Page 50 of In the Long Run
‘Don’t start.’I point at her.
I’m pretty sure someone recognised me while I was at Coles this afternoon and got a picture of me in the produce aisle picking up the ingredients for Eugene’s famous eggplant parmigiana.I’m keeping that nugget of embarrassment to myself.
‘Got a lot of cheek, doesn’t he?’Eugene says, without raising his gaze from the mangled mess of blue and white wool hanging from his needles.‘Acting like we’re teasing him when he’s organised a babysitter for me.’
‘It’s okay, Eug.I’ll let you stay up past your bedtime,’ Celeste says.‘Is that what you’re wearing?’she asks me.
I inspect my dark-wash jeans and red-and-blue-checked button-down.A pair of tan RM Williams boots completes the unofficial casual uniform of all Army officers.‘What’s wrong with this?’
‘You look so cookie cutter.’
She makes it sound like a bad thing but that’s exactly what I’m going for.What I’ve always gone for.I’m so used to wanting to be the guy everyone forgets that I don’t know how to be any other way.
‘Cut him some slack.Poor guy’s been out meeting with potential new suppliers for Alizée’s all day.’
I tried to get Eug to come with me, but he wanted to stay home.Said he was going to keep researching his cookbook.Now that the accounts are getting healthier, we can start adding a few of the old favourites back onto the menu.If this continues … A dangerous and unfamiliar feeling flickers to life in my chest.
Hope.
‘I’m leaving now.’I lift my black jacket off the back of a dining chair.
‘We won’t wait up!I’m going to crash on the couch tonight too, so don’t feel like you need to come home,’ Celeste teases.
I roll my eyes.‘It’s dinner with Gen’s family.’
‘Dinner can only go for so long, Knox.’Celeste smirks.
‘Just have fun,’ Eugene adds as I head down the hallway.I pull open the front door to find Gen standing there, in a dress that clings to her body and short ankle boots with a spiky heel.Her hair is wild, a riot of curly waves like she’s been out running in the wind, which is just how I like it.Darker than normal lashes frame her eyes, and the bow of her top lip is even more pronounced when it’s covered in glossy lipstick.
Will tonight finally be the night I get to kiss her?
Meeting the parents is more stressful than I anticipated, despite Gen’s repeated assurances that it’s just a casual meal.Someone should probably tell Eva that, because her megawatt grin could power a city.
‘Tell us about yourself,’ Eva says as Gen’s dad, Tony, fills our wine glasses with a cabernet he promises will change our lives.They’re both warm and friendly, open with their affection for each other and for Gen.
‘There’s not much to tell.’I sip my drink, noticing how close Gen is to me at this little corner table in the Clamshell’s dining room.Her thigh presses against mine.It’s nice.So fucking nice.
‘How long have you been in the Army?’Tony asks.He used to be a principal and I can already tell he would’ve been a great one.Maybe if I’d had a teacher or authority figure like him when I was younger I wouldn’t have had so many problems at school after my parents left.
‘Since I was eighteen.I did Cadets for a bit in high school too.’
‘And you enjoy it?’
I shift in my seat because, truthfully, I tolerate it.And I haven’t missed it while I’ve been here.Not one bit.My boss has emailed to see if I’m interested in doing some work remotely, and I’m not looking forward to it.There’s so much else I could be doing instead.Working out with Gen.Running on my own, or with Madeleine and Chouquette or Croissants and Kilometres.Reading with Eug.My life here is fuller than ever, and even though there are breaks in each day, the quietness that’s always bothered me in the past doesn’t seem so loud.Eugene told me I looked content on Wednesday night.I’d replied that I was tired after a hard gym session but, really, I’d just had a nice day.My numbers of ‘nice days’ are increasing rapidly.
‘It’s good,’ I say finally.
‘One of my friend’s daughters is married to a woman in the Air Force.They’re living overseas at the moment.Seem to be a lot of different opportunities,’ Tony says.
‘Have you done that?’Gen asks me.
I nod.‘I did a stint in the UK as part of an exercise called LongLook.’The allowances gave my bank account a nice boost,but I’d been lonely.After the shitshow with my parents and everything that happened in high school, I’ve always struggled to make friends.Yeti and Celeste are the only exceptions, but really, that’s because they wormed their way into my life and refused to leave.And if my career adviser gets her way, I’ll be headed overseas again after my current posting.That thought weighs like a heavy stone in my stomach.I’ll be so far away from here, this place that’s starting to feel like home again.
‘Did you do lots of travel?’Gen picks up her glass and I lose track of her question when a drop of wine slips from her lips and her tongue chases it.
Her parents are sitting across the table, dude.
‘Some.’
