Page 50 of Right Place, Right Time (Second Chances)
Chapter Twenty-Five
Kate
After running out to the store to get a DVD player—my treat—and then to a Red Box to get a few DVDs, Jay and I spend the rest of the morning relaxing in bed and watching movies. We order takeout from a nearby Chinese restaurant and eat lunch at Jay’s tiny kitchen table.
I’d spoken to my boss. He was understanding of the situation and gave me an entire week off. Thankfully, I’m in between semesters so I don’t have to worry about classes; however, I did contact the tutoring center on campus and ask not to be put on the schedule. I don’t tutor often, but occasionally if there’s a student who needs assistance with a subject I’m particularly good in, they’ll schedule me.
“Do you want to go see Casey today?” Jay asks, and my entire body tenses.
I set down my chop sticks and shake my head. Hopefully, he’ll leave it alone. I know I’ll need to go see Casey again and apologize for being an emotional bitch, but I’m not ready yet. Plus, she needs to work this stuff out with Decker. They need some time alone together. And there’s always the chance she might not even want to talk to me.
“Everything okay with the two of you? Things seemed kind of tense when I walked in the room last night.”
So much for hoping he’ll leave it alone. I let out a sigh and try to decide what to tell him. I owe him some explanation after the condition he saw me in yesterday.
“Living with Casey is…a challenge. I love her; she’s my best friend, but I want to slap the shit out of her at the same time. I said some things to her last night…things I probably—no, definitely—shouldn’t have said given the circumstances, but I needed to get them off my chest, and I needed her to realize that she can’t keep doing this to herself and the people who love her.”
“What’s she doing?”
I sigh. “She’s giving up. And I hate her for it. And I hate that I hate her for it. It’s her life…I know that…but I don’t want my best friend to die.”
Jay nods sympathetically. “Tough love?” he asks.
“Something like that,” I mumble.
“I know a little bit about that. It never really seems like the right time or place when you’re on the receiving end of tough love.”
“Mac?” I ask.
“Yeah. I earned quite a few speeches from him. All necessary, too. Of course, I didn’t realize it then. At the time, I was pissed off at him. I thought he was being an asshole. But, in retrospect, I understand where he was coming from…what he was saying. Just wish I’d realized it a little sooner.”
Just like Casey hopefully will. I reach over the table and take his hand in mine, twining our fingers together. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“You always know the right things to say.”
He squeezes my hand gently. “She’ll come around.”
“I hope so.”
“She will. Who wouldn’t want to have you in their life?”
My parents briefly flash into my mind, but I quickly push them out. I don’t want them to taint this special moment with Jay. Truthfully, I don’t want them to taint any moment with him. I know if Jay and I get any more serious, he’ll eventually have to meet them, but I hope we can push that off for as long as possible. I don’t want to subject him to them and their judgmental ways.
“Where’d you go?” he asks, tearing me from my unwanted thoughts.
“Thinking about my parents,” I tell him honestly.
He scowls. “They’re crazy. You know that, right?”
I shrug. “They’re my parents, Jay.”
“I know, baby. And I think it’s pretty amazing that you still care so much about what they think and want. I’m not going to disrespect that because it’s the way you feel, but I just want you to know that regardless of what they say or do—or don’t do…you’re an amazing person. With or without them.”
I smile. He really does know all the right things to say. “Thanks, Jay.”
He smiles back. “Anytime, Sunshine.”
