Love on Leave

by Leah McDonnell

  Lana kicks the ottoman. “I fucking hate her!”

  “Now he goes to work during the day and sits in his room at night. Making a terrible attempt to appear happy and keep up this sham of a marriage.”

  I’m not sure if this news makes me happy or makes matters worse. This whole time I’d imagined them moving in together, picking out furniture, painting the damn nursery together.

  “If she hasn’t been there, how come he didn’t call me? Explain everything. Give me a shred of closure?” I ask, more confused than ever.

  “Well-LL,” Lana draws out. If we’re having a Max tell-all…I might as well tell you the rest.” Guilt floods her eyes. “The reason he didn’t call, was because I told him not to.”

  I gasp. “Wait! You talked to Max?”

  “Actually, I saw him. When I went down for my birthday. Jody had already ditched town, and he’d been buried in his room for days. I was so angry but seeing how much of a wreck he was absolutely broke my heart. So Artie convinced him to go to the Journey concert with us. Honestly, I think the only reason he went was so he could ask me about you.”

  She pauses to wipe jelly from her mouth. “He told me when he heard the knock at the door the night of the hurricane, he assumed it was us and was about to ring our necks for driving in the storm. But it was her. After she dropped the bombshell of all bombshells, he said he snuck out to call you, but the phones had already gone out.

  The next day, everything unfolded in a flash. After it was over, she was monitoring every move he made. By then, he knew you knew and was too ashamed to call.”

  Pain pierces my chest as I fight back tears. “I guess there’s some comfort in knowing he at least tried to call.”

  After processing everything that’s been said it dawns on me, there must be more. “Wait. You said you’re the one who told him not to call.”

  “Well, Max got rip-roaring drunk at the concert and had a complete meltdown. It was quite possibly the saddest thing I’ve ever witnessed. Wasn’t it Artie?”

  “Yep. Dude balled his damn eyes out.”

  “He kept repeating how he had ruined his life and what a terrible mistake he’d made. But how he had no choice because his parents would disown him if he didn’t step up to the plate,”

  She grabs her heart. “Once he started talking about you, holy shit! That’s when I broke down balling. He kept saying how much you meant to him and how he never meant to hurt you. And how he knew you probably hated him.”

  Her tone flattens. “The next morning we went by his room to check on him and he asked if he should call you. But it had been three weeks. You were finally getting back on your feet. Hell, you were finally showering again. I was worried if he called it would be too much for you to bear. Especially, since the ending was ultimately the same. So I asked him not to call.”

  Her gaze falls to the floor. “I’m so sorry, Kate.”

  I swallow the lump in my throat. “I don’t know what to say. I’m honestly speechless right now.”

  “Please don’t be mad,” she pleads. “Remember, you made me promise I wouldn’t tell you anything about Max, even if you begged me.”

  “You’re right. I did.”

  “If it helps any, he asks me about you all the time,” Artie says, hoping it will help cushion the blow.

  My head falls in my hands. Trying desperately to make sense of all this. “Does he know you guys are here with us?”

  His lips purse the second I ask. “Yeah. He does. I wasn’t going to tell him but Davis made sure he knew. Did it on purpose, of course. Total dick move.”

  I choke down the guilt festering in my belly and hold my head high. Forcing myself indifferent. “Well. Like Lana said. If he would have wrapped it up, things would be much different today.”

  I’d be lying if I said there isn’t a tad of comfort knowing Max is miserable. Even a small part of me wants him to find out about Davis. I know it’s terrible to think this way because it’s cruel, and I’m not a cruel person. I know in my heart he didn’t ask for any of this to happen to him. So even after everything, I am deeply saddened by the pain he must be going through. Him finding out about Davis will only add to his pain and for that, I am incredibly ashamed.

  It’s late when Davis and the rest of the group stumble back to the cabin, and it’s clear they added getting sloppy drunk to their sightseeing adventure. I’m on the back porch smoking a cigarette when they barrel through the door.

