Page 59 of The One…That I Crave

Rakell:Short exchange last night but nothing really…Send

Lana:Screw him! Don’t repeat that to Levi…he’s a Skyler fan…Send

Rakell:Me too…Send

Lana:There’s so many more out there…Send

Rakell:I don’t have the energy for dating…it’s too complicated. I think I have proved that I am NOT skilled at improv. Need a script…Send

Lana:Haha…but scripts are not real life. I’ll text you where to meet later…probably someplace dark and crowded would be best to blend in…Send

Rakell (10:30 pm, to Jake the previous night):Thank you again. I’ve seen you do it many times under more pressure...Send

Jake:Missed your text last night. Thank you. I’d never pass up a chance to soak up a compliment from you…Send

Jake:Firepit reception is iffy. Remember The Hill??…delete

Jake:Could we try talking instead of screaming this time?…delete

Jake:Is us something you want?...delete

What about you, Jake? Is this something you want? Is love meant to be this confusing? What Mom and Dad have is so simple, a sweet, forever kind of love that they write country songs about.Melissa’s admission last night—he was filling in the blanks, extrapolating the words not said—was that she did not see her marriage as what Mom and Dad had. Had she chosen Tom because, in the world’s eyes, he was the right person? Who was she alluding to from her past, the one she let slip by because they were messy?

“Hey, monkeys, let’s go get Whataburger!” he yelled into the backyard.

Cassie ran toward the backdoor. “Cameron keeps singing Ka...Ka…Ka…I think he likes that girl you took to the dance.” She placed her hands on her hips, cocking one hip up emphatically. Scrunching her nose up, she looked at her uncle like she was about to embark on a lecture. “Remember her, Uncle Jake?”

“Yes, of course, Cassie, I remember her.” He smirked.Why in the hell are all the women in my life so sassy?

“Well, Uncle Jake, are Cameron and me going to see her again?”

He moved his lips back and forth, formulating an answer.

“Uncle Jaaaake…did you make her sad? Don’t do that…that’s what my daddy does to my mommy.”

“Cassie!” Melissa yelled from the back door wearing sweats with her hair mussed. Her eyes looked like she hadn’t slept in a week. “Cassie, no more questions if you want Uncle Jake to take you to Whataburger,” Melissa added, rubbing her forehead.

“All right, Mommy.” She nodded, then turned and ran toward her brother, yanking on his arm and dragging himtoward Jake. It was clear to him that Cassie had a front-row seat to the gradual disintegration of her family. He couldn’t imagine that a seven-year-old had the emotional capacity to make sense out of the shift she was picking up on from the adults in her life.

“Jake, can you bring me a large onion ring and a large vanilla shake…I’m going back to bed until my food gets here.”

“Sure, sis. This way, Cassie.” He pointed to the side of his parents’ house where his truck was, thinkingIssa’s eating Whataburger?

Lana:Levi suggests the new English bar…Cock and Puss…it’s dark, usually crowded, pool tables, pretty good drinks, heavy food…Send

Rakell:What the hell, mate…what’s with the name?...Send

Lana:Here’s their logo, too funny,(a cat looking longingly at a rooster)…sounds like a crazy night…Send

Rakell:Looks like it’s on a street right off Lamar. I’ll Uber. See you there…Send

Rakell scanned the front room, looking for Lana. The charged energy, along with the bluish-colored light beams, bounced from wall to wall, winding through the animated patrons. The bluish hue created a moonbeam effect throughout the bar.

After two glasses of wine and a tequila shot with Lana and Levi, she was making her way to the bathroom when she heard, “That’s the girl. It’s her. Hey, Skyler Cheerleader!” A male voice hit her from behind.

“Wait, yeah, the supermodel that was on the Jumbotron!” Another voice.

“Get a picture, dude. That’s her, she’s fucking crazy, jumping up and down on camera.”

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