“Judging by how much you’re drinking, I highly doubt you’ll be good tomorrow, but I understand the sentiment.” He pauses to take another drink. “So, what’s your plan?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you’ve done a great job at avoidance over the years when my little sister popped into town, but I think this time, that’s going to be quite a bit more difficult.”
“I’ll adjust,” I say with all the confidence I can muster.
This isn’t the first time Dylan and I have sat at this bar and shared drinks while discussing his sister. He knows the story between the two of us and has been a good sounding board.
I look at him. “I know I seem like a sad sack of shit right now, but seeing her just threw me off.”
“Yeah, she said you were pretty hard on her.”
“I’ve been mad at her for so long. I guess I thought she was still mad too. I didn’t expect her to be happy to see me.”
“With Jo, you never know what to expect.”
“I figure I may not be able to completely avoid her. That doesn’t mean we have to be friends. I can be civil.”
I really do believe my words—mainly because I can be excellent at avoiding my feelings. After losing my dad and brother in such a short span of time, I’ve gotten pretty good at it.
If I can deal with that nightmare, I can deal with Jo. Maybe if I keep being a dick to her, she will stay away.
That’s the best-case scenario.
Dylan picks at the label on his beer bottle like he has something else he wants to say but doesn’t know how.
“Spit it out, Dyl. What’s eating at you?”
“My mother worked her magic and convinced Jack to let Jo work part time at the shop.”
Without warning, I start laughing. Gut-busting laughing.
Concern is written all over Dylan’s face. “Are you okay?”
“It’s just funny. I spent so long trying to forget about Jo. I haven’t even thought about her in forever. Now, she’s back, and she’s fucking everywhere. I don’t know what kind of bad karma I’ve racked up, but damn.”
“The good news is I talked to Jack, and he’s going to try to keep you two away from each other as much as possible.”
“While I appreciate that, but I don’t want any special treatment.”
And I don’t want any more people knowing why that special treatment may be warranted.
Dylan only knows because he came asking questions after Jo left.
He says, “Don’t worry. I didn’t give him any details. I just told him you two don’t get along, and it would be better to have some space between you.”
“Thanks, Dylan.”
“For what it’s worth, I think it’s shitty the way Jo left. I’ll be the first one to tell her that.”
“Don’t,” I interrupted. “It’s not that deep. I’ll be fine. Seriously.”
I’m not sure who I’m trying to really convince—him or me.
“Okay,” he says. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“And, Dyl? One more thing?”
