Page 46 of Why Not Now?

“We don’t have to talk about this, Derek. I know how much you hate talking about him.”

“Adalie knows. When I get there, she’s going to ask what’s wrong. I’m not great at hiding my emotions around my friends.”

“You told Adalie about your dad?”

He shrugs. “I told all of them. They’re my best friends.”

The elevator doors open and he leads me down the hall. Sure enough, when Adalie answers the door, she takes one look at Derek with his hands in his pockets and no smile on his face and immediately asks, “What’s wrong?”

He turns to me with an expression that says,you see?“I just got another call.”

“Did you answer?” she asks, stepping away from the door, letting us in.

“No.”

She nods decisively. “Then let’s forget it for now. We’re going to have fun tonight. Hi Ava. It’s nice to see you again. I was looking for my jacket, then we can go. Is it raining yet?”

“Hi,” I say. “It is a bit.”

Derek sighs. “Ad. Isn’t that your jacket on the back of the couch?”

She looks where it’s draped next to a purple blanket and grins. “Yes. Perfect. I figured we’d walk to Granville Street and take a bus from there.”

She pulls on the purple winter coat and zips it up, grabbing her wallet and keys.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“You haven’t told her yet?”

Derek shakes his head. I can tell he’s still thrown off by the call, not smiling the way he usually does.

Adalie makes up for his withdrawn demeanour by being supremely bubbly, leading us back out of her apartment and to the elevator. She links her arms with Derek on one side and me on the other and begins an effusive explanation on her latest art piece.

“I really think the mixed media is going to make a statement,” she says.

“I’m excited to see it,” Derek says, and he’s sincere. “Do you want to wait until it’s done?”

“I think so. You’ll see the whole effect.”

He nods and we come to a stop to wait for a bus. I’m incredibly curious about where we’re going, but neither of them will answer.

Then, very casually, Derek says, “Hey, Adalie, how are you getting to work this week?”

“I’m taking transit, like usual,” she answers, sounding confused. “Why?”

“Can I borrow your car?”

I feel very uncomfortable for a moment, like my skin is too tight. “Derek,” I say, and shake my head. “Don’t worry about it.”

Adalie looks between us. “Is something wrong with your car?” she asks him.

“Not mine. Ava’s.” He pins me with a look. “She’s already agreed to borrow mine. But she’s worried about how I’ll get back and forth to work.”

“Take transit,” Adalie says. “Or you could borrow my car.” She pauses. “Probably Lis’ or Vic’s as well.”

She rattles off all the same things Derek had mentioned he could do, like none of them are a huge inconvenience. The bus arrives and we get on. Adalie pulls me into a seat and Derek stands next to us.

“You would really loan him your car because he’s loaning me his?” I ask.

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