Dustin's Turn

by June Kramin

  “How do you know those things?”

  “I told you. We’re together now. We have been for a long time. There isn’t a thing we don’t know about each other or a secret we keep. I meant it when I said you were my destiny that night in the bar. My world would have ended if you were successful in breaking up with me. Something brought you back and put us together earlier. I couldn’t be more grateful for whatever or whoever is responsible.”

  “So, I time travel?”

  “Yes.”

  “Am I time traveling now?”

  “No. I am this time. You actually came back the other night, though.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “After you hit your head on the ice. The ‘you’ that came to was my you.”

  “Your me?”

  “The you from…actually, it was a you from before. You slipped on the ice in our past but when you came to, it was you that was traveling back. Somehow I got that you.” Her look told him she was as confused as hell.

  “I’m sorry. I know I’ve had a few too many beers, but there isn’t a better way to explain it. It seems our lives are twisted together like a pretzel and we are destined to be together at every section, no matter what. I don’t know why I got so upset tonight. I should have known everything would be okay. It always is.”

  “So if we’re together, why are you back again? Why risk not getting me to fall for you? Did something happen?”

  “We’re fine. It’s someone else.”

  “Who?”

  “I don’t want to upset you. This is already too much to sink in for one night. I’m sorry. I was really trying to get through this without having to tell you. After I left you tonight, I found what I was looking for. I’m sure I can find a way to fix things.”

  “Fix what? Tell me, Dusty.”

  “Babe, please.” He held her hands. “Can we just leave it at this for now?” He pulled her to his chest and held her tight. She was putty in his arms, no doubt still letting things sink in. “I really do love you more than life. I’m sorry I’ve put you on a rollercoaster these past couple of days. I really don’t know what I’m doing. I always get crazy around you. I can’t believe I ever found the courage to speak to you that first night.”

  Katie released the hug and looked up at him. “What did you do?”

  He grinned. “I waited for you outside of the girl’s bathroom and pretended to not see you and bumped into you.”

  “Smooth.”

  “I was, wasn’t I? Anyway, I apologized and introduced myself. You went straight to turning my name into Dusty. You put your hand on my cheek and said, “You’re cute and all, but you’re a little young to be in here, aren’t you?”

  “Did I really?”

  “Those exact words. I walked you back to your friends, but they made me pull up a chair. You were getting razzed a lot for not dating much. They made up excuses and left so we could be alone.”

  “Then we went to my place?”

  “Yup. Your friends picked you up, so I drove you home. I really didn’t want to blow it and push for sex, but one last drink turned into…you know.” Again he moved his eyebrows up and down. “You were kind of an animal.”

  Katie blushed and he chuckled. He brought his hand to her cheek.

  “Don’t be embarrassed. Being shy about sex is never who we were. We clicked from the get-go. You asked me to stay the night and I was more than happy to. We spent Sunday between the bedroom, the shower, and occasional food breaks. The rest is history. Of course I have to go by what you told me. My memories of you are from our days now. After you were sent back, you stayed and the clock re-set.”

  “So, why did I try to dump you when I turned thirty?”

  “You thought I wouldn’t be ready for kids. You couldn’t have been more wrong. Birthdays are not your favorite time and you were handing me out an extra dose of cranky.”

  “Did I take you back after I time traveled and discovered differently?”

  “Yes, but I thought I had won you over with the key chains.”

  “Key chains?”

  Dusty pulled one out of his pocket. It was almost identical in style to the one that he had made her before. It read Dusty Loves Katie. “They only had the one so I made this for me. I really thought I screwed up tonight. It’s all I could do to keep a hold of our present.”

  Katie kissed him. Gently at first, but then she needed more. They leaned back on the couch together and shared a long kiss of tongues, ravenous for more with each touch. Katie’s hands went to the elastic of Dusty’s boxers, but he stopped her and held her hands in place.

  “I don’t want this, babe. Knowing I have you again is all I want. I didn’t spill my guts out so we would have sex.”

  “Since when is this about you?” She playfully bit at his bottom lip then removed her shirt.

  Dusty cuddled into Katie’s back the next morning. Although he had played it tough, he was more than happy she’d stayed over. He would have been happy to have just “slept” together, but this was Katie. He knew better. She suddenly bolted up and shouted, “Courtney!”

  “Babe? What is it?”

  She turned to him with a look of pure fear. “It’s Courtney, isn’t it? She’s why you came back this time. You said something the first time we met.”

  He let out a heavy breath. “Yes. I’ll have it taken care of, though. I promise. We can’t tell her about this. There’s no way she’d believe us. We have no idea what it’ll do to her. She could end up pissed off at you for making up such a crazy story and never speak to you again or something.”

  “She’d never do that. I have to help. What is it you’re trying to do?”

  “I promise I have it taken care of. If I didn’t, I’d be begging you for your help now. I finally pieced things together.”

  “Is this why you set her up with Dean? You trying to keep her from someone?”

  “Damn your female intuition. I never do get away with anything our whole lives.” He gave her a gentle kiss on the lips.

  “Is it Ronald?” His head dropped. “I knew it. What happens? Does he beat her up or something? That asshole.”

