Page 31 of Pretend You're Mine
We pulled up in front of her building and she just sat there for a moment, staring straight out the windshield and saying nothing for a few moments.
“Let me walk you to your door,” I said.
She finally shook her head. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.”
Her gaze rested on me once more. “Goodbye Xander– and thank you for today.”
She stepped out of the car into the rain and was gone; into her building without a backward glance.
I sat there for a minute or two. Waiting for what, I didn’t know. She obviously wasn’t coming back. I looked like a weirdo just sitting here.
But I couldn’t bring myself to leave. What the hell was wrong with me? Sitting only made the pounding at my temples worse, so I pulled out and drove back home.
In the kitchen, Walter fixed me with an accusatory look through his shaggy fur. Even though I knew that he’d already been walked by Paula, I still picked up his leash.
One step outside a few minutes later, and even through Walter’s series of approving barks, I got that I was the one who’d needed this walk most.
It was still raining, but I didn’t care. I took off down the path behind my building and tried my best to clear my head. I wove around puddles and tried to avoid stepping on the worms that had come up to catch the freshly wet soil. I stopped in the middle of the trail, when a rabbit hopped out and sat staring in my direction.
“I’ve always been a rabbit person.”
Was this some sort of sign? Don’t be ridiculous Xander, you don’t believe in that shit, I told myself.
I made to continue on but, dejected at the rain, Walter had plopped down and was letting out a low dismal whine.
“It’s okay boy,” I told him, although neither of us believed it.
Gently tugging his leash did nothing so I picked up the wet bundle that he was and headed back the way we came.
Back inside my house, Walter shook himself to ensure that I was as drenched as he was. Then, without a look back, he trotted off into the kitchen.
I took out my phone, and before I knew what was that I was doing, Carlos’ voice was in my ear. “What’s up my man?”
“I need a fucking drink,” I told him.
Carlos chuckled. “You gonna tell my why you hauled ass out of the club last night?”
“No,” I answered.
“Fine. The Blue Door?”
“On my way.”
I smiled. That was how Carlos and I rolled – on the same page and to the point.
We even got to the bar at practically the same time, fifteen minutes later.
“You look like shit,” Carlos said by way of greeting.
“Thanks,” I replied. “You aren’t Jason Momoa yourself brother.”
Carlos laughed. “I don’t have to be, I’ve got the British accent.”
I nodded. He had a point. That fucking accent had cost me one too many girls since high school.” “So. What the hell man?” he asked as we sat at the bar.
My attempt at catching the bartender’s eye was fruitless – she was determined in being pretend-busy dabbing uselessly at the back counter.
“Just let me get a drink in me,” I told him.
Carlos lifted an invisible cup. “Here’s to that.”
A few minutes later, we finally got two scotches. I downed mine in a matter of three efficient sips, while Carlos looked, on clearly impressed.
“Either Walter went and jumped off a cliff, or something big happened.”
“Nothing big happened,” I said, before realizing how full of shit I was. “Okay, so my family is in town… and I did this pretty crazy, very dumb thing.”
“You finally told them to fuck off?” Carlos said hopefully.
Carlos knew my family about as well as I did, and he always had my back whenever shit got rough. I shook my head, exhaled. “It was about ten kinds of stupid – but I’ve just been so fucking tired of them always trying to set me up. So about two weeks ago, I met this girl at Babylon and we got super tanked and got hitched.”
Carlos stopped me there. “You didn’t.”
My hands folded together. “Unfortunately, I did. I’m a married man.”
Without a word, Carlos handed me his drink and I downed it. Then he ordered us four more.
Only after I drank a whole other one did he finally say, “Damn.”
“Tell me about it,” I said, staring at the bottom of the empty glass. I tried to smile but failed. “I convinced her to help me get them off my back while there here in town. To stay married and pretend it’s for real. It’s worked pretty good so far too. My family loves her… But this girl… I swished the liquid around in the bottom of my glass. “Today we spent the day at Myers Carnival.”
Carlos put his cup down. I could feel his sidelong look testing my edges. “And before that?”
