Denny
While Jo went to roll the joint, Denny walked back out into the yard and sat on his boulder. He stared at the river without really seeing it, trying to center himself a little before he spun out of control enough to grab the whiskey.
He’d save the bottle for Saturday evening when he’d need it the most. Today, beer, weed, and Josiah’s company would be enough. Hopefully.
“Scoot.”
He must’ve zoned out, because he hadn’t heard Jo’s approach. Then he realized Josiah wasn’t wearing shoes.
“No wonder you’re stealthy,” he grumbled as he moved to the side just enough to make room.
Denny watched as Josiah lit the joint and placed the lighter between them. Then he took in a drag before handing it to Denny.
They smoked in a companionable silence for a while. That was one of the things Denny liked in his people; being able to be quiet with someone was priceless to him. That was part of why he loved Josiah’s company so much. That was why he’d liked Kristin’s, too.
“She messaged me,” Denny said finally. “She’s going to get all her stuff and be out of the house by Sunday when I get back.”
Jo hummed. “Did you guys talk about it?”
“She just doesn’t want to be married after all. I mean, there’s a lot of love there but….” Denny shrugged, the motion bumping his arm against Josiah’s. He leaned a bit more into that contact.
Jo finished the joint, rubbing the stump on the stone to make sure it was out. Then he leaned against the awkward back rest.
“I really liked her,” Josiah mused. “She was good for you.”
Denny snorted. “I guess I wasn’t good for her, then.”
He could feel Josiah’s eyes on him. “She didn’t think that, did she?”
He shook his head. No, Kristin had been nothing but nice about this. “She told me off when I tried that shit on her.” He gestured vaguely with his hand, feeling the looseness in the movement.
“Smart woman.” Jo seemed to think for a bit, then said, “Look. You’re the best guy I know, Denny. You do your best for everyone. But the thing is, every relationship has two parties in it.”
“Or more, as Sammie would correct you,” Denny said quickly, grinning.
Josiah huffed and thwacked him with the back of his hand. “You know what I mean.”
“I do, yes.” Denny smiled at him fondly.
For a moment, Josiah was still, staring at him. Then he seemed to snap out of it. “What I’m trying to say is this: maybe you put too much pressure on yourself? Sure, your marriages have failed, but you can’t blame yourself for each of them, can you? There was always a wife included in what happened, right?”
Denny looked back at the river and sighed. “I guess.”
“I know,” Jo said with weight behind the words.
Something about his tone tickled Denny’s funny bone, and he started to laugh. When he glanced at Josiah, his friend frowned at him with confusion, before it all caught up with him and Josiah snorted.
The snort turned into full-blown laughter, and then Denny knew it wasn’t just the weed. They laughed and laughed until it started to die down slowly.
Josiah wiped his eyes and let out the last little chuckle before closing his eyes and smiling contently. Something about the sight and the release of laughing got to Denny, and he realized his tears of laughter had turned into… tears.
“Oh, honey,” Josiah said when he noticed.
Jo grabbed his arm and pulled him in, and then Denny was enveloped in his best friend’s arms where he fell apart for the second time that day.
Josiah said it was his turn to cook dinner, so Denny went to the bedroom to make the bed for whomever ended up sleeping there.
He felt… not empty, but kind of hollowed out. He knew that the feeling wouldn’t get any better for a few days at least, not with tomorrow lurking around the corner.