  Dusty jumped out of bed and whipped the covers off. “Go to school, Columbo.”

  “I don’t want to go to school. I want to help you.”

  “You can help me by doing what you’re supposed to be doing. Get to class before you get an A minus, cupcake.”

  “Dusty…this isn’t fair. I want—” Her protests were interrupted by her phone.

  Dusty picked it up and read the text. “Courtney is looking for her car.”

  “Shit. Tell her I’ll be right there. We’re not done, though.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Dusty started coffee after Katie left. He would have been thrilled to have had her help a couple of days ago but now that he thought he had a game plan, he’d rather Katie not be involved. He hoped she could keep her promise and not say anything to her best friend.

  He’d found the guy, now the question was what to do about him. Thinking about beating him up last night was a passing thought he was glad he let leave as quickly as it came. It wouldn’t have solved anything, especially with Dusty out cold on the ground.

  The words the bartender said to him played out in his mind again. He gets more pussy in a month than I see in a year. Suddenly Dusty wondered how many other women were infected along with Courtney. If he was that much of a player, the numbers were sure to be high. Countless lives ruined by the act of one careless man. He had to try to do more than keep Courtney away from him. But what could he do?

  “There’s always a hunting accident.”

  The voice startled Dusty so badly, he dropped his coffee cup. He spun to find Frank in his home. “Jesus, old man.”

  “Not even close.”

  “Very funny. You scared the shit out of me.”

  “Good thing you’re wearing the brown pants.”

  Dusty wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of a laugh. “How do you know where
I live?”

  “You’re kidding me, right?”

  “I should start locking my door.”

  “Is that anyway to treat a friend? How about a cup of coffee?”

  “As soon as I get this mess cleaned up I’ll get right on that.”

  As Dusty picked up the pieces of the shattered cup, Frank hopped on a stool at the counter. “A lawyer opened the door of his BMW when suddenly a car came along and hit the door, ripping it off completely. When the police arrived at the scene, the lawyer was complaining bitterly about the damage to his precious BMW. ‘Officer, look what they’ve done to my Beeeemer!’ he whined. ‘You lawyers are so materialistic, you make me sick!’ retorted the officer. ‘You’re so worried about your stupid BMW, you didn't even notice that your left arm was ripped off.’ ‘Oh my gaaad...’ replied the lawyer, finally noticing the bloody left shoulder where his arm once was, ‘Where's my Rolex?’”

  Dusty removed a rag from the sink and wiped up the spilled coffee. “Like I didn’t hear that one the day Dad gave me the Beemer.” He tossed the rag back in the sink, removed two cups from the cabinet and poured fresh coffee. “Besides, you’d think you of all people would know I’m not going to be a lawyer, anymore.”

  “Of course I do, you shithead. I just like that one.”

  “Shithead? You sure have the wool pulled over my wife’s eyes. What little she said about you was always nice. In fact, she mentioned a few times how bad she felt for swearing in front of you.”

  “That girl’s a keeper. Why she kept getting sent back to your ass is one of those things you’ll have to ask the big guy when you get there.”

  “God?”

  “No. Phil from the butcher shop. What do you think?”

  “Geez. Someone took their cranky pill today.”

  “I’m not cranky. I’m wondering how long you’re going to masturbate on an idea about how to help Courtney before you actually do something.”

  “Hey, I found the guy with no help from you, so you can keep your teeth in, you geezer.”

  “You don’t have forever, you know. This isn’t a second chance like Katie had. There is no staying here again. You two have lived your lives. Fix this and get out. You do have your kids to consider this time around.”

  “So, I’m not messing that up while I’m here? That’s a load off my mind.”

  “Light load.”

  “Look—”

  “You look. I wasn’t about to let you jeopardize those babies. I broke the rules before, letting Katie stay with the younger you last time. You’re lucky I’m not already hung out to dry over that and able to help you now.”

  “She wasn’t supposed to stay last time?”

  “Who wants to live their college years again? You were selfish for wanting her to stay. You’re damn lucky she loved you enough to be willing to go through with it.”

  “I think we had a great life. I wouldn’t have wanted anything that would hurt her.”

  “I know. She wanted it, too, or it wouldn’t have happened. Enough of that. You need to go take care of this Ronald character. And no, you can’t take him hunting and pull ‘two go out but only one comes back.’”

  “Like I could kill the guy.”

  “Certainly couldn’t take him in a fist fight.”

  “You are a witty old fart, aren’t ya?”

  Frank slid off the stool. “Figure it out, Dusty. Time’s running out.”

  He walked to the door and turned back around with his hand on the doorknob. “A man walked into a bar with his alligator and asked the bartender, ‘Do you serve lawyers here?’ ‘Sure do,’ replied the bartender. ‘Good,’ said the man. ‘Give me a beer, and I'll have a lawyer for my ’gator.’”

  Dusty went to two classes that day. He made the deal with his dad and he wanted his younger self to at least pretend to be respectful and keep up his end of the bargain. The sports bar didn’t open up until later, anyway. Despite the scolding from Frank, his hands were tied. At four o’clock, Dusty again went to Puck You, hoping to find Ronald. What he found instead was Katie siting on the half wall outside the door. His mind was wandering since he still didn’t have a plan; he didn’t see her until she was right in front of him.

