I snort. “Because I had bangs.”
He laughs under his breath. “Liz, I think we both know your bangs had little to do with it.”
I don’t respond. It was the heinous bitch thing I had going for me back then that did it. Not that I’m all that pleasant these days either. I could point out a flaw or two of his that made the feeling mutual, but we aren’t the ones who need convincing of our common dislike of each other. Casey is. Or was, I guess, if Jovi’s assessment is to be trusted as accurate. I have my doubts.
“That’s it?” he asks after I’ve been quiet a while. “You’re going to let that one slide without a comeback?”
I rest my head on the seat, tilting it up and closing my eyes. “We hate each other, Jovi. It’s a well-established fact.” I sigh. “Funthough it is to engage in verbal warfare with you, I think it’s probably time we called a truce. For Remmi and Gavin’s sake.”
His exhale sounds like giving in, and I almost open my eyes to look at him. Almost.
“No more insults.”
I fold my hands in my lap in a show of surrender. “No more insults.”
“And the hits keep on coming,” he huffs, but even with my eyes closed, I know he’s making a show of things. “It’s just one devastating loss after the other these days.”
“I know it hurts, Jovi,” I say, “but this sacrifice, at least, is only temporary. The day will come when you shall feel the joy of a well-worded burn piercing your ego yet again.”
“Maybe we can have a banter night the way normal people have a date night.”
It’s enough to snap me out of my attempts to zone out. “You want to have a weekly night out to exchange insults?”
He grins. “Be honest, Liz. You’ll never be able to hold in every cruel thought. The buildup would kill you.”
“It’s disgusting how well you know me.” I pull myself up into a more structured position again. There’s no escaping this, no matter how much I want to. “So, yes, let’s make a deal to have one night a week without little ears. But,” I add, preparing to amend his offer, “the exchanging of insults will be a bonus. Let’s make the time count for something more productive.”
His mouth quirks. I’ve piqued his interest. “Like?”
“Like, a weekly progress report. If we don’t want to live together forever, we need to be proactive about making the business profitable and finding a way to restore some sense of security and stability for the kids.” I roll my eyes. Everything coming out of mymouth sounds insane. “Let’s face it, Jovi. We’re going to make a shit team. Not least of all because we can’t stand each other, but also because it’s highly unlikely we’ll be on the same page with…well, anything. And we can’t each be going our own way and hope we somehow make it to the finish line together.”
I watch while he mulls it over. His fingers tap the top of his steering wheel while he pulls the inside of his bottom lip between his teeth. Sometimes I wonder if he has a permanent hole there.
“So, to be clear,” he starts after several long moments, “in addition to living together, you want to make time once a week to get together, just the two of us, and be…supportive?”
“Sounds terrible, I know.” I let my head fall back against the seat and turn my gaze toward the window and the passing scenery. There's a lot of nothing between here and the airport and I note how ‘empty’ appears to be the theme of my life at the present.
Changing my flight was easy enough. I'll be back in Seattle by tonight, escaping to the illusion of bustling life for one last reprieve. "I think it’s supposed to. I think everything is supposed to sound terrible, feel terrible…beterrible, for a long while to come.” Maybe it’ll stay terrible forever from now on.
My mother’s gone.
My father’s dead.
And Lena…I can’t even think it.
I don’t have to.
It all amounts to the same thing.
I’m alone. I’m alone but for two tiny lives who deserve infinitely more than I can offer. And Jovi.
Everything is terrible.
JOVI
“You don’t need to park. I’ll be out before you’re fully stopped.”
Of course, Liz’s stubborn ass would insist I do little more than slow down enough for her to jump out as I pass by the airport. I have half a mind to throw her bag after her as she makes her leap to the sidewalk, my truck still rolling, but I decide against physical assault. Instead, I wait patiently for her to retrieve her things from my backseat, all while keeping the motor running and the gear in drive.
