“I’ll get it. I want some more pasta.”
“Bring me one too. Beer glasses are in the dishwasher,” Haley said as Nate sat back down.
“Does the type of glass matter?” Jen asked as she entered the kitchen.
“Yes!” Nate and Haley said at the same time.
They looked at each other and grinned.
“Oh…my fucking God.” Jen’s words were muffled.
Nate jumped up. “What’s the matter?”
Haley’s grin widened.
“You need to come see this. I’m not touchin’ it.”
Nate looked at her, and Haley shrugged. He went to go check on his wife, and within a few seconds, Haley heard laughing.
“It’s not funny! She’s gettin’ back at me for the blow-job joke.”
“What blow-job joke?” Nate asked. They walked out of the kitchen with beers, glasses, and Jen’s refilled bowl.
Jen sighed. “Just never mind.” She glared at Haley as she sat back down on the couch. “Did you really have to assault me with your detachable penis?”
Nate laughed again.
“Yes…yes, I did. It wasn’t premeditated or anythin’. I remembered it was in there when we were talkin’ about glasses.”
Jen stabbed at her food. “You suck, and not in a hot-chick kinda way. More like a slug kinda way. Does it have to be so realistic?”
“Hell yes, for her pleasure.”
“You’re a ridiculous human being.”
Haley batted her eyes at Jen. “You still love me.”
“Debatable. You normally wash it like that?”
“Only after I use it. I only wear it when I go out. It’s dishwasher safe. It’s been in there a few days. I’ve been lazy about unloadin the dishes. Been usin’ the same plate, fork, and pot and rewashin ’em.”
“If I had a sister, I wouldn’t want her sex life slappin’ me in the face. You’re the next best thing, so, no, I don’t need those images in my head.”
“Aww, I’m like your sister?”
Nate was howling. After a few more chuckles, he quieted down. “It’s a good thing mine doesn’t come off.”
Jen leaned toward her husband and brushed his shoulder. “Good thing for you maybe.”
Haley covered her ears. “See…no. Consider us even.” She glanced at the TV. “Look at that. You paused it on a Peter and Olivia scene.”
“God, I love those two together.” Jen thankfully jumped on the new subject.
“Me too, but I’ve read some online stories with Astrid and Olivia. I could totally see them bein’ a thing too.” Haley poured her Abita Andygator into a glass.
“Good grief. What’s the point of readin’ about other people havin’ sex?” Jen asked. “You obviously get plenty.”
“That’s beside the point. It’s not all sex. Some stories expand on what’s written on the show, and they can be really good. I like the romance of it.”
Jen laughed. “You like the romance of it?”
Haley shrugged, but she knew she’d just stepped in it. “Yeah, so?”
“Your idea of romance is drinks, tellin’ a girl she’s pretty, and screwin’ her brains out.”
Nate snorted. “She has a point.”
“It’s the better alternative, and it’s worked for me so far.” True statements, though she found she had no desire to turn Tonya into a woman on standby. It didn’t feel right.
“Oh c’mon, even your mother married a few of the guys she was messin’ around with, for better or worse,” Nate said.
“Mostly for worse.”
“Not all of them,” he reminded her.
This discussion was starting to make her a little pissy. Haley picked her beer up off the table and took a long drink. It didn’t help. “What’s the point of doin’ all that work when you end up growin’ apart eventually anyway? It didn’t work for me, not even once.” She thought about Tonya. What was she doing with her? What was she trying to prove?
“You’re right. That can happen, but it’s a chance to get to know each other again and possibly end up closer than before,” Jen said, but she was looking at Nate the whole time.
Haley felt a twist in her gut as she remembered when they’d come damn close to a breakup and sent them all into a tailspin. She didn’t want to dwell on that. Haley stood and gathered up empty bowls. Quietly, she walked into the kitchen.
