I’ll lend you the cash. Just…do me a favor and stop hanging out with these clowns. You’ll be a lot better off.”
“Why are you going to a bar with that much money on you, anyway? Don’t you think that’s a little irresponsible?” I point out.
“And why don’t you pay your rent with a check? I mean, isn’t that how most people pay it?”
“My landlord charges me less if I pay in cash. Don’t ask me why.” He lifts a hand. I feel bad for him. He seems like he hasn’t had any positive direction in his life. “And I don’t know, man…I’ve never been robbed before. I hang around here all the time.”
“Well, someone saw you coming.” Daniel says, matter-of-factly. “Stay away from there. Whoever stole your money obviously knows you carry a wad of it around with you.”
Greg hangs his head. “Yeah. You’re right.”
I turn to face him. “Don’t feel bad, Greg. Sometimes we have to learn our lessons the hard way. I’ve learned a lot that way, and at least those that you learn hard stick for longer or forever.”
“True. Hey, thanks guys, for picking me up.” We pull up to a bank machine and Daniel trots out.
“Hey, Daniel isn’t pissed at me, is he?” Greg asks me.
“No. I don’t think so. More concerned than anything.”
His eyes slide down to my lips. “Are you guys like…boyfriend and girlfriend now?”
I shake my head. “No. We’re just good friends.”
“So you were just hanging out when I called?”
“Yeah, we’d been studying together.”
He smiles. “Ah, shoot. You guys are way ahead of me. I was going to ask if you wanted to study with me.”
“The quiz isn’t until tomorrow. There’s still time.” Although I’m thinking that Greg should have been home studying instead of hanging out at a bar with his friends, but I don’t want to sound any more like his mother.
“You want to head back and do some studying now?” Greg offers.
“I’m not sure. Let’s ask Daniel when he comes back in.” I say, feeling slightly awkward.
Daniel opens the door and slides back into the car. “I got you three thousand. That way you have some extra for food or whatever, until you get a new bank card. Are they sending you a new one by mail, or do you have to pick it up?”
“They said they’d mail it out.” Greg answers. “I feel so bad, man. I’ve never taken money from anyone before.”
“Don’t sweat it. You’ll pay me back.” Daniel waves. “I’ll drop you off at home, okay?”
“I was um…just asking Kayla if she wanted to do more studying. Are you up for that?” Greg asks Daniel.
Daniel gets an irritated look on his face. “Greg, priorities, man. You need to find out what you’re going to do about all your I.D., and your licence, man…what about that?” he chuckles without a trace of humor. “And if you haven’t studied already, the quiz is tomorrow, man. We’ve covered all the material, Kayla and I. I won’t speak for her, but I’m done with studying for tonight.”
I take his hand in mine, trying to calm him.
Greg hesitates, “Yeah, you’re right again, man. Shoot. Looks like I gotta get my head out of my ass.” He sniffs and looks off to the side, as if embarrassed.
We’re silent as we drive to Greg’s house. Daniel pulls an envelope with money out of his back pocket, and hands it to Greg. “Pay me back when you can, okay? No pressure. Just…be careful.”
“I will, and thanks a ton, man. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem. Give me a call if you need anything, okay? Don’t call your friends for a while. Lay low.”
“Gotcha, my man. Will do.” Greg says, before rubbing my arm. “Hey, sweetie, thanks for the advice. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See ya.” I say.
As Greg exits, Daniel watches him go into the side entrance of the small bungalow. “That kid needs a kick in the ass. I thought my brother was a piece of work.”
“I’ll tell Christopher you said that.”
Daniel cracks the first tiny smile I’ve seen since Greg called. “You do and I’ll tell your mother that you got drunk and made out with me the night we met.”
I wink. “She already knows.”
He purses his lips together and then grins so adorably I want to kiss him. “You suck.”
I change the subject. “You didn’t have to lend him that money, you know.”
Daniel puts the car into gear and backs out of the driveway. “Yeah, well, just helping out another human being. Like you said.”
“I’m glad you didn’t bring him to your house.”
“Yeah, me too. He’s not too clingy, but he’s borderline.”
Ten minutes later, we’re at my house. I grab my bag from the back, and I think I’m just saying goodbye
in the car, but Daniel shuts the car off. “You mind if I come in for a bit?”
“No, not at all. It’s still early.”
“I don’t want to go home to Christopher yet.”
