That following autumn morning danced with little drops of rain. The birds sang in a myriad of sounds and calls while the trees rustled in the breeze. Outside, the grass of her backyard needed to be mowed up to the tree line, and small pools of rainwater gathered within them like little water worlds. The rabbits were still out eating their early breakfast in the yard, and they were accompanied by the bluejays that were also on the hunt for the early worm. The mums that swept alongside the front stoop reflected the dewy offerings of the day.
Caleb’s warm breath brushed the back of her neck as her eyes opened. Normally, she would rush to the bathroom first thing in the morning, but this morning was different. His arm was still around her, and the stillness of his slumber made her feel snuggly and safe.
She’d hoped she hadn’t snored that night like a monster with a sinus infection, as her last roommate warned that she did. What a wonderful thing it would be to serve him breakfast right as he woke, but she couldn’t risk waking him. What would it be like to wake someone in the military? Would he jump out of bed and begin doing pushups? Would he randomly tell her how to make her bed? Or perhaps he’d be in a bad mood? Her mind toyed with every outcome.
That stupid muffler roared as the Chevy truck blasted past her driveway with loud music rumbling in its bass.
Caleb groaned, “I hate that guy.”
She chuckled. “Do you know him?”
He rolled over onto his back. Damn. He broke the embrace and magical morning. Caleb lazily rubbed his sleepy eyes. The gray light of that early morning washed his face, making his brown eyes appear more hazel than anything. He seemed like he was staring off at the ceiling in deep contemplation, or recollection.
“Yeah. Alan Moffet. I went to school with him. He’s got a big case of the ‘look at me’s’ and a big fat burr up his ass.” The last part of his statement caught her off guard, and she laughed again. He smiled at her. “Well, he does!”
“Maybe he missed his flea bath.”
Laughter came again. Caleb loved her sense of humor, how she could crown his jokes with a similar taste of fun.
She asked, “Is it true that he yells at people when he drives? I heard that on the discussion page. That he flips people off and even tried to deliberately hit a pedestrian.”
“Yeah, he’s quite a peach.”
“Do you think maybe he’s like that because someone’s done him wrong? Maybe a bad home life? I mean, no one acts like that for no reason.”
He sat up and turned, rising from the bed. “Nah, some people are born assholes. There’s nothing wrong with his past. He’s a dick. He’s drunk all the time too.”
“Um, Caleb?” she asked. What she was about to say could ruin everything, but she had to be honest. He turned and looked at her. Now she was able to see his whole physique, but that was no longer on her mind. Evie sat up and rested back on her left hand and fixed her hair. “You kind of joked about liking to drink a lot and how you needed to be drunk to play guitar for people. What’s it any different?”
He held his chest and raised his brows. “Am I an asshole? Do I go around flipping people off and trying to hit people with my truck?”
She stuttered nervously, “Um, no. But maybe he deals with it thatway. Whereas it seems like you hide things, maybe he acts out in stupid ways.”
“I never said I hide anything.”
She swallowed and looked down at the bed before meeting his gaze again. He seemed like he was getting angry. “You didn’t want to tell me about your job in the Navy last night. Doesn’t that kinda count?”
“Evie, look, I don’t talk about my job in the Navy because it’s difficult for me. People don’t understand.” His voice grew in firmness and volume a little bit. “Everyone wants to thank me when I wear my uniform. Ashley said she was proud of me. But then when I come home, it’s the same shit. The same ol’ song and dance. People wanna act like they care, until it’s time to truly care.”
She said softly, trying to calm him with gentleness, “And so you bottle it up and handle it with drinking?”
He pointed at her angrily. “Don’t act like you know me. And don’t patronize me.”
She got out of the bed quickly and tried to reassure him with a touch, but he pulled away. “Caleb, please.”
“Just,” he started as he held his hands up and turned from her, “please make breakfast if you still want to. I have places to be today. I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
She let go of him. His back was turned to her, and he rubbed his face. The delicacy of her voice was like silk over his calloused hands, fractured ears and washed-up heart, but he knew better than to trust people outright.
She sighed. “Caleb, please, I wasn’t trying to patronize you. I was actually genuinely asking. No, you’re not an asshole.”
He wasn’t so sure about that. That was all he had heard over the last five years of his life.
She continued, “I saw similarities in certain things. And if you say that Alan’s an asshole because he was born that way, and that you and he are nothing alike, then whatisthe reason for your drinking?”
He looked back at her and forced a smile. “Evie, some people drink to loosen up and have fun, you know? Just because I like to get drunk and lighten up doesn’t mean I come with a shitload of baggage and problems.”
The only way she could even stand a chance with him still was to respect…
