Page 77 of Hide and Sneak
Lila buys a small table and bar stools at the thrift store and I find a good kitchen table and chairs that only need some sanding and refinishing. We spend a few hours visiting a furniture store where I order a new couch and Lila gets a recliner.”
“My recliner spoiled you, didn’t it?” I tease, as we sit down at a restaurant for lunch.
“You know, I always thought they were more for old people, but yeah, call me old, because that thing is so comfy. And my new one lays all the way back.”
“We’ll get use out of that.”
She chuckles, shaking her head at me as my phone buzzes with a text.
I’m surprised to see Carson’s name. I left him a message earlier to let him know I was looking for Amos, but I doubted I’d hear back. We all used to hang out, but he became more Amos’s friend once I stopped partying.
Carson
Hey, don’t worry about Amos. He’s fine. I hooked him up with a tree job with one of my friends in Florida and he’s staying with him. Having the time of his life.
Along with the text is a picture of Amos standing in front of the ocean with a beer in his hand.
Me
Thanks for letting me know. Can you give me the address so I can send him some stuff?
Carson
Sorry, he said not to. He got some girl pregnant and wants to lay low for a while.
“What’s wrong?” Lila asks.
“Do you remember Carson Maxwell?”
“Vaguely, he was a couple years ahead of me in school.”
“I left him a message about Amos.” Instead of explaining, I hand her my phone to read the texts and see the picture.
Her jaw drops. “He’s in Florida? He got a job in Florida in a week?”
“Tree job is Carson’s way of saying he’s selling weed.”
“Oh perfect. Maybe he can add to his arrest record.” She sits back in her chair. “I need to tell Mandy. She needs to know that he isn’t coming back. Not anytime soon. He’s too busy getting fucked up on a beach. Unbelievable.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect this from him either.” I knew he was lazy, that he had no ambition and could be thoughtless. But I didn’t know he could be this selfish.
“I know.” She reaches over and lays her hand on my arm, then forces a smile. “Today has been fun and we still have shopping to do. We aren’t going to let him ruin it.”
“Agreed. Now, as your boyfriend, am I entitled to your pickle?”
Her face lights up with a genuine smile and she moves it to my plate. “Pickle privileges are included.”
CHAPTER 26
LILA
My emotions have beenall over the place for the last month, ever since we found out Amos left town. I’m still angry, but my new relationship with Sutton has me elated. It’s so much better being able to do what we want without hiding anything. Don’t get me wrong, I want Amos to come back. He needs to take care of his baby. But I don’t give one shit about how he will feel about us being together.
All of this has opened my eyes to things my friends have tried to point out over the years. Amos isn’t my responsibility. I’m trying hard to let go of that but it’s hard when I’ve always been expected to look after him. But I’ve realized that I can’t force him to grow up, and the fact that he can always run to me or Sutton when things fall apart isn’t helping him. We’ve been enabling his irresponsible behavior. It’s time to shove him out of all the nests.
Needless to say, Mom doesn’t agree. Our last visit ended in an argument when I told her that he wouldn’t be welcome to stay with me in the future and that he’d forfeited the trailer when he left. She’s convinced that he’s just scared and once he has some time to adjust to the idea of being a father, he’ll come back to raise her grandchild. The way she went on as if we should feel sorry for him was infuriating.
The victim in this isn’t Amos, it’s Mandy and her child. I visited her yesterday and it was a relief to see that she has a lot of family on her side. Her two sisters are thrilled with the news and already arguing over who will get to stay with her after the birth to help out. We’re keeping in touch and I can’t wait to spoil my niece or nephew rotten.
