“Youknew?” he asks, looking up at me, his dark brows pulling together.
I feel like shit, as if somehow I’ve let him down.
“Sorry. I mean, it wasn’t really something I could say. I don’t know you, and it was Kate’s news to share.”
“No, no. I get that. It’s crazy coming home and feeling like I was almost tricked into being told what might be the worst news that my family’s had in… well, a very long time.”
The way he says it, I can tell there’s more to the story, but I’m not going to pry.
He walks around to the other side of the bar and sits on one of the stools, resting his elbow on the counter and burying his face in his palm.
“Soda okay?” I ask him.
“Yeah. That’d be great.”
I’m quick with making a cocktail for both of us.
He scratches at the bar. “So I guess everyone but me knew the truth.”
I don’t say anything because I can tell he’s still trying to make sense of it all in his head.
When I’m finished with his drink, I set it before him.
He takes a sip quickly. I think he’s about to set it back down, but then he leans back, tilts the glass, and takes a gulp. Then another.
I add some soda to the vodka I’ve already poured for me before taking a modest sip, seeming to almost compensate for how much he just had.
He glares at his glass, apparently projecting his frustration on it.
“A little vodka isn’t going to cut it,” he says. “Whatdayasay we head to the bar?”
“I’m ready when you are.”
He sizes me up. “You want to change into something a little more casual?”
I remember that I’m still dressed up for the day.
My cheeks warm.
“Oh, yeah. Let me do that and then we’ll head on out.”
I change into a polo and jeans. Mikey wears a leather jacket, which seems kind of warm for tonight, but considering how he looks in it, I won’t question his judgement.
We walk to a bar a couple of blocks away. I figure it’s the safest since I don’t imagine either of us will be sober by the end of the night, not after I had to deal with my dad and Mikey got Kate’s news dumped on him like that.
We don’t talk on the way there, and I can tell by the expression on his face that he’s stewing on something. When we arrive at the local pub, we sit at the bar and order drinks. As Mikey gulps down his tequila and water, and in an effort to keep up, I hastily drink my vodka Sprite.
“Much better,” I say as the strong taste of liquor tingles on my tongue.
“Shit. I’m sorry. I’ve been so caught up with this bullshit with Kate that I didn’t even ask you. What’s going on? You looked as bummed as I feel.”
“Well, not that bummed. It was just shit with my dad. He called before you got home, and let’s just say he has a way with words.”
“What’d he get onto you about?”
“My job. Well, what he doesn’t even see as a job, I guess. He thinks my graphic design is a hobby that happens to earn me some cash. Sometimes, it’s like he thinks I’m mowing lawns. Although, he might respect that more because then he’d at least understand that there’s always going to be a need for someone to cut the grass. I know that’s nothing compared to what you had to deal with today.”
“No. I get having to deal with shit from your parents. That’s part of what’s pissing me off about this whole deal with Kate. It’s not just about what her asshole husband did. It’s what it brings up for our entire family.”
