Page 42 of Crash
“My dad is coming with the truck to help me get my things.”
“Oh. Well, I’ll be at work so you can just lock up and give Courtney my key.” I don’t wait for her reply. Instead, I grab my bag and leave.
CALEB TALKEDme into going to the bar with him and a few of the others for beers after we ended our shift. It’s college night, so it is a little more busy than normal. They have a karaoke contest with a live DJ. After the week I had, and my first day back, a drink is definitely in order.
“So glad you came back early, man. But what happened? Tired of being a nurse?” Caleb asks.
“Murse?” I ask, taking a swig of my beer.
“Yeah, a male nurse.”
“Makes sense.” I take another pull and avoid answering him.
“So, spill. What made you give back your PTO and come back?”
“To be honest, she was getting better and didn’t need me,” I say, with a slight sting in my tone.
“Oh, well. I mean, that happens. Surely, you didn’t think you would take care of her forever, right?”
“Actually, I did. I would’ve done anything for her.”
“Wait, so you broke up? I just thought you went back to work early because of boredom. I’m sorry, bro. Here, let me get the next round.” He signals the bartender for another set of beers.
We knock the amber bottles together, and I take a drink from mine as does Caleb.
“So, why do you call it off?”
“I don’t know man. She said I was too attentive, and I just told her she can’t have me both ways; there when she needs me and discards me when she doesn’t. I promised to support her, and it was like she didn’t want me to help. Totally fucked up if you ask me.”
“I mean, I see both sides, both of you are headstrong and won’t see the other’s side, so it’s only natural that you split. Two alphas does not make a happy relationship,” he quips.
I shrug my shoulder at his philosophical attempt to be funny, but he’s right. We are two headstrong individuals who always see things our way, but I don’t agree we can’t work. We have a vibe I’ve never had with anyone else. Sure, we’re both headstrong, but she’s bold. That night after the dance when they went to their friend’s basement party for a celebration, she pushed aside the tension and claimed me, my body, my love in that one moment.
“Yeah, well for now, I’m just giving her what she needs which is space. She feels smothered by my attentiveness and I don’t want to hinder her healing.”
“I hear ya, bro. But now you’re distracted with work. Maybe that’s what you need to move on. Did she get her stuff?” Caleb questions.
“Courtney said she did in a scathing text message I got from her earlier.”
“Oh, I imagine she is pissed.”
“Hella, pissed. There were some choice words followed by a favor, so I feel like we’re good for now.”
Caleb laughs and I must admit, it makes me chortle too.
“Well, man, I wish things were different for you.”
“Yeah, me too. But it is what it is.” I take the last sip from my bottle and sit it down, waiving off the barkeep when he tries to replace it with a fresh one.
“I’m heading home, bro. See you in three days.” I stand, remove the keys from my pocket and walk towards the door when my phone buzzes.
Courtney:Hey jerk.
I continue out the door giving no response; thinking she’s back to being pissed with me again.
Courtney:So, you’re going to just ignore me?
Jumping into my Jeep, I take a few minutes to respond to her and allow her to speak, rather text, her mind.
