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“And why is that?”
“They’re fucking.” The statement left my mouth before I could stop it. I never spoke that way in front of him. “Sorry, I shouldn’t swear in front of you.”
He rolled his tongue between his lips, his stare tightening on mine. “I assure you I’ve heard you say a lot you shouldn’t have.”
“What?” Warmth filled my cheeks.
He flicked the ash off his cigarette.
Trying my best to change the topic, I held out my hand. “May I?”
“One of these?”
I nodded.
“Hmmm, I don’t know if I should let you.” He flashed a flawless white grin. “I’m supposed to be the adult here.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m twenty-one.”
He squinted playfully. Sliding the pack of cigarettes from his inside jacket pocket, he placed one between his lips, lighting it as he shielded it from the wind with his palm. He inhaled it and inspected it, then gave it to me.
I nibbled my bottom lip as I took it, putting it to my mouth. I’d never had James’s lips on anything I touched before, that I knew of. Now we were practically kissing as I inhaled the second drag. Somehow, it made it that much more enjoyable. “So why are you stressed, Jamesss?” I sang his name, trying to lighten the mood.
“I’m not sure I should talk to you about this.”
“What?” I scuffed my foot across a few loose pebbles on the pavement. “Is it about Eliza?”
He lowered the cigarette to his side. “No, no, nothing like that, though she’s involved, I guess.”
“Oh.” I put the vice to my mouth, breathing it in, now feeling nervous.
“Alicia and I are no longer together, and she’s making life really difficult for me.”
“Oh God.” I choked on the smoke in shock. That wasn't something I saw coming. “What? Why?”
He waved indifferently. “It’s nothing new. We’ve been separated for a while now, sleeping in separate rooms.” He shrugged. “Only sharing a house for the sake of Eliza and Lucas.”
“I had no idea.” I blew out a cloud. “I’m so sorry. Can I ask why?”
“Well,” he dropped his cigarette, twisting the sole of his shoe on it, “she started cheating on me a long time ago. After I found out, I wanted to kick her out, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I don’t know why. I just know how hard divorce can be on kids even when they’re adults. Mine did the same thing.”
For the next thirty minutes, he poured out way more information about his relationship and family than even I knew about. And I’d known their family for years. Finally, Antonio came out to get me, and James went to his meeting while I got back to work.
From that night on, he’d vent to me a little more each time he came in. It got to the point we started texting a lot as well. He’d jokingly call it his therapy session, trying to make light of the serious reality. I think it was his way of dealing with the pain. But that’s exactly what it was. His personal therapy, and my obsession aside, I was happy to be there for him.
Every time Alicia came home smelling like her new boyfriend, or snapped at him because he breathed wrong, he’d text me as his escape. Though I felt horrible for him, I felt like we had formed our own friendship. Sometimes, we’d even stay up until the sun came up, texting funny memes and GIFs back and forth as innocent distractions. Neither of us ever crossed the line.
DING!
I jumped, realizing I’d zoned out and a reminder notification alerted me.
Alicia brought a friend for Vinny, and I just realized he and Eliza have something going on between them.
I gasped, unsure of how to reply. Now, I felt like I was caught in the middle. I didn’t exactly know what was going on yet either, but I didn’t want to give away her secret.
How? What?
I’ll text you later. I have to go take care of it.
