Page 6 of Another Fox Bites the Dust
“I know.” A pang of guilt slices through me. “I should have come out when you asked me last month.”
She offered me a place to stay if I needed to get away. Maybe she needed me there for support more than I needed a break from the job search, and I couldn’t see past my own problems. I’m a self-centered moron.
“It’s fine, Mindy. You have a lot going on.”
I swallow. “It’s not your fault he slipped up, Finley. You’re doing the best you can. We can’t take away what he’s gone through.”
We can’t take away what any of us went through after Aria died. Since Jake was with her, and they were twins, the loss was especially brutal. I didn’t realize how bad his drinking had gotten until he crashed the truck earlier this year. I was too focused on my own life and my career to comprehend how much he was struggling, and how much Finley was shouldering.
He hadn’t drunk for over nine months, but sobriety is like walking a razor’s edge sometimes.
“So what happened exactly?”
“He went out with Frank.” Finley says Frank’s name like someone might say phlegm or mucous or moist. “They’ve hung out periodically since Jake got out of rehab, but for whatever reason, this time he couldn’t say no to a few drinks, which led to a few more drinks, which led to him calling us in the middle of the night, drunk and upset. Archer picked him up at Frank’s house at three this morning.”
I sigh in frustration, trying to find the silver lining. “At least he didn’t drive.”
Her responding chuckle is bleak.
“How’s Archer dealing with it?” I ask.
“You know how he is. He’s already making a list of activities to keep Jake occupied.”
“That sounds like him.”
“Taylor is coming home soon, so that will help distract Jake, I hope.”
I press my lips together. Every time I think about Taylor, my stomach fills with a twisting dread that I can’t shake. Of course she’s coming home to visit—she doesn’t have a job. She flits around the country from one music festival to the next, working odd jobs and living in her van.
“Mindy?”
“Yeah, I’m here.” And I’m going to change the subject. She knows I don’t want to talk about Taylor. I don’t know why she’s always trying to bring her up. “So, has Archer proposed yet?”
She huffs. “We haven’t even known each other a year.”
“Didn’t stop you from moving in with him,” I tease.
“Hey, that’s not true.” She pauses. “He moved in with me.”
I can’t help but smile. Even though my life is in shambles, at least I have Finley, and she has Archer. “Well, make room because I might move in with you, too, at least temporarily.”
She gasps. “You know, I hate you’re going through a rough time, but if it means you’ll come home, even for a little while, I can’t say I’m not gonna be excited. Do you want to talk about your interview yet?”
“No.” I glance around, taking stock of where I’m walking and adjusting my course toward the 79thStreet transverse through Central Park.
Finley sighs. “Fine, fine. Just let me know when you plan on coming out and we can make some plans. We have plenty of room. I know Jake would love to see you, too.”
“I’ll keep you updated.” And I’m definitely not going home until Taylor’s visit ends. “Thanks, Finley. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I shove my phone back in my briefcase and quicken my steps, like if I walk fast enough I can outpace my problems.
Coming across the stairway leading into the park, I jog up the steps.
Once I’m at the top, the view of Belvedere Castle freezes me in place. I’m a short distance from Turtle Pond.
A pang of distress resonates deep in my stomach.No.