Okay, they were right about everything, and it made her feel hopeful even for someone with a wandering gene. It should have bothered her that she was starting to flip on the subject so quickly, but Jen and Nate were bona-fide evidence that things could actually work out. Was she 100 percent sold? No, she wasn’t. She could end up dishing out a world of hurt. Wouldn’t be the first time.
Haley put the bowls in the sink and rinsed them. She was jumping way ahead of herself here—way, way, way ahead. Then there was the question of why she hadn’t said anything about Tonya yet to her best friends.
Why indeed. Haley needed to rectify that.
When she went back into the living room, Jen was sitting in Nate’s lap and they were kissing. Haley smiled. It was nice to see. “I don’t care how much in love y’all are, there better not be any screwin’ around on my sofa bed tonight.”
Jen shot her the finger.
Haley laughed, shook her head, and blurted out, “So, I kinda met someone…” She did not intend for it to come out that way, but in for a quarter, may was well give up the whole dollar.
The kissing stopped almost immediately. Nate and Jen turned her way. “What?” they said at the same time and stared.
“I, um, met someone?” Haley reached around and rubbed the back of her neck.
“Are you askin’ or tellin’?” Nate asked.
“Yeah,” Jen chimed in.
“Tellin’ definitely.” She then proceeded to drop the whole story on them.
“Is she hot?” Nate asked when Haley was done.
Jen swatted him.
Haley smirked. “Oh yeah. Curves for days, and she has these dimples. She doesn’t even have to smile for them to show.”
Nate and Jen glanced at each other before looking back at her.
“Well, she’s gotta be somethin’ to hold your interest for more than a few minutes.”
“Yeah, what Jen said.”
“I haven’t even asked her out yet.”
“What? What is wrong with you?” Jen asked. Her face was all scrunched up in disbelief. She looked like an angry blonde pixie.
Nate nodded. “What Jen said.”
Haley rolled her eyes. “I was just—”
“Do it right now. It’s just a little after nine.” Jen smiled in excitement. She was still in Nate’s lap.
“What Jen—” Nate started to say, but Haley interrupted him.
“Stop it! Just stop it.” Haley glared.
Nate grinned.
She walked around the couch and plopped down next to them, reaching for her phone. She was nervous, which was ridiculous. It wasn’t like she didn’t know what she was doing.
“Hurry the hell up!”
She gave Jen a hard stare. Jen stared right back, looking impatient.
The nerves returned full force. Haley’s stomach slithered. “I can’t do it with you guys lookin’ at me!”
“For God’s sake, we’re not watchin’ you pee,” Nate said. He sighed. “Just go outside, then.”
Jen gasped. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.
Haley got up. It was a good idea. She opened the door and closed it behind her before sitting down on the stairs, so focused that she didn’t see her neighbor unlocking her door.
“Hey, friend.”
Haley jumped slightly and turned toward the voice. She waved and smiled. Apparently it was enough because she went inside a few seconds later. Haley rolled her eyes and urged herself to just get on with it already. She was way too invested in this, and she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing yet. Haley tapped Tonya’s name with her thumb.
�
�Hello?” Tonya sounded surprised.
“You answered.”
“Are you going to be shocked every time I do?”
“Probably.” Haley grinned. She couldn’t help herself. “Sorry for callin’ so late.”
“Yes, it has been a long, emotional day, so…”
Tonya wasn’t being subtle. Haley could respect that. She just needed to get straight to the point. “I like talkin’ to you.”
Tonya didn’t respond, but Haley pushed on, projecting confidence. It wasn’t like she was going to say no. “We’re pretty good at it. I think it’ll be even better to do it in person. Say…next weekend?”
Tonya sucked in a breath. “I—”
Haley’s stomach dropped and not in the good way. It was too late to backtrack; she’d already put herself out there, and she was flapping around naked and unprotected.
“I like talking to you too, but no, I can’t. I’m sorry. There’s just too much going on in my life right now.”
Even though she was expecting it, Tonya’s words were a hard punch to the gut. Haley didn’t know what to say, so she just went on autopilot. “Um, okay. I’m gonna let you go, then. Have a nice night.”
