Forty-five days of sobriety and I catch Duncan sneaking in the front door this morning. He looks fucking thrilled and tired but sober and I grin in spite of myself.
Great. Probably the very last person I wanted to see first.
Wow. Let me go get my phone so I can document your walk of shame here, Poet.
It might be a rare thing, better do it quick, Bee.
That good, huh?
I expect girls to be mostly different and usually taller versions of you but instead they're all dripping with makeup and hairspray and questions that seem to lead to whether or not I can marry them tomorrow and buy them trips.
Where did you meet her?
One of the AA guys had a sister. She's in recovery a few years. Has her shit together okay but just..trussed up like a fucking peacock.
But you...managed.
I did. Then when the sun came up I got the hell out of there because I didn't want to see what she'd morph into in the daylight without all of her decorations and...and....I just realized this is destroying my mythical reputation as a lizard king if I tell you this stuff.
What, that you're afraid of cosmetics?
Basically.
I won't tell anyone.
They already know. I have no need to impress them. I was still hoping to be the cool one around here in your eyes though now that the dust has settled.
Did the dust settle? You haven't spoken to me in ages, Duncan.
He scratches the back of his neck and looks so sheepish I want to alternately nail him to the wall and let him off the hook. Bridge, I don't think I want to add any more drama to your life. Caleb seems content to look after that. I also don't want this to be weird. Let's just pretend we're the same as ever.
Unrequited?
It's good enough. I miss you, Bridge. I'm trying to get my shit together again, if you can forgive me for everything.
I'm sorry I make things hard for you.
Oh, God. See? There you go with those words of yours.
I realize my double entendre and burst out laughing. He laughs and rubs his eyes wearily. PJ walks in and smiles when he sees we can't keep it together but we are together at last.
What did I miss?
She don't hate me, Bro.
Sweet times, Brother. But I knew that already.
Can I have a hug then, Duncan? It's been a while. (I reach up for him without waiting for his answer.)
Yeah it's been a while. Come here. You're going to need an extra pair of arms when that skeleton of a horse drops out in the driveway anyway.
Wow, thanks.
Oh, Poemgirl, it's going to happen any minute now. Sometimes the Devil is right, you know. You can't save anything else until you've saved yourself. I'm learning it, too.
