Page 155 of Demo
“I love it!” says Dee. “It’s kinda sexy librarian, and I totally dig it.”
I laugh, then look at Monty. This is the first time I’ve seen him since I got back from Florida two days ago. I had a lot of shit to settle, and the landlord wanted me out ASAP, so I’ve been busy. Monty offered to keep some of my stuff in his garage while I crash with Dee, so I don’t have to pay for storage.
“You sure Catherine doesn’t mind me taking up all that space in your garage?” I ask, and he simply gives me an “are you kidding?” look.
I put my hands up, “OK, OK.”
I take one last look around the apartment. “Well, I guess that’s it.” I place the key on the counter, grab the last box and follow Monty and Dee out the door, pausing to give one last glance toward the refrigerator. I made Dee help me move it so I could retrieve the wedding band I flung under it almost a year ago, but it wasn’t there.
There’s only one other person who knew it was there, who had access to this apartment, and who probably wanted it back since he paid for it.
I pull the door behind me and ask Monty and Dee as we all descend the stairs, “So, how’s it been around the office?
“Boring as shit,” Dee says, at the same time Monty answers, “Good.” He takes the box from me.
“Zack’s done well,” Monty continues. “He’s good at taking direction and criticism, and I know he loves covering your beat. Although, his driving scares the shit out of me.”
That gets a laugh out of me as we get to the bottom of the stairs. “You don’t like anyone’s driving,” I point out.
“Hey, when you have your head dangling out the passenger-side window with a very expensive camera in your hands, then you go right ahead and tell me I’m too picky about who’s operating the vehicle I’m riding in.”
“Touché,” I reply.
We get to our vehicles, and Monty places the box he was carrying for me in his back seat. “You guys headed to my place to drop stuff off, or are you going right to Dees?” he asks.
“Um, everything in Dee’s car is stuff I need, so that’s going right to her apartment,” I say. “I have some stuff I need to put in your garage, but,” I pull out my phone and look at the time, “I told Clyde I’d stop by and pick up Kennedy at three and I’m already late, so I was thinking of stopping there first. OK if I stop by later to drop my things off?”
“Yep, we’ll be there,” Monty replies. “Let me know if you can make it for dinner. Catherine would be ecstatic.”
“Hey, I want to come over for dinner!” Dee looks up from her phone, mid-text.
Monty sighs. “Will you be on your best behavior?”
Dee squints her eyes. “No swearing?”
“No swearing, or talk about penises-”
“Peni,” Dee corrects.
“What? Peni? That’s not even a word,” he balks back.
“Is too. It’s the plural for penis.”
“Now you’re just being juvenile. Lizzie, tell her she’s being juvenile.”
They both look at me, and I sigh. “In Latin, they use the term penes, so, technically, you’re both wrong.”
“Well, we’re not in Latin, so I win,” Dee says as she rounds her car, then yells back. “Can I talk about corn?”
“No!” Both Monty and I respond at the same time.
***
I pull up to Clyde’s a little nervous, but also excited to see my other bestie. I miss that fucking dog, and I’m not too proud to say it out loud. I’m not even out of the car when the front door to the house opens up and Clyde comes jogging out, down the steps, and toward me with open arms. I close the distance between us and crash into his chest, wrapping my arms around his torso and pulling him close as he wraps his arms around my shoulders. We say nothing, and I cherish the fact I’ve been able to keep my relationships with Clyde, and Bram and Emily and their kids, no matter what situation Knox and I are in.
I finally pull back and get a better look at Clyde and realize he looks fantastic!
“Damn, Dad. What fountain of youth are you drinking from?” His skin, crinkled around his eyes and mouth, has a blush to it. And his eyes are bright, as is his smile. It’s genuine. It’s as if the darkness he has been living under for so long has finally lifted. He’s glowing.
