I put my phone down and fiddled with the last bite of my dinner. I wasn’t sure if the business was what kept our sibling relationship going or what constantly tore it apart. Sometimes it was both. Parker was really cool when he wasn’t trying to be such a jerk.
Did Clay treat me the same way out of solidarity, or did I truly annoy him, too? Occasionally, when Parker wasn’t around, I’d catch Clay looking at me, really looking—the way a jewel thief might stare at a priceless necklace encased in glass. Or maybe it was just my active imagination. My secret romantic side, as Jenny liked to point out.
“What was that about?” Jenny offered to take my now empty plate along with hers, but it was my turn for dishes, so I took hers instead and brought them to the sink.
“My dad is trying to make me and Parker take a road trip together.”
“With Clay along, too?” Jenny smirked. “Do it.”
“No way.”
She’d been relentless since the day she’d seen the two of us together, which was for literally about thirty seconds three months ago. My truck had been acting up, and Clay picked me up for work since he lives close by.
Jenny didn’t buy my promises that the two of us were like brother and sister. I didn’t buy it either, but I’d keep trying to convince us both.
I also wouldn’t be accepting rides from Clay anymore. He made me listen to sports talk radio and wouldn’t turn down the air conditioning in freaking January. Even when I closed the vents on my side of his truck, I froze. An all-day road trip in a bucket truck with him and Parker would be a pleasure I’d gladly help wriggle my way out of.
5
___________
Clay
I rolled over and silenced my alarm. The dream I’d been having before being rudely awakened slipped away like sand through my fingers. I was pretty sure Lauren had been in it, based on how badly I wanted to return to the land of the unconscious, but now that I was awake and aware, it was better to let it go.
Thinking of Lauren reminded me of yesterday and her dad’s boyfriend-breakup request, and the stress of it returned, especially after I remembered we had a company meeting first thing. I hoped John wouldn’t say anything stupid in the meeting today; anything that might upset the status-quo between me and Lauren, as imperfect as it was.
But there was no use laying here speculating. I jumped up and showered, ate, dressed, and gathered up my things. Living alone was new to me. I’d had roommates for years, including Parker, but I’d jumped at the opportunity to buy this townhouse when the market took a dive and the interest rates were crazy low.
Sometimes the quiet got to me, but mostly I loved doing my own thing at my own pace and not having to move around other people and tolerate their odd habits or noises. Parker, for example, used to put his initials on everything with permanent marker. His milk carton, the tags of his shirts, the bottoms of his shoes, even his beloved kitchen appliances, like his Vitamix blender.
Strangely enough, he probably missed having roommates more than me. At least, based on how often he was over here. A pair of his socks with P’s written on the toes were still on the living room floor from our movie marathon the other night.
I flipped off the kitchen lights and locked up before jumping in my truck parked outside, only to hear the dreaded click, click, click, telling me I had a dead battery. Perfect. I’d become too reliant on getting to work with mere minutes to spare, and now it was going to bite me in the butt.
Parker, ever punctual, would already be at work. I mapped out other options in my mind, trying to deny the obvious choice, which was to call Lauren and have her swing by. The longer I waited, the less likely she would still be at home.
I sat up straighter as I scrolled to her number, putting my game face on like I was psyching myself up for the high jump in track. Talking would be faster than text, and yeah, I also wanted to hear her surprise at hearing from me because I’m whipped like that.
“Clay?”
“Hi, Lauren. Have you left for work yet?”
“I’m leaving now. Why?”
“My truck decided it was your turn for a favor.”
She laughed. “I thought your beautiful new Ford was problem free. It was only my hunk-of-junk Chevy that was allowed to have a bad day.”
“All I need is a jump from you. A dead battery is a little different than transmission failure after 300,000 miles.”
“Insulting my truck while asking for a favor? Bad form, Clay.”
“Okay, I’m sorry. Your truck is beautiful and will live forever. Now will you please come give me a jump?”
“That’ll take too long and we’ll be late for the company meeting this morning. I need John in a good mood. Just get in my truck as soon as you see me, and after the meeting, I’ll come back with you. Or Parker will come back and help you jump it.” With that, she hung up.
I should have been irritated knowing I’d have to deal with my truck later, but I smiled and got out, leaning against my truck to wait. The Palo Verde trees in my yard were in full bloom, leaving yellow fluff on everything they touched. Later this summer, they’d drop ugly seed pods everywhere because, why not? If it didn’t take so long to grow trees, I’d uproot them and plant something that didn’t make such a mess.
