Page 55 of Never After Us
I am not the woman who flirts with a neighbor she barely knows, even if that neighbor looks like a kintsugi-scarred sex-god with trauma in his eyes and hands made for sin.
I’m a single mother.With a full-time job.And an eight-year-old who asks too many questions I’m already dodging with avoidance and sarcasm—it’s an art.
Though, this is too big not to tell someone.
Of course, I grab my phone and dial right away.
It rings once.
“Look at you calling me almost daily,” Ariadne says by way of greeting.“I might get used to this.”
“Alec Horvath,” I blurt, skipping hello entirely.
“Dead Moth Parade?”she says slowly.“Are we playing trivia?Should I answer in the form of a question?‘Who is the drummer from Dead Moth Parade, Alex?’”
“My neighbor,” I say.
A beat.
Then another.
“Your neighbor?”
“My neighbor is Alec?—”
“Shut.The.Fuck.Up.”Papers shuffle on her end.A door slams.“Sorry—I’m, uh—this is an emergency.I have to take it in my office.”
“You’re not in your office?”
“No.I was in a painfully boring meeting, and I told them I had to step out because my cousin is having a crisis after a family loss.I’m using your tragedy for professional escape.You’re welcome.”
“Wow.My best friend moonlights as a ...counselor?”
“Mara, focus.You said your neighbor is Alec Horvath.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Sweetheart, I think the letters and grief and whatever else you’ve been digging through have scrambled your brain.You’re hallucinating.The bad boy from Dead Moth Parade is not living close to you.”
“Try right next door,” I say.
A strangled sound leaves her.“It can’t be.Last I checked, he was in rehab with Dexter—after Dexter’s big public proclamation about not being part of his late father’s legal mess.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’ve been off the grid,” she says.“I have to send you a recap on our favorite dysfunctional band.”
“I could just knock on his door and ask.”
“Oh, okay sweetie.”She sighs loudly.“The guy next door is notmyAlec.Accept that.”
I laugh because she sounds ridiculous.“You still claim ownership over them?”
“Full ownership.As long as you keep Jon.”
I can’t believe she talks about Jon Bon Jovi as if he’s just my best friend.Sure, I said I liked him when we were in high school but now ...I have to remind her that this is the real world.“Jon is married.”
“It doesn’t matter.I’m not giving you any of them.”She curses under her breath.“Damn it, I can’t go.”
