Page 2 of Crash and Burn

In addition to being my best friend, Carter is also my biggest pain in the ass. “Yeah. The maid is on vacation,” I quipped back.

“Not funny, man. What the hell is wrong with you? Everyone is worried about you. You haven’t answered your phone...” he paused to sniff the air and added, “You reek. Enough. Get the fuck up because this is a goddamn intervention.”

I groaned.I don’t need this.“Leave me alone.”

He pulled the covers back, “I don’t think so, asshole. Get the fuck up. I’m your best friend for a reason.”

Great, now I’m cold.“Aaagh, quit! Leave me alone. I’m not kidding, man. I want to be left alone.”

I covered my face with my hand and peeked at him through my fingers. He balled up the comforter and tossed it in the hamper.That’s nice.He waltzed around to the other side of the bed and pulled Dev’s pillow out and started to yank the pillowcase off. I hopped up instantly and glared at him, “Don’t. fucking. touch. her. pillow.”

“Oh…there he is. So, you can stand up,” he said with a snicker.

“Of course, I can stand up. The point is, I don’t want to...and don’t touch her pillow again unless you want me to break your damn hands.” I walked out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. To his point though, I did smell…like beer, and I need a shower.

“What the hell do you want, Carter?” I didn’t have the patience in me to deal with him, or anyone else.

After he achieved his goal of waking me up and getting me out of bed, he stopped yelling, and toned it down. He could see the pain I was in. “Look, man. I know you miss Dev… we all do. It’s been 18 months, and this is not what she would have wanted for you.”

Staring at my burnt coffee, I stirred in the creamer with an abundance of sugar to kill the bitterness. I lifted it to a take sip and glanced at him, “How do you know what she would want?”

Wide-eyed, he said, “Are you kidding? Because she was Dev. No bullshit, grab the day by the balls, Dev. What the hell are you doing, man?”

I let out a heavy breath and sat at the dining room table. There were pizza boxes stacked, empty beer cans, and clothes tossed everywhere. It had been a rough couple of nights. Carter was spot on, but I didn’t know what everyone wanted from me. I was still struggling.

The silence was awkward, so Carter spoke up, “Look at this place, man. This was Dev’s place too, and you’re treating it like a damn trash can.”

I stared into my coffee, feeling terrible.

He laughed to lighten the blow. “She would be skinning you alive right now.”

I chuckled because he was right. Finally, I said, “I just can’t seem to bring myself to do anything. I feel like a shell, Carter. I miss having my morning coffee with my wife. It’s about the only thing I can bring myself to do in the morning. Make coffee, sit, look around, and then go back to bed.”

Carter sighed and leaned against the back of the sofa with his arms folded across his chest. The house had an open floor plan. Devina wanted it like that because she hated needing to yell across the house to get my attention. So, from the kitchen, I could see Carter came in and opened every curtain in the house. His intentions were good, but I felt like a vampire, about to hiss.

I fixated on something floating in the air as it landed on the table in front of me. I laughed and Carter looked at me like I had lost my mind. I picked it up and held it in front of me. Looking at Carter, I laughed harder. He looked at me with a scowl and said, “What the hell is wrong with you? What’s so funny?”

“It’s a strand of Devina’s blonde hair.” I propped an elbow on the table and drag a hand down my face. I said, “Maybe this is a sign,” as I side eyed Carter.

He laughed and quipped, “I told you. Dev wouldn’t want things like this, and that’s her telling you to get your shit together.”

I rolled my eyes, “Yeah, yeah. I’ll make you a deal.”

“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

I sighed, “You stop charging through my fucking house, opening curtains and making noise and I’ll start leaving for my morning coffee.” He cocked an eyebrow, not seeming to believe me. I looked him in the eyes and said it again, “Jesus, I’m sayin’, I will start going to Sharon’s Diner, down the street, to get my morning coffee.”

Smiling, he nodded his head and asked, “And you’ll sitthereto drink your coffee, right? No getting a cup and then coming back home to wallow. I don’t feel like being your alarm clock by yelling all through your house and tearing your shit apart every morning.” Then he laughed.

“Yes, dick, I will drink my coffeeinthe building.”

He laughed again, “Deal. Let me know how it goes. In the meantime, Lex wants to have a cookout this weekend and she wants you there.”

I shook my head, “I don’t know, man. I’m not ready to be around everyone again.”

He unfolded his arms and pointed at me, “I know but you need to start somewhere. The girls miss their uncle and wonder if they’ll recognize you when they see you. Besides, Lex threatened to put me on the couch if I didn’t make sure you come over. Do you really want your best friend to suffer with back pain?”

“Asshole. Youhadto mention the girls, knowing I’d feel terrible. Fine, but I’m not guaranteeing sunshine and I can’t guarantee I won’t panic and leave.”

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