  They’re all in the living room talking and can’t see me outside. Jenn’s draped over Davis like a winter coat and he appears to be enjoying it. What an idiot I am for letting my guard down with him. He looks around and asks where I am. Lana tells him I’ve gone to bed and I immediately see the switch flip good guy to playboy. He’s back to being his typical cocky, arrogant, self.

  Davis shouts, “Jenn, show me your tits!” Which of course, she immediately does without question.

  “Damn, Jennifer! They might be a little saggy, but I still want to motorboat the hell out of them thangs!”

  I cringe as he buries his head into her chest.

  Everyone laughs, which only fuels his ridiculous behavior. This is exactly how he acted the weekend we first met and I’m reminded of why I disliked him so much. He’s in true “Davis” mode and I want zero part of it.

  Between the news of Max and Davis being a tool. I’m sad, lonely, disgusted, and pissed off, all rolled into one. The last thing I need right now is Davis thinking I’m upset over him. So to avoid any drama, the best thing for me to do is camp right here until the coast is clear.

  Underwear it is! I say to no one, slipping into the warm, bubbly, hot tub. The perfect medicine for my weary bones and aching heart. Steam lifts in the air as I lay back to watch the stars. There isn’t a cloud in the sky tonight, creating a magnificent view. The hot tub light changes from blue to green to red, reminding me of the night we threw Chemlights with Max and Drew. I smile as I allow my mind to drift to him. That night feels like it was ages ago. As if it was only a dream. I wonder what he’s doing tonight. I wonder if he’s worried about me being here with Davis. Guilt sits on my chest again, even though I know it shouldn’t.

  The sound of the back door opening pulls me back to reality. I slither up as quietly as I can as Davis and Jenn’s voices carry from the other side of the porch.

  “Did you get the bottle of Goldschlager?” I hear her ask.

  Shit, Shit, Shit! I scream in my head. I’m trapped!

  I have about ten seconds to decide to face Davis or take a dive off this eight-foot-high porch.

  The answer is quickly made the second he asked her if she likes to be spanked. Ew! Davis! Really? Shuttering at the mental picture.

  Water sops from my mint green panties and bra as I shimmy down the latticework, threading my toes in each hole as fast as I can. It’s pitch black dark as limbs and brush impale my bare feet at the bottom. Son of a bitch! I mouth, trying desperately not to shout. Thankfully, the jets are on, masking most of the noise.

  “No, ma’am! This is no clothes allowed hot tub!” Davis flirts.

  How could I have been so stupid? Smacking myself on the forehead. I can NOT believe I fell for his shit!

  As she climbs in I faintly hear her ask, “Wanna stick your head in between these again?

  I roll my eyes. Seriously, Jenn? You couldn’t come up with something a little more original than that?

  “Hell yeah, I do! Get over here!”

  I assume they must be making out because they’re quiet for a few minutes. Halting me mid-step.

  “You know I’ve always had a fantasy about being bent over a pool table,” she says between kisses.

  Ew! Ew! Ew! That’s it! I’m officially grossed out! I have to get the hell out of here RIGHT NOW!

  I tiptoe under the porch as quietly as possible, powering through the pain in my feet; using the latticework as my guide. Leaves grind under my feet as I feel my way along the steep hillside. A downspout crunches beneath me causing my foot to
pivot. I slam to the ground shoulder first, clumsily grasping at branches as I bounce down the ravine. Stopped by the force of a tree five feet into the wood line.

  I bite my tongue and cringe through the pain. Staying perfectly still to see if I’ve been heard. My heart pounds against my chest but I think I’m in the clear. They’re still yapping on the porch as I survey the damage. Blood oozes from my busted hands and knees as pain radiates from my right ankle. Perfect! Just. Fucking. Perfect!

  I quietly roll on my side to pull up and hear a tiny crackle in the darkness. What the hell was that?

  My heart races as I slowly turn my head, swallowing hard. It’s them. Their beady little eyes staring back at me.

  “HELLLLLLPPPPPP!” I scream.

  “I NEED HELPPPPPPP!”

  Three raccoons, eye level, stare straight into my soul as I scream at the top of my lungs. They stand on their back legs and let out a high pitch screech.