I walk to the front door and unlock it. “He’s not that bad.”
“You don’t live with him.” Daniel chuckles.
“True.”
“There’s probably a mile long pile of dishes in the sink to contend with, and if I’m lucky, he’ll remember to wrap up the leftovers.”
“When does he move out?” I say as we enter and remove our shoes.
“He doesn’t know yet. It was supposed to be the end of the month, but it’s been delayed.”
“Do you think he’ll go after that girl from the restaurant?”
“Melissa? Probably not. It sounded like he was hooking up with someone else earlier. Mind you, he’ll do anything for a piece of tail.”
“And is it true what he said…that you don’t know how to have any fun?” I ask as we head into the living room and sit on the couch together.
“Well, his definition of fun is sex. If that answers the question.”
“Ah, so he’s rubbing it in your nose that he’s getting all the action.” I nod.
“Exactly.”
I sigh, stretching and yawning. “Sex is overrated anyway.”
“You think so?”
I crane my neck slightly. “In my experience, yes.”
Daniel frowns. “We must be doing something wrong then, because Christopher acts like sex is the most important thing in the world.”
“How old is he?”
“Twenty five.”
“Give him time…and a broken heart. He’ll see things differently.”
“You have to fall in love to have a broken heart.” Daniel admits. He’s staring at his fingers as he says this.
I pat his thigh. “Yeah.”
He looks at me and smiles, letting his gaze slide down to my lips for a second. “I should go. Let you get some sleep.” He says before rising. As we get to the door, Daniel asks. “It’s none of my business, but, how do you pay for your mother being in that home?”
“Her disability covers some, and me and Nana Mary pay for the rest.” I explain. “I was lying when I said that the reason why I can’t go to school full-time is because of lawyer’s costs. Nick paid for most of that. I just don’t want my mother feeling bad for her bills. It’s not her fault, and I’d die if she ever felt guilty for being sick.”
“What cover story did you use before the divorce?”
“She had a settlement from my dad. She thinks it still exists, but it depleted about two years ago. That’s why Nick paid for most of the lawyer’s fees. He knew I couldn’t afford it, and he wanted out.”
Daniel shakes his head while glancing at me. “How much does it cost for your mom to stay there?”
I tell him and he swallows. “Jesus. How do you afford to live?”
“The house is paid for. I have utilities, but they don’t cost much, since it’s just me. I don’t eat much.” I give a slight chuckle. “Nick gave me the house in exchange for a settlement. I didn’t want his money, anyhow.”
He gets a strange look on his face, and then he diverts his gaze to the floor.
“What’s wrong?”
Daniel takes a step towards me and slides his arms around my waist, embracing me. “I feel bad for giving that money to Greg. I should have given it to you.”
“No, God no.” I say. “He needs that for his child and for rent.” A pause. “I have a roof over my head and no children to support. It’s all good.”
He pulls his head upward, to face me. “Yeah, but you have a mother to support.”
I shrug. “I have help.”
He buries his head into my neck and draws in a deep breath. When he pulls back, he says. “How about I help another human being?”
I search his face. “What did you have in mind?”
“I want to help you look after your mom.”
“How?”
“Let me pay for next month’s expenses.”
“No.” I say flatly. “If I were starving to death or unemployed or homeless, maybe, but I’m fine, Daniel. I appreciate the offer, but really, I’m fine.”
“How about I help out so that you can go to school full-time then?”
“No.” My voice is still flat. “I believe that everything that is meant to be will happen on its own. I don’t need help with that. But, again, thank you.”
“It’s going to take you twenty years to finish the program that you’re doing if you take the courses one-by-one, Kayla.”
“I’ll take more, and I’ll take them in multiples, too, when I can.”
He sighs again and kisses my cheek. “At least promise me that if you ever do need help, that you’ll ask.”
“I will.” I smile and kiss him chastely on the lips. He kisses me back. “You’re very sweet.”
“That’s what they tell me.” he smiles. “Go get some sleep.”
“Okay. See you in class tomorrow.”
He leans in and kisses my cheek again. “See you.”
