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twenty-two
DOMINIC
“We should go out tonight,” I say to Bodhi as he opens the door. I knew better than to call because he’d just tell me no. He’s going through his own hell. I tell everyone I’m over Sandra, but no one believes me, especially myself.
“You’re a sneaky bastard,” Bodhi says, with his arms crossed, staring at me as I pass him in the doorway.
“Yep,” I begin, “but we’re both single and ready to move on.” Again, I’m unsure who I’m trying to convince. I follow him down a narrow hallway opening into a small living room space, near his kitchen. I make myself at home and grab a beer.
“At least get me one, you son of a bitch!” he hollers from his chair in the corner.
I sit down opposite him and hand him his beer. “How was your time with Dec last night?” He has his son less than his ex-wife does, but it was something he agreed to for the sake of his son.
We talk candidly for a few moments about his ex-wife and the new man she’s been dating. It bothers him, more than he’sallowing me to see, but I understand that because it’s similar with Sandra.
As he told me the depth of everything, I could see on my friend’s face he’s shattered. I’m about to offer him my condolences, but he leaps forward. “Let’s finish these drinks and then hit the town. I think maybe a night away may let us both forget what has us fucking depressed.” This is Bodhi, and he’s not wrong.
But, as much as I miss Sandra, I finish the rest of my beer and slam it down. “Speak for yourself. Nothing’s going on with me. I’m right as rain.”
Bo pushes to his feet, his stare directed at me. “Yeah, buddy, keep on telling yourself that.”
Again, he’s not wrong.
We’reout on the streets. “You know, I would go to a gay bar with you, Bo,” I offer, and it’s the truth. My friend bats for both teams.
“I just want a quiet night, maybe catch some college football, and drink a fuck ton of beer.” Yeah, that’s Bodhi for you. A woman passes by, and I turn around to look, but nothing about her interests me.
“See, this is what moving on looks like, my brother,” I say. I’m not sure I’m fooling him.
We continue toward our favorite dive bar, the one that Sandra had been at with that twat face, Curtis. Is she thinking about dating Curtis again? The thought burns through me, and I want to show up at her apartment, just to ask.
Tony, the owner of the bar, recognizes Bodhi right away. “Bodhi Chambers, it’s been a while, you son of a bitch—too long. Have a seat, stranger. Do you drink the same stuff as before?" Tony must not have been working the last time we were here and has always been fond of Bo.
Bodhi nods, and we take seats in the back of the room near the screen where our beloved team is playing. He’s looking at his phone when Tony sets down a milk stout for him, a pale ale for me, and an order of bacon ranch cheese fries.
“Here you guys go,” Tony says. “I’ll start you a tab.”
Bo points at me. “It’s all on him tonight. The dickhead insisted I come out.”
I ignore him, and Tony laughs at us. “Sure thing, Bodhi.”
“So, you want to talk shop or just ignore the world for tonight?” I ask, as Bo’s eyes are on the group of people who have just walked in the bar. “Fuck,” he mouths, and I look around and begin to laugh when I see who has arrived. The world must hate him today.
“Thanks, asshole, now he sees me.”
It’s his ex-wife’s current boyfriend. “Sorry, man, but, fuck, when it rains, it fucking pours, doesn’t it?” And the new boyfriend waves at Bo.
“Do you want to leave?” I ask.
“Nah, it’s not a big deal.”
I grin at him, and I believe him as much as he believes himself. “Okay, just say the word, and we’ll leave.”
He continues to check his phone as I watch Notre Dame and scroll through my own phone, looking at the last text from Sandra, telling me she would drop some of my stuff off at the office last week. I was gone, and she left it with Bodhi. I wasn’t able to see her, and I miss her beautiful face.
Bo tries to cheer me up by showing me a few pictures of my godson. Why was it that our futures held so many different dreams and goals than we first envisioned?
It’s obvious our team is about to win, and Bo pulls out his debit card, but I stop him. “Nope.” I take the bill to settle it.
