Page 22 of Chaos

“Thanks.” I smiled. “But I still have to sweep.”

He handed me the broom and didn’t argue. I wanted an excuse to hang around here a few more minutes. I really didn’t want to chase after Courtney.

“Get to it then.” He chuckled.

Courtney not only picked up pizza, but she returned to the diner with a box of wine under her arm. I raised an eyebrow, but didn’t question her.

“I figured we could go to your place. That is, if you don’t mind Veronica,” she added, smiling down to her as she excitedly danced in a circle at our feet.

“It’s not like I have to worry about her getting fur everywhere, right?” I joked, wanting to ease her worrying. I still haven’t figured out why I didn’t try to push her away like I did most everyone else, but it was a little too late to start now.

“Box wine, huh?” I said more to fill the silence than anything else, taking the box and snugging it under my arm as I led the way to my apartment.

Courtney’s eyes darted up to the break in the frame of my screen door. Her eyes filled with curiosity, but she never asked about it. I knew she wanted to, but I didn’t give her an explanation. I used my side to hold it open as I unlocked the interior door, flipping the light switch up so she could see to take off her shoes.

We were halfway through the wine and pizza before Courtney or I really said anything of importance. I was surprised how hungry I actually was.

“My brother’s a dick,” she spat out, setting her mostly eaten slice of pizza into the box. I drew imaginary circles with my fingertips onto the couch, not sure if I should say something in return or just listen. I hoped she would continue to talk because I didn’t really know what to say. Each time I heard her cuss it shocked me.

“What about you?” she questioned, lightly kicking my knee with the tip of her toes.

“Am I a dick? Sometimes,” I answered, confused by her question, straightening my back in an unnecessary stretch.

She laughed and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “No, I meant, do you have any siblings?”

“Oh.” I didn’t want to answer her. I didn’t want to talk about my past, but here she was sitting in my apartment with her wide, innocent looking brown eyes. She had bought us dinner…and wine, which tasted as awful as I figured it would, but I didn’t mention it to her.

“I have a little brother and he isn’t a dick at all. He’s amazing,” I whispered, fighting back tears. My throat burned with sadness, and my chest tightened with regret.

“Hmm…must be nice,” was all she said as she stood up and cracked her neck. “I think I should get Veronica home.” She scooped her into her arms and looked out the window. “I want to beat the storm.”

Ray had said the storm was supposed to hit tomorrow, but I guess his weather report was wrong. Dark clouds bellowed across the sky that had been a clear blue just a few hours before. A huge smile crossed my face while we watched the storm move in and the sky darken.

“I think you’ll need this,” I suggested, handing her my umbrella as she opened the door.

She looked across the lawn while leaves blew around, warning us of the upcoming storm.

“I think you’re right. Thanks.” She opened it while walking out the door I held open for her. I then followed her onto the porch. “This was nice.”

“It was. Thank you,” I answered, smiling in her general direction, climbing onto the swing, and kicking my feet outward. I was always awkward with goodbyes, which had worsened with time. A leaf skirted across the grain of the board beneath my feet as I swung them backward to pick up momentum. I watched it move to avoid eye contact.

“Thank you,” she announced her leaving, and then she and V were on their way to, well, I didn’t know because I didn’t ask.

---