Page 8 of The Devil's Weakness

“Uhh, maybe?” he answers with irritation in his tone. “Why?”

“Ellie asked me to go over to Delaware and look at a diner that she’s thinking about purchasing.”

“Why the hell can’t she go on her own?” Michael questions me.

“Because she has to stay and run things over here,” I lie again. Wanting to drive it home, I add, “There’s a huge delivery coming in, and she wants to be there to do a quality check. Some of the meat and cheese in our last delivery were rotten.”

“Ew,” he cringes.

“Anyway, why don’t you give Steve a call? If he’s home from work, I’ll drop you off now.”

He scoffs and rolls his eyes. “Why can’t I stay home? It’s not like I’m a little kid.”

My blood pressure boils, and I have to bite my tongue to keep from asking him why he can’t act like an adult then. But that will get me nowhere. I take a deep breath and continue.

“I didn’t have time to go to the grocery store. I guess you could go food shopping while I’m gone. Also, we’re behind on laundry. So, I’ll need you to go to the laundromat.”

That ought to turn him off from going home. God forbid he lifts a finger and does anything around there.

“I’ll call Steve and see if I can stay with him,” he says when he realizes he’d have to be somewhat responsible while I’m away.

I’m glad he agreed to ask Steve. He’s the only of his friends who isn’t a deadbeat couch potato. He joined the military right out of high school and has since transferred from full-time active duty to the National Guard. He and I dated for a while after I graduated from high school. He’s a great guy, and the breakup was hard, but I went through a really low point after my dad died. My feelings for him changed, and I pushed him away. Through everything, we’ve remained friends, and he helps me out with Michael from time to time.

“Do you have any more money to make another phone call?” I ask.

“No,” he says with an attitude. “What’s wrong with your cell phone?”

Trying to keep my eyes from rolling around in their sockets, I pull my wallet from my backpack and fish out two quarters for him.

“It’s a long trip, and I don’t have a car charger. I don’t want it to die.”

“You’re acting weird,” is all he says as he takes the quarters from my hand.

“Do you remember Steve’s number?” I ask him.

“Yes,mom,” he calls from outside of the car.

Thankfully, Steve answers.

“Hey, man. My sister has to go out of town for a few days. Can I stay with you?” Michael’s voice sounds pained, as though I’m heavily inconveniencing him.

Let’s switch lives, Michael, then you’ll know what inconvenience feels like.

I roll my eyes and shake my head as he speaks again.

“She hasdiner businessin Delaware.”

I knew Steve was going to ask about me. Michael tells me he always does. I really wish he would move on. It’s been five years, and I get the feeling he’s waiting for me to come around. He deserves someone special, and I just can’t be that person for him.

“No idea, dude. Can I stay with you or not?”

“Michael, stop being rude,” I chastise him.

“Okay, thanks.” Michael hangs up the phone.?

“Great,” I say as Michael gets back in the car. “Thanks for calling him.”

Once he’s settled back into his seat, I check the road over my left shoulderverywell to make sure no one is there, then I pull away from the curb and drive toward Steve’s house. Thankfully, he only lives about ten minutes from here.

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