Page 83 of Deliverance

“Nah.” He shakes his head and takes another drag.

“You positive, man?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“What do you mean, don’t worry about it? I find you bawling like a baby in the middle of the night. In the parking lot.Alone.” I stress the last word.

“Just some shit I’m trying to deal with.”

“Anything I can do?”

Leo sniffs again and turns to look at me, his expression pained. “A new life might be useful.” A heavy sigh leaves his mouth. “Got one of those?”

“Tell me about it.” I chuckle, leaning in. “I wouldn’t say no to one myself.”

We share a laugh, albeit bitter.

“Just hang in there,” I say quietly.

“Dude…I’m tired of hanging in there like I’m some fucking backup plan.” I hear a change in his voice. “It’s sucking my soul dry. I can’t take it anymore.”

Cold dances along the curve of my spine, and despite the warm weather, I shiver. “What are you talking about?”

Leo takes one last excruciatingly long hit and stabs what’s left of his cigarette into the ashtray. “You ever look back at all the things you’ve done and all the people you’ve met and wonder if the answer to all your questions was right there…right in front of your nose…and you failed to notice it because you were chasing something else?” He locks his gaze on mine, immobilizing me entirely. “Something of no importance.”

Tightness seizes my chest. “We all do. We all wonder.”

Leo’s stare drops to his lap and he tuts under his breath as if my response was expected.

“Talk to me, man,” I press. “If this is about your song—”

“No, it’s not about the song,” he interrupts, his voice jumping an octave, lines around his mouth twisting. “I know it’s shit. It’s for the best we set it aside for now. Me and the boys can come back to it some other time. I appreciate you being honest.”

“The lyrics are great. Don’t change them. But the track needs a lot of work and we’re already behind schedule.”

“Yeah. You’re right.” Leo nods, blinking. “You’re right, dude.” He pauses and scratches the back of his neck.

“You’re sure you’re going to be okay?”

“I’m sure. See you later.”

“Later, man.” I double-tap my palm against the roof of his truck and start walking to my Spyder, wondering if he’s right. Wondering if I already had all the answers but missed them.

15 Drew

My phone buzzes and,startled, I jump up at the sound.

Despite the preparations being in full swing, the business end of the gallery has been abnormally quiet for the past five minutes. Tina rushed out of the office right before the noise migrated over to the main display room, where Lucia was putting final touches on the decor.

All I gathered from another employee’s panicked mumbling was that there was a mix-up with the menu and the fiasco apparently required Tina’s involvement, which is why she had to leave me in the middle of a conversation about my accessories.

And now I’m one-on-one with the full-height mirror screwed into the wall.

I suck in a lungful of air and take the call, my gaze still trained on my reflection.

“Boyfriend here at the door says my name isn’t on the list,” Santiago whines.

“Shoot.” I curse under my breath, studying the lace-up lug boots I’m wearing.

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