  “HELLLLLLPPPPPP MEEEEEEE!” I scream again, jumping to my feet. Hobbling up the steep ravine as fast as I can, too afraid to turn back. “RABIES! THEY’VE GOT RABIESSSS!”

  Davis and Jenn spring from the hot tub and peer over the railing as Lana and Artie rush out the back door.

  “What the hell is going on?” Lana yells as I make it to the bottom of the porch.

  She gasps. “Oh my God! What happened?” She asks as I hop the stairs on one foot.

  I grasp my side as I reach the top. Water pooling at my feet. “I… hot… fell… raccoons!” Sliding down the porch railing into a ball of exhaustion.

  Artie flings his head towards the screeching raccoons, who retreat further into the woods. “Were you out there?”

  “I thought you were in bed,” Jenn says, using her hands to cover her lady parts.

  They’re by my side in a flash. “Her legs are bleeding,” Davis says.

  “It’s freezing out here. Will y’all help me get her inside?” Lana asks.

  The words are barely out of her mouth when Davis lifts me and carries me towards his room. Lana, Ashley, and Artie right behind him.

  “No. I don’t want to be in here!” I protest, grabbing at the door frame.

  “Too bad,” is all he says, before laying me across the bed and scurrying out.

  Ash grabs the assortment of throw pillows from behind my back. “He’s right. You have no business sleeping on the couch.”

  Lana’s hand flies to her mouth. “It looks like you were in a catfight! What the hell were you doing in the woods?”

  I sit in silence for a few seconds, examining the cuts and scrapes on my legs. “My foot’s starting to swell,” I dodge the question, too embarrassed to answer.

  “Nope! Spill it, sister!” Ashley shouts, propping the throw pillows underneath my foot.

  Exhausted, I cave. “I didn’t have it in me to deal with Davis’s shit tonight,” I begin. “I was on the porch when they got back...”

  “Dammit, Kate!” Lana shouts. “We all thought you had gone to bed. You could have been kidnapped and we would have never known!”

  “It would be awesome if you didn’t Mother Hen me right now,” I plead as now dressed Jenn, joins us.

  “Ok. And?” Ashley says, shooing Lana’s mothering moment. “How in the world did you end up in the woods?”

  Davis strides back in with an ice bag, wet washcloths, ointment, and Band-Aids before I’m able to answer.

  “Please don’t stop on my account,” he says as he and Lana begin cleaning my cuts.

  “The Cliff Notes version is… I tripped over one of the cabins downspouts, which caused me to go head first down the hill.”

  “And the raccoons?” Artie asks.

  “I happened to roll right where those three little bastards were waiting for their nightly hand out.

  They scared the living shit out of me… which scared the living shit out of them. I screamed bloody murder… they screamed bloody murder.

  I think I even peed myself a little.”

  They're trying not to laugh, but Lana snickers a tad, unable to hold back. Which sends everyone else following in suit. I join in, able to find the humor in it now.

  After a few jokes are thrown around the room and they have me cleaned and bandaged, Davis says, “It’s getting late. We need to let her get some rest.”

  Lana sighs. “Oh, I guess you’re right. But don’t think for a second I’m letting you off the hook for the complete version of this story, missy!”

  She hugs me goodnight. “Tomorrow. I promise,” I say. “Thank you for the help. I’m sorry if I spoiled everyone’s night,” I call out to the group as they file out of the room.

  “You’re staying with her tonight, right?” Lana asks Davis as they make their way out.

  He furrows his brow. “Well, yeah. Of course.”

  “Don’t act so shocked I would have to ask, Davis! You did just have your tongue down Jenn’s throat.”

  “I’ve got her. Don’t worry.”

  Davis is the last person I want to deal with after all this and pray Jenn will keep him busy. They’re in the hallway talking, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. I assume she’s hoping to continue where they left off before I ungraciously interrupted them.

  No such luck! I think as Davis heads back into the room, shutting the door behind him.

  I tug at the covers. “I thought you two had a date on the pool table?”

  He thinks I’m trying to be funny and laughs. “Heard that, huh?”

  “Unfortunately, yes. All of it. And quite frankly, I’ve never been more grossed out in all my life.”