“Haley?”
“Yeah?” It helped a little that Tonya sounded disappointed.
“I really am sorry.”
“So am I. G’night.”
“Night,” Tonya said softly.
Haley sat out on her stoop for a little while longer. Finally, she got up and went back in.
Nate and Jen were laughing. They stopped and turned to look at her like they were expecting the world on a platter.
“Damn, dude. I’m sorry.” Nate was the first to speak.
Jen rolled her eyes. “Just hold on. What did she say and how did she say it?”
“What’s the point?” She was pouting; she was damn sure allowed to. She sat down.
“Because it’s important.”
Haley played along for shits and giggles. She told Jen everything.
“She sounded disappointed? You sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” Haley whined. She didn’t whine.
“Okay, well, obviously she wasn’t lyin’ to you about bein’ sorry, so this may not be a lost cause.”
It was Haley’s turn to roll her eyes. “This is part of why I don’t do the datin’ thing anymore, or any shit like this.”
“Rejection is a fact of life. Get over yourself,” Jen said.
Haley huffed and glanced at Nate. “You gonna let her talk to me like that?”
“Yep.” He nodded.
“Gettin’ back to what I was sayin’, she likes talkin’ to you, so why don’t y’all just do that for now?”
Haley leaned back on the couch. “I don’t know.”
“Oh c’mon! It’s the next best thing, and the more she talks to you, the more she’s gonna like you. You’re smart, funny, and genuine.” Jen smiled and bumped her on the shoulder.
Haley’s lips quirked. “You’re biased.”
“I am. I freely admit it, but you barely know her and look at you. There’s somethin’ here, and you’ll kick yourself later for lettin’ it pass you by. It’s not like you to give up so easily.”
“Maybe.” Jen was right. Haley just didn’t want to deal with the possibility of back-to-back rejection.
“Make your decision fast before she puts up an even bigger wall.”
Haley groaned, but she sat back up and stared at her phone. Before she let doubts get hold of her again, she reached for her cell.
Tonya answered the call a lot faster this time. “Haley?”
“I don’t wanna stop.”
Tonya gasped. This time, Haley’s stomach did the good kind of flop.
“So I’m gonna call you, and we can talk about how horrible the potholes are, or if coffee is better with or without chicory. Okay?”
Tonya sighed. “Okay, but it’s better with chicory.”
“I agree, but later?”
“Yes, later.”
Haley hung up and stared at absolutely nothing. She had no earthly idea what she was doing, but she was doing it anyway. She swallowed and glanced up.
Jen looked smug. “Just let her see the Haley we see.”
“That was fuckin’ awesome! We need to get our own reality show.” Nate’s smile was huge.
Jen squeezed her husband’s knee. “No, baby, just…no.”
Haley laughed.
Chapter 13
“You all right to stop by Crest Manor before we get some lunch?”
Haley looked at Tang and nodded. “It’s fine. I can just hang out in the car.”
Tang glanced in her direction before his attention went back to the road. “Naw, I wantcha to come in and meet ’im. When I talked to his nurse this mornin’, she said he was a little more there than usual.”
Before Haley could let the words settle, she found herself asking, “Why would you want me to go in?”
Tang shrugged. “I kinda wanna see if he’ll have problems figurin’ out if you’re a man or a woman.” He threw a smirk her way.
Haley laughed. “Ass.” But there had to be more to it than that. “Any of your other partners meet him?”
“Fuck no! They all acted like I had the plague. You’ve stuck around the longest, and it’s been what? Two months and some change?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Haley looked at him and smiled. “You do have the plague. I think it just rubbed off on me too.”
“You’re all right, Rook. I mean…Haley.”
Her smile felt like it was going to split her face, and her heart swelled with affection. “You’re all right too, Tim.” Hell, if he could give that much, she could too. “Not this time, but after I give ’em fair warnin’, we can eat free at my best friends’ restaurant. The food is really good.”
“Really? Well, who am I to turn down a freebie of any kind?”
