AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kristen was always trying to get me to come to her fancy events she liked to host, but that really wasn’t my thing. She thought it would help me be happy, but I’d rather sit at home watching the game or binging Netflix.
"I-I just never thought of it," she said.
I raised an eyebrow at her skeptically.
"Pweeese?" she asked, giving me the lost orphan look she knew I couldn't resist.
"Emotional blackmail, is it?"
"Yup," Kristen confirmed.
"Okay, but don't say I never did anything for you."
"How are you feeling about that whole thing with grandad?" Kristen asked, as I pulled the two halves of the table apart.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well, I guess you've seemed depressed, living in grandpa's shadow and all. Not to mention what happened when we were in high school, with dad and grandad fighting all the time."
"You shouldn't worry about me so much. Worry about yourself and find happiness. You give so much to so many people," I said.
"Thanks for the advice. You my new life coach?” she asked.
“Look who’s talking,” I shot back.
“Look. I've just been worried about you since what happened in high school. I thought maybe with grandpa gone it might get worse. I-I don't want you doing anything drastic."
"It won't come to that. Things have gotten better. I was actually surprised to see dad at the funeral," I said, lowering the leaf into place.
"Me too," Kristen agreed.
"We talked through it, though, which was good. Apparently, dad and grandpa were close to a reconciliation when grandpa died. It helped put things into perspective really,” I assured her.
“That’s great!”
“Yeah. Dad actually apologized for letting me get pulled into the middle like that. I really was just an angry kid back then. I didn't mean to take grandpa's side and act out at school and home. I think dad understood that. And he felt bad for driving me away and helping to cause my troubles. We sort of forgave each other, if that makes sense. Said we would keep in touch. I can really see dad’s side of it now. Grandpa could be stubborn as a mule when he didn't get his way. Dad really just wanted to open things up a bit. Lower prices and get a different clientele. Not a bad thing, really."
I knew even as I said it that it wasn't the whole story— or at least it wasn’t the whole story that Kristen was trying to focus on. My happiness.
The past with grandad and dad was part of it, but another part was that I really hadn't been happy since I messed things up with Kora. I really did like her. It wasn’t just a sex thing like it was with so many others. I really wanted to be with her and was so happy when she agreed to go with me to the mountain.
We both knew what was going to happen, I think. So, when she suddenly said no, it felt like a really bad rejection. No girl had ever said no to me before and I didn't know how to take it, especially from her, since I’d thought she was really into me, just as I had been really into her.
I knew I should stop, and I did. I wasn't that much of an asshole, but the anger just seethed inside me, which why I was so mean to her when I saw her again. I hadn’t been thinking that maybe she was interested and didn't want to do it right then.
I would always regret treating her that way. I wanted to tell Whiney that but knew there were some some hurt feelings there too with what happened between her and Kora having a sort of falling out, or at least fading away from each other compared to the strong friendship they’d had since they were kids.
I knew it was at least partly my fault.
Another item for my list of regrets.
"Great," Kristen said, as the leaf fell into place, "now there are some veggies in desperate need of chopping in the kitchen."
"Why do I get the feeling you asked me over as a labor-saving device?" I asked.
"Because you are a keen observer of the human condition," Kristen said, almost making it sound like a compliment.
"Well, since you put it that way."
I knew her little plan to get me over here had worked. And now I might as well stay and make the best of it.Chapter Four - LoganChopping vegetables could almost be a zen-like experience.
The steady rhythmic thumping of the steel knife blade on the wooden cutting board.
The crisp snap of veggies being cleaved.
Kristen had actually provided a cleaver for the job, which made the task a lot easier.
Soon, I could hear the first of the guests arrive and I knew she had been successful at snagging me into her little party. Most of them were bearing gifts of wine. Some of them came empty handed; a few others with a dessert.
