I don’t mean to sigh, but the sound escapes all the same. “Is it the girl?” he asks. “You really liked her, didn’t you?”
You think?
“I’m sorry about what happened with her mom, but I promise it’s better this way. The minute you begin a relationship, you’ve just invited loss into your life. I mean, if you really think about it, there’s no such thing as a happy ending—not if you really follow the story all the way to its true conclusion. And we don’t need any more loss. Do we, boy?”
Just days earlier, I did agree with him. I don’t anymore. I’m ready to accept the inevitable loss, however painful, if it means more love. Besides, Amelia said she knew what was best for him, and I have to believe her; I just haveto.
Miguel’s computer’s open on the coffee table. He reaches forward and flips it closed. “Maybe that’s why Jonathan hightailed it to Europe. He may not have written those books, but he’s still wiser than I’ve given him credit for. I have to wonder what it would be like to just…justdisappear,maybe move through the world anonymously. I mean, I’d still want to reach out to Miriam, let her know I’m okay. And she can let the cousins know, since Titi Ceci doesn’t remember me anymore.”
This time, my sigh’s on purpose, but Miguel’s so lost in his delusions that he doesn’t even hear me. “Honestly, Harold, the fact that disappearing sounds idyllic means it really is time for me to close the store. Or maybe I could sell the business, and Dane, Brenna, and Riley could run it without me. We all know they’d be better off that way. The only one who really needs me is you.”
“Like hell we’d be better without you,” says a voice from behind us, and Miguel springs straight into the air like a cat who’s spotted a cucumber.
Dane’s standing in the doorway to the living room. His sunglasses are perched atop the bird’s nest on his head, and he’s carrying a paper bag. “Sup, Harold?” he says, tilting his chin at me as I rise to greet him. “I heard you had a gnarly fall, so stay put.”
“¡Ay, Virgen,Dane!” exclaims Miguel. “Are you trying to kill me? How’d you even get in here?”
“Opposite of killing, chief. I came to check on you.” Dane squints at him. “Gotta say, I took you for a tighty-whitie guy. Kind of happy to see you in boxers.”
Miguel glances down but makes no attempt to cover himself. “Have you not heard of knocking?”
“I totally knocked. You didn’t answer, but I saw your car was here, and the back door was unlocked.”
Dane knocked? I missed that, which is weird—there are few things I enjoy more than barking at the door. I didn’t hear him walk in, either. Oh, I really am on the decline.
“Why would I answer?” scoffs Miguel. “I don’t need to be sold on salvation, and I’m sure as hell not buying a set of encyclopedias.”
“I’m agnostic, and the interwebs have rendered encyclopedias irrelevant.” Dane lifts the paper bag. “I brought us breakfast, but I’m gonna need you to put some pants on so I can actually eat. Mm-kay?”
Remarkably, Miguel trudges upstairs and throws on the clothes he was wearing the day before. Then he pours a couple of mugs of coffee, hands one to Dane, and sits next to him on the sofa.
“Don’t know why you’re here,” Miguel says, his mouth full of the enormous muffin Dane just passed him.
“Come on, dude. I could tell when you called last night that you’re in a bad way. Fiona’s gone, you’re talking about closing the store, and I hear you told Riles to accept another gig. I’ll take ‘crisis’ for five hundred, Alex.”
“I am not in crisis, Dane.” He sighs. “Okay, maybe I’m not doing so hot. How upset is Riley?”
Dane licks a crumb off his finger, then points the digit at Miguel. “She’s not great, but in classic form, she’s more worried about you than herself. Why don’t you let us help you figure out how to bring in some cash, fast, so you don’t have to choose the nuclear option? The beginning of September is just weeks away. That’s time for us to come up withsomething.”
“I own a calendar.”
“Hmm.” Dane sinks his teeth into his muffin, then glances around as he chews. “Listen, chief, I meant what I said. I can totally work for free for a while to help you save money. This is a sweet little place. I could move into your basement or something to make sure it’s fair. No offense to Harold, but you could probably use the company.”
He’s not wrong about that, but Miguel glowers at him. “After seeing you pop out of my spare bedroom, that is literally my worst nightmare.”
“I know you speak two languages better than I can manage one, but I’m pretty sure you’re misusing the word ‘literally.’ ”
“Stop while you’re ahead.”
“Roger that—though my offer stands. Also, if you really do close the store and need a new gig, my aunt runs a marketing firm in Grand Rapids. Says she’s always looking for warm bodies. You could probably write press releases and stuff.”
Miguel freezes. “A desk job?”
Dane takes a sip of his coffee. “Yepperdo.”
“Surrounded by dozens of employees, too many of whom will stop at my cubicle countless times a day to talk about asinine television shows I’ve never heard of? And ask if I want to eat lunch with them and a bunch of other cogs I have nothing in common with?”
“That’s usually how that works.” Dane nods to himself. “Though it’s probably more like hundreds of employees.”