  “Katie? What are you doing here?”

  “Same as you.”

  Dusty took her by the hand and walked them away from the doorway. “You shouldn’t be here. I told you I have to do this.”

  “She’s my best friend, Dusty.”

  “I know, but it’s something I need to do.”

  “Why? Why can’t I help?”

  “Because I don’t know what I’m going to do yet.”

  She crossed her arms. “Good thing it’s in your hands then.”

  “Don’t you give me grief, too. I’ve already had my ass handed to me today.”

  “By who?”

  “Just… someone. I don’t want to explain it, not that I can anyway.”

  “Well, it doesn’t matter.”

  Dusty was confused. “What doesn’t matter?”

  “He’s not here today. I already asked. The bartender kind of had an attitude about it, too.”

  “Like how?”

  “Like I wasn’t the only one asking for him today. I thought maybe you came and went already, but then I saw you walking over.”

  “Come on. Let’s get out of here and talk about this somewhere else. I can fill you in on a thing or two. I skipped lunch. You hungry?”

  “Starved. I haven’t had time for anything all day. Those burgers smelled good in there.”

  “I don’t want to eat here. I’ll take us somewhere else.”

  They sat in Chez Pauls again, much to Katie’s dismay. She didn’t want to go somewhere so elegant, but Dusty insisted it was this for privacy or their place and pizza again. She gave in pretty easily. Dusty ordered for her this time, since she knew he’d know her favorites.

  “So, what have you learned about him so far?” Katie asked once they were settled.

  “That he’s the biggest asshole on the planet. He seems to be stringing a few other ladies along besides Courtney.”

  “That prick.”

  “Well, it gets worse. He’s married.”

  “Married?”

  “And has a kid.”

  “I can’t believe he’s doing that to her.”

  “Courtney or his wife?”

  “Both, I guess. That’s horrible. I don’t know what gets into you men that you never get enough.”

  “Hey. Don’t lump me in with that asshole. I’ve never strayed from you. Besides, you’re all the sex machine I can handle.”

  She swatted him with her napkin. “So if I held back now and then, you’d go looking for it elsewhere?”

  “Of course not. I love you and you know it. I don’t need you looking for a fight.”

  “I don’t want to fight. I’m just trying to figure out how someone could be so intentionally cruel.”

  “Again, not trying to fight, but maybe his wife is sleeping around, too. Not everyone has eyes for only one person through the time space continuum.”

  Leaning back, obviously frustrated, Katie said, “It doesn’t make either one of them right.”

  “Absolutely not. We can sit here and decide how wrong it is, or we can try to come up with a plan together. What were you doing there?”

  “I went there mostly looking for you. I was hoping you weren’t going to do anything too stupid.”

  “Like attack him with my glass chin?”

  Katie laughed hard. “No. I suppose you wouldn’t start a fight.”

  “A fight wouldn’t do anything but piss him off. He wouldn’t stray from Courtney at the sight of me unless he thought I was her husband and he already knows better.”

  “I don’t know that we have to really do much. I think Courtney is really into Dean.”

  “We do know it’s not over.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  “I wouldn’t still be here if that was the case.”

&
nbsp; “Oh. Good point.”

  The food showed up and they put the serious talking aside while they ate. They became lost in conversation as Dusty told her more about them. He was careful not to tell her certain things that might alter her decisions in the future. They didn’t return to the subject of Ronald until they were walking back out to the car.

  “I’ll go check in again tomorrow,” Dusty said. “If you want to come with me you can, but I’d rather you didn’t. And before you protest, I’m not trying to shut you out. I just think I can say more to him ‘man to man’ than I can with you there. He knows you. He’s not about to start talking about banging everything that moves with you around.”

  “Good point, I guess. So what do you want to do now?”

  “Go car shopping.”

  “Car shopping? Really? I told you how I feel about that.”

  “Yes, but you also know you can’t change our fates. You’ve already accepted the car.”

  “What did I get?”

  “I’m not telling you. I want you to at least think you have a chance at a free will.”

  “What are you going to do with the Chevelle?”

  “I already gave it to a kid at school. He’s here on a scholarship and could use it.”

  “You’re sweet.”

  He shrugged. “Kid has to live off campus. He needed it.”

  “Maybe you’re not so sweet. I forgot about your heat.”

  “He’s taking auto shop as an elective. He can fix it.”

  Katie laughed hard.

  Even though Dusty knew what car Katie wanted, he drove to two lots before he took her to the one where he’d seen the little yellow VW Beetle earlier that week. When he saw it, his memory flashed back to him and Katie buying it all those years ago. She put up a good fight about a car, but once she saw that one, he could hardly pry her out of it. Something about having a Barbie car that looked just like it and it was always her favorite accessory. “Why is Divorce Barbie so expensive?” Dusty had said to her. The punch line, “Because she comes with all of Ken’s things,” earned him a hearty laugh. He pulled his arm to his side in a victory move. He’d finally gotten her to laugh at one of his jokes.