There itis…
“He’s doing great, right, Jesse?” Typresses.
She seems to recover that slick smile, the cool demeanor she’s crafted over the years, and it leaves me wondering what’s behind the facade…not that it would be too difficult toimagine.
“Yeah, he’s good.” I fill my own glass with wine, then set the bottle back on the table, the business providing a distraction from the tension I created. “He and Ty got together yesterday for rockclimbing.”
“And work is good?” Triciacontinues.
“It’s been a little more stressful for him recently. He’s got a lot of balls to juggle rightnow.”
That was the worst way I could have worded that, but I can’t tell by her expression if she’s reading any innuendo intoit.
“Busy. He’s busy,” I spit out, “but doingwell.”
“He and Jesse are taking tango classes,” Ty chimesin.
Now I guess it’s my turn for my face to be beetred.
Tricia nods, her thin eyebrows tugging closer together as she says, “Eric taking tango classes?” She starts to giggle, and it transforms into a full laugh. Ty enjoys the amusement with her, and I inquire, “What isit?”
“That’s a funny thing for him to be doing,” Ty says. “Definitely not something I would have ever considered he’d do before you guysstarted.”
“Not at all,” Tricia follows. “We used to go to these business events, and you know how those things are. They’d have moments where everyone would dance to slower songs. When I pressed him, he would be stiff as a board. So uncomfortable and out of his element, and the idea of him out of his element is always funny to me. He likes to keep control over everything, so it’s refreshing to imagine him trying to let loose enough totango.”
“He’s getting much better. It’s been a bit of a struggle, but we’re figuring itout.”
Figuring so many thingsout.
“I’m glad to hear that, Jesse. Sincerely.” I can tell she meansit.
I’m not sure what I expected from her. Perhaps bitterness or anger, but she’s not mean or spiteful. She sounds genuinely interested in keeping the lines of communication open. And something about her amusement with tango has gone a long way toward breaking up what stress remained from what began as the subject none of us wanted to chatabout.
The rest of the dinner moves along nicely, the conversation flowing so much easier now that we’ve discussed Eric without any serious drama bubbling up. Once we finish and we all say our goodbyes, Ty and I head out, down the front drive, calling Ubers on our apps. As we reach the street, I glance back at thehouse.
I shove my cell away, burying my hands in my pockets. Seems like the only thing that’ll keep me from fidgeting with themtonight.
“How’d I do?” Iask.
“It wasn’t a test, but if it had been, you’d have gotten anA.”
“Thank you. Kind of needed to hearthat.”
“That’s why I said it.” The corner of his lips twists up. “You heading back to Eric’splace?”
“Yeah, practically living together now. Well, not that. We just had thatdiscussion.”
He eyes me curiously. “I figured you guys would be getting close to that, considering how fast you twomove.”
It is fast, so fast, yet the perfect speed for Eric and me. There’s something that seems so reckless about it, but so right all atonce.
“I don’t like the idea of leaving my stuff and moving into his place. It’s all him, and I don’t want to get in there and start wrecking hisstyle.”
“Aww. Jesse Morgan trying to navigate a serious relationship again. It’d be crazier if I hadn’t already seen this all go down with you and Whitney. But you guys will figure it all out. It’s not like you have to move in together right away. You love each other, and that’s what’s important. I’d be lucky to find someone I care about half as much as you guys care about each other.” The way he says it, with utter sincerity, surprises me. “Thank you for coming over here tonight, Jesse.” Those words surprise me just asmuch.
“Obviously, I’m the one who’s appreciative that you invited me. That I’m even still in your life after all that’shappened.”
“Naw,” he says as he throws his arm over my shoulder. “You’re still my buddy, even if you were an asshole. I tell you what. I can’t imagine going through the shit you’re going through right now, and I’m not even being sarcastic. Even with our friends. They’re great about it all, but I know there’s some weirdness and some judgments. And facing my mom. Who else would fucking put up withthat?”