Chapter 17
Daniel
What a night. I don’t know who I feel worse for, Greg or Kayla. At least I could help Greg, but Kayla, she’s a little more stubborn. Maybe I can go into the home and pre-pay for a month or something; make it anonymous. Right, like she wouldn’t figure that out. I’ll have to come up with something. On the bright side, we both aced Gladstone’s quiz. Kayla is really excited about Saturday’s meeting, and the best news is that I’m off on Saturday, so I can help her prepare for it. As I knock on her door, she answers, wearing the cutest Mickey Mouse apron. It has Mickey Mouse standing there, and in quotes above him it says, ‘Kiss the Cook’.
I lean in and kiss her lips chastely, puckering up once again, with exaggerated vigor, like I’m about to kiss a young child. “Well, hello.” She says, feigning excitement from the kiss.
“Hello. I was just doing what the apron said to do, for the record.”
She looks down and laughs. “Oh my gosh! I totally forgot that it says that!”
Her smile is contagious. “Come on in. I was just making some hors d’oeuvres.”
“It smells amazing in here.” I observe as I take my shoes off.
“I’m making little miniature Shepherd’s pies, Keto-friendly. My Nana Mary used to make them all the time and I just adjusted the recipe, so it’s Keto and fits into little foil cupcake containers.”
“I’ve died and gone to heaven.”
“And I have a fruit and veggie platter, and homemade dip.” She continues. Once again, I have a digestive boner.
“So…when are you moving in? I thought my brother was a great cook…you rival him, evidently.”
The cute little giggle that comes out of her makes me smile. “Stop.” She gushes. “How’s Greg?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t heard from him since class Wednesday.”
“I hope he’s okay.”
“I assume so.” I shrug. I gave the kid a wad of cash. He better be okay. “Is Heather coming by again?”
“No. She’s sick as a dog. Her and two of my other friends got some flu bug. I’m glad I decided not to go to the theater with them the other night.” she pauses. "I have something to show you."
"Okay." I say. She takes my hand and leads me to her bedroom. On the dresser is the small wooden box that her mother gave her last week. Opening it, she shows me the two rings her mother gave her. “Oh, you got them fixed.”
“I did.” She smiles. “And you were so right. I feel a lot better having done this. I think I’ll take them to her tomorrow and show her them. They did such a great job, didn’t they?”
I take the rings in my hand and study them. The engagement ring has a very small nugget of a diamond in the center, but it’s been polished to a shine, lending it more umph. The shank is solid and in one piece, and the wedding band is solid as well. “Yeah, I’d say. They look practicall
y brand new.”
“I know it’s stupid. Because I don’t have any kids to pass them on to. But at least this will make my mother happy.”
“It will.” I say, handing them back. “Do you need any help with anything before everyone gets here?”
“Nope. I’ve done it all. We have time to relax and watch a movie or something before they arrive. Are you up for that?”
“Sure.” I shrug.
We choose a comedy, and sprawl out on the couch together. We’re on opposite ends of the couch, and our bodies are side-by-side. “Do my feet smell?” I wiggle my toes, which are about a foot away from her face. She wrinkles her nose but is smiling, so I know she’s joking. “I tell you what. Bring your feet over here.” She does and I take one and being kneading it with my hands. Her eyes roll into her head and she leans her head backward.
“God, Daniel…you’re hired.” She moans.
“Why thank you.” I say as the movie begins. We get three quarters through it and Kyle knocks on the door. “Damn. I was hoping to finish it.”
“We can finish watching it after they leave.” Kayla says, rising. Both Kyle and Brenda are here when Greg shows up. Kayla answers the door as I’m taking notes with Brenda.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” she murmurs into my ear as everyone begins chatting among themselves.
“Sure.” I get up and we go into the bedroom.
Kayla closes the door. “Greg smells like alcohol.”
I shake my head. “Dammit.”
“Yeah, like, the hard stuff. It isn’t really potent, but I can smell it for sure. He kissed my cheek.”
I don’t know what bothers me more. “Okay. We’ll deal with it later.”
“What do we do?” Kayla lifts her arms in the air.
“I don’t know. We’ll have to talk to him about it, I guess.”
“Okay. But let’s not embarrass him.”
“Of course not.”
We leave her room and see that everyone is comparing notes on their portion of the project this week. I notice that Greg doesn’t have a lot of material, and I’m not surprised. “Sorry, man. It’s been a tough week.” Greg says, as Brenda comments on his lack of notes. I also notice that almost all the little hors d’oeuvres that Kayla made are practically gone. She pulls the platter away, trying to rearrange it to make it look like there’s more.