Page 14 of Anders and the Girl Worth Fighting For
Grey was right. Right there at the back door, a rainbow of brightly colored balloons flanked a giant red ribbon, and on a nearby table sate the most absurd set of scissors I had ever seen. They were the length of my leg. Where would he even get something like that?
“What the hell is all this?” I asked the clown of a man that I knew was behind all the pomp and circumstance.
“I was bored and granddaddy’s party planner is hot,” Duke answered with a shrug. He then directed my gaze to an undoubtedly beautiful woman who fussed over a cake. Dear god, there was cake.
“Why the hell are we friends again?” I asked him as he handed me a cold beer.
“Because I’m awesome and everyone loves me.” He smirked at me before taking a swig of his beer. Idiot.
Everyone was here. Even Icebox made the trip. A small smile tugged at my lips. I dragged these guys through hell during ourtime in the Marines. We weren’t called the Untamed Rascals for nothing. Actually, part of that was from Duke’s endless bullshit.
The party seemed like it might have been good, but I was tired and ready for my bed. I may have been walking, but every step exhausted me. Just as I was about to give up on the whole thing, Duke stood on the table to get everyone’s attention. I was a little surprised he didn’t already have a stage set up for himself.
“Thank you all for coming to the unveiling,” Duke said as he raised his arms in a show of drama. “This had been a long time coming and I’m certain no one is more excited for this than — Grey!” The words caught me off guard a bit and then made me laugh. Of course, he would throw me a giant party, and then pretend it was for someone else. I appreciated the slight deflection. I’m sure he knew I would.
“For almost two long months,” he started in on a speech, “he’s had to hide the beautiful craftsmanship that is his back stairs!” He was really going at it now. Emphasizing just the right words to get a rise from the small crowd. “Now, without further ado, Chelsea, if you will?”
I had no idea who Chelsea was, but I saw the party planner Duke had pointed out earlier walk over to the back of Grey’s house. They had rigged the ramp up so that it would slide out at the push of a button. Smoke puffed from the sides of the ramp and disco lights gyrated in a chaotic dance. The smoke cleared to reveal — the stairs. Exactly how they had been before.
Duke jumped down from the table, and a small pang rattled around my heart at his dexterity. I’m glad none of the guys were hurt over there, but I couldn’t help but miss that kind of physicality. My moping didn’t last long as D uke lifted the comically large scissors in a way that showed off his muscles for the women at the party and brought them over to me.
“And now,” he intoned again, his announcer voice still in full force, “time for the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon. To beperformed by our very own, Anders Gonzales.” Somehow, he worked the crowd into the most ridiculous round of applause over this. I just shook my head and took the scissors. They were heavier than they looked, and it took some maneuvering to carry them to the ribbon while trying to balance on my cane.
I got to the stairs, with my dignity intact, and took a deep breath before trying to mount them. It was three steps up to the landing where the ribbon was located. I noticed the guys all flanking my sides, close enough to catch me if I fell, but far enough to pretend like that’s not why they were there.
I didn’t hesitate again as I stepped up to the ribbon. I didn’t shake. I didn’t falter. I didn’t stumble. I made it up the stairs without a hitch. No one clapped. Thank god for that. It was something simple. I didn’t need congratulations for fucking walking. Only it wasn’t simple and hadn’t been in a while. The guys knew that, which is why they were behind me, supporting me in their way.
“Here goes nothing,” I said loud enough to add to Duke’s elaborate show. I cut the ribbon with as much a flourish as I could manage and the crowd finally cheered. Someone turned the music back up, and I could see everyone going back to the party, leaving me standing alone on the landing of the stairs. I took advantage of their distraction and went inside. I didn’t have it in me to climb the stairs again tonight.
I couldn’t help but gravitate to the entry table where Grey kept the mail. I rifled through the stack, trying to pretend like I wasn’t looking for a familiar envelope with distinctly feminine handwriting. I longed to see the curves and loops and flourishes that Grace was prone to.
I shouldn’t keep looking. It was clear that Grace wasn’t writing me anymore. I couldn’t help it, though. I wanted to hear from her. I wanted to know all the mundane details of her life. I wanted to know if she finally entered a baking contest or if shetold the preacher’s wife to suck it. I wanted to know what crazy cookie recipe she had come up with in the middle of the night. I wanted to know how her grandma’s funeral went. I wanted to know anything and everything.
I thought of writing her again, but I didn’t want to seem as desperate as I was. I wanted to share with her how I could walk again and about the ridiculous party Duke threw for me and how Grey took me in without a second thought, so I wasn’t sad and mopey in a place by myself.
I left the pile of mail and started making my way to bed. If she wanted to hear from me, she would have responded to the letters I’ve sent since being home. A small pang of something unpleasant echoed through my chest at that thought.
“She hasn’t written?” Grey asked from behind me. I jumped a little, not expecting anyone the leave the party and join me in here. I was caught. There was no use in denying it.
“No,” I said as I reached the hall and turned to lean on the wall.
“You gonna write her again?”
“Do I have any secrets?” I said, a bit exasperated.
“Nope. Not a one. Not from me, at least,” he said as he pushed off the door where he had been leaning and went to the fridge. He pulled out some drinks and a platter of food I hadn’t even noticed was being served.
“Right.” I pretended disappointment. Sometimes, it was nice to have people that knew you as well as they knew themselves. Thankfully, he never expected me to get sappy about things with him.
“Gonna come back out?” He asked as he loaded up his arms with his haul and headed back to the door.
“No,” I said, exhaustion of a long day settling onto my shoulders. “I’m going to call it a night, I think.”
“Alright. I’ll keep Duke from looking for you. I’ll tell him youwent to jack off or something.” He tossed at me before he opened the door and went back to the party.
I didn’t jack off. The sap that I was, I settled in to reread her most recent letter, looking for any hint about why I hadn’t heard from her.
God, I was pathetic.
