Chapter 5: DIEGO
Taranwasn’tplayingaround,as it turned out; the boy asked me out or over at least three times a week for the next few weeks.He took me to fancy sushi on Mt.Washington, to elaborate Spanish tapas in Lawrenceville, to a place with the freshest pasta I’d ever had in my damn life in Carnegie, every place more romantic than the last.He made me more and more elaborate dinners; he picked me up late at night from work and hung out on my couch after; he was, in essence, a perfect gentleman ontopof being a really good lay.
And all of that without bringing up too many uncomfortable memories, at least not out loud.It felt like a proper second chance, when we weren’t lingering on all that past bullshit, when we were just getting to know each other all over again.Like a normal couple of guys who were into each other would.I knew we’d have to talk some shit through eventually, and every now and then I could tell he wanted to bring stuff up.But I wasn’t ready to scratch that weird little itch in my brain yet.
I liked it.I likedhim.And I wished it wasn’t so much more complicated than that.
After about three weeks, Kelly and Tom were due back from their honeymoon.The good thing about having family within an hour drive was that when my asshole brother ran off with my car, there was usually one I could borrow from someone else.Case in point: this shitty little red Honda.
The annoying thing about having family within an hour drive and borrowing their spare cars was that it meant if they needed anything, I pretty much had to do it.
I didn’t actually mind airport pickups, though.Always wanted to travel, myself, and it was like a little vicarious trip for me.Granted, I had a long fucking night of work ahead of me later, but I was actually interested to hear about the Hawaii honeymoon.
Kelly and Tom were already outside when I rolled up to the arrival gates, so I hopped out to help with the bags.“How was Hawaii, kids?”
“Overpriced.”Tom tossed a suitcase into the trunk—I’d made some room in there, finally—and then shook my hand.He was an okay guy, kind of vanilla for someone as spicy as Kelly, but if she was happy, fuck it.“Jesus, D, you’ve only had this car for like two months.Looks like you’ve been living in it.”
“Hey, I’ll have you know I tidied it up especially so your bags would fit,” I told him.
He laughed—my whole family knew I’d never had a car that didn’t look like I lived out of it.I was pretty good about keeping my living space orderly, especially the bathroom, but my brain chaos always spilled out into cars for some reason.
“I have never felt more like an exploitative colonizer than I did for the last two weeks.”Kelly handed Tom her case, then hugged me.“But damn, it’s beautiful there.”
“Aw, poor white girl.”I gave her a little squeeze before pulling back to smirk at her.After Dad and Annie married, Kelly asked me once if it was weird to have white family now.Seeing as the only black people in town when I was growing up were Dad, Frankie, me, and two other unrelated couples with families, the answer had been a resoundingno.Who the hell else was he gonna marry, seeing as he never left town?Even my mom was half-white, half-Puerto Rican, and that was as close to colorful as Stanley County got.“And are you knocked up yet?”
Tom sighed.“Diego, if you jinx me…”
Neither of them wanted kids, at least not for a decade.If at all.But we all knew the parents were gonna start in on her, now that she was married, so I couldn’t help it.I finished helping with their bags, then said, “Get in, losers.”
Kelly slid into the passenger seat beside me.“Thanks for coming to get us.Parking is a bitch.”
“And my credit card is maxed,” Tom added.
Kelly rolled her eyes fondly.“How’s everyone?”
I made sure everyone had their arms and legs strapped in, then pulled out into the thru lane “Like, family?”
“Yeah.”
“No idea.”I shrugged.“Been working, mostly.”
“I figured Kacey would’ve been on your ass.”Kelly blew out a sigh, sending her fringe flying.“She texted me about you like four times while we were gone.”
“You know, I did feel like someone was walking over my grave a few times,” I said.
From the back seat, Tom let go a huge sigh.“Just ask him.”
I shot Kelly a look, and she was red-faced, screeching, “Tom!”
“Come on; he knows what you’re doing,” Tom insisted, smiling in the mirror at me.
It took me that fucking long to realize.My turn to roll my eyes.In the three weeks since the wedding, I’d barely spoken to Kelly, but there had only been one topic of conversation.I’d been able to duck her questions at the wedding, but now she had me trapped.
So I said, “You wanna ask about Taran Kovacs.Yes, we dipped out of your wedding for a few minutes.And made out in the back seat of this fabulous car you so kindly loaned me.”
Tom made a face and looked down at his seat.“Uh…”
I glanced up at him in the mirror, grinning.“Relax.I don’t let anything go to waste.”