Haley rolled her eyes. “That would be un-Amercan.”
Tang laughed. “There you go. You catchin’ on.”
About fifteen minutes later, Tang parked in a designated visitor’s spot outside Crest Manor. They didn’t talk as they walked up the sidewalk.
Tang rang the bell.
“I see you, Tim. C’mon in,” someone said through the speaker on the door.
Haley heard a buzz, and then they were inside. She expected the place to smell like a hospital. There was a faint tinge of alcohol and antiseptic, but the scent of apples and cinnamon took over, making it more homey. The lobby was airy and bright. The floor was linoleum, but that was the only thing cold about the place. The furniture consisted of cream-colored leather couches offset by dark brown chairs she could probably lose herself in. A glass coffee table sat on top of a rug that looked more like a piece of art than carpet. To the side of it all was a fancy cart that held a Keurig and a boatload of snacks.
Tang smiled as they reached the front desk. A real, honest-to-God smile. “Hey, Charlotte.”
It was the same woman she’d seen last time, but this time she was in regular clothes.
“Hello, my love. I see you brought a friend.” Charlotte got out of her chair, walked around the desk, and hugged Tang.
He returned it with enthusiasm. “Yep, this here’s my partner, Haley.”
Haley blinked. Maybe he was the hugging type but only in special situations.
“You never brought anyone here before,” Charlotte said.
Tang cut his eyes toward Haley. “Yeah, I know.”
“Mm-hmm, well hey, friend Haley.”
“Hello, Ms. Charlotte.”
Charlotte held out a hand and Haley gladly took it.
“Well, I won’t keep y’all. Let me get Mary.” She moved toward her desk once more and picked up the phone.
“Thank you, Charlotte.”
Haley had no idea Tang could be so well mannered. It was a sight to see, and he didn’t seem uncomfortable at all.
A door opened, and another woman stepped out. She smiled in their direction and leaned a
gainst the door to let them through.
“He’s still pretty lucid, Tim.”
“Thanks, Mary.”
He didn’t hug this one, but he was respectful. They walked through what Haley assumed was a common area. There was a huge flat-screen TV on the wall; couches and chairs in the same style as the lobby; and tables set up for chess, checkers, and some stuff she didn’t recognize. There were people peppered about. Some were in wheelchairs, others used walkers, and a handful were on their own two feet.
They went through another doorway and past the elevator. When they were halfway down the hall, Mary stopped and knocked loudly on one of the doors.
“Yeah, c’mon in. Ya don’t haveta beat it down.”
That sounded like somebody related to Tang, all right.
Mary opened the door. A tall, stocky man was making his way toward them with the help of a cane. His hair was white and thick on the sides of his head, but the top was bald and dotted with liver spots. His face was pinched and sour-looking. Thin lips were drawn and pursed, but his eyes were alert and intelligent.
“Look who I brought for you, Mr. Milton.”
Milton looked Tang up and down.
“I don’t see no donuts.”
Tang grinned and shrugged.
Milton chuckled, but it sounded like he was gasping. His face changed then, becoming more alive. “Don’t just stand there; git over here, boy.”
Tang did what he was told and they embraced in a quick hug.
“Who’s this fella ya brought?”
Tang hooted with laughter.
Haley wondered if she was too deep in this relationship to taze him.
As they were leaving, someone pulled Tang to the side, toward an office farther down the hall. Haley waited for him. It wasn’t long. When he came out, he was balling up a piece of paper. His face was bright red, and he was muttering. Tang stuffed the paper in the pocket of his uniform and walked right past her.
Even an idiot could see that something was wrong. Haley waited until they were back in the car to ask, “You okay? What’s up?”
He grunted. “I don’t wanna fuckin’ talk about it.”
Haley knew by now that his bark was much worse than his bite. “Okay, whatever you want.” She paused. “Parkway Bakery and Tavern for lunch? I’ll call it in. We can get one of those fancy po’ boys with duck fat or whatever.”
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