  “Wait. Are you mad at me?”

  “Nope. Being mad would imply I actually give a shit and I don’t.”

  With a confusion slapped across his face, he sits on the side of the bed. “What’s going on, Kate?”

  “Davis...I promise I’m not trying to be a bitch here, but I scaled an eight-foot porch wall to avoid having to talk to you. That was before I careened down an embankment, got busted up, and the shit scared out of me by three hungry ass raccoons. I can assure you after all that, I’m in no mood to talk. So please, for the love of Pete… go have your bang fest with Jenn and leave me alone.”

  “I don’t understand. I thought we made a promise to one another we weren’t going to let things get weird. Not let what happened change anything.”

  “Yep! And what a fool I was for thinking it could happen.”

  “If this is about Jenn, I promise we were only cutting up. I don’t want her.”

  “Oh, don’t flatter yourself into thinking this is some weird jealousy thing. This is not about Jenn and it’s not about last night.

  This is about you being a disgusting man whore, who can go from nice guy to chauvinistic asshole at the drop of a hat. I don’t even know which one is the real you. And to be honest, after what I witnessed tonight, I don’t care who the real you is.”

  He huffs. “I think you’re being a tad dramatic. I’m a nice guy who knows how to have a good time.”

  “Yes. Because telling someone they have saggy boobs is the perfect example of you being nice.”

  Davis laughs at the boob comment and it does nothing but piss me off even more.

  “Please just go,” I beg.

  “Being the cocky asshole is who I am. You know this, Kate. I don’t know why it’s bothering you all of the sudden.”

  “It bothers me because I realized how much of a freakin’ idiot I am for falling for your silly tricks. When deep down I knew you were only using me to get a rise out of Max.”

  He doesn’t say anything, leading me to believe my suspicions are right.

  “But it’s ok. Because I’m pretty sure deep down, I was too.”

  He pulls his pillow from the bed and walks out of the room without another word. I fight the urge to feel bad about what I’ve said. He’s an asshole and needed to be called out for it. But he’s right, it’s unfair of me to judge him for being exactly who he is. He uses women. What on Earth would make me think I
would be any different?

  My ankle is sore but I’m feeling better after a good night’s sleep. Davis and I do not speak as everyone packs the cars to head home. We stop in Pigeon Forge to eat breakfast, giving everyone a chance to say their goodbyes. With everything that’s unfolded this weekend, we thought it best for the girls to ride back together, instead of splitting up again. Lana cries as Artie wraps his arms around her one last time. Plans have already been made for him to come to Athens in a few weeks, but they’re still upset to leave each other.

  I’m waiting in the car when Davis walks up. “Kate? Can we talk for a second?”

  I don’t speak, only shrugging my shoulders to convey some shred of a response.

  He crouches in the door. “I’m sorry about last night.”

  I let go of the anger and relief floods my heart. “I’m sorry too. I did exactly what I didn’t want to happen.

  I made things weird.”

  “No, it was completely my fault. I vanished on you without a word and when I finally show back up,

  I’m all over one of your closest friends. It was wrong of me to do.”

  “It’s ok, I promise. It was all a big, dumb, drunken, mistake. Let’s promise not to let any of it screw up our friendship,” I plead.

  “Of course. Yeah. I don’t want that either,” he says.

  “I mean, you get on my nerves. But I’ve kind of gotten used to having you around,” I tease, hoping to lighten the mood.

  He smiles and throws out his hand. “Friends?”

  I grab it. “Friends!”

  “We gotta get on the road, D!” Artie calls out and I can tell he’s thankful for the interruption.

  “Us too,” I say. “Lana will be losing her mind if we get too far off schedule. You know she’s the on-time these days.”

  He says his goodbyes to Lana and the girls, then gives me a gentle kiss on the forehead. “Goodbye, Kate.”

  As we pull out of the parking lot, Lana asks, “What was that all about?”

  I shake my head. “It was nothing. Just making things right.”

  I’m glad Davis and I had an opportunity to clear the air before we left. We have great chemistry but it could never be more than friends. Max is the one who holds my heart and probably always will.