Page 55 of Fish Out of Water

“Not like that.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“I’m serious, Alex. He’s just a—” the word got caught in Jake’s throat. “A friend.”

“Okay, well, I won’t push for more info now, but when I come visit, you’d better introduce me to this ‘friend.’ Oh, by the way, I wanted to let you know that I was talking to Mom and Dad last week and they still think you got fired from Goldwell and Swanson.”

Jake squeezed his fingers into the arm of the couch. “I don’t know why.”

“Because you never told them what happened.”

“Why would they assume I got fired, though?”

“People usually don’t quit good jobs out of the blue without better prospects.”

“It wasn’t out of the blue.”

“Iknow that. You need to tell them, Jake. They deserve to know.”

“It doesn’t matter. They’ll still deem me a failure one way or another. They’ll say I should’ve gotten over it like a normal adult, or whatever.”

“You’re not giving them enough credit.”

“It’s okay, Alex. You’re the high-performing one, and I’m the one who can’t keep anything for more than a few months: jobs, apartments, relationships…” He closed his eyes. Memories came drifting back—memories he’d tried to suppress.

“Jake, are you still there? Oh, shit, I didn’t lose you, did I? Is the reception really that poor in Eventide?”

“Sorry, Alex; I’m still here.”

“Great. Anyway, like I was saying, you need to talk to Mom and Dad. I know they would understand why you quit if you only told them what you told me. You’re not a disappointment to them.”

“Did they say that? That I’m a disappointment?” Jake adjusted his grip on the phone, his heart sinking as the line grew silent.

“You said that.”

“No, I didn’t, Alex. I said I’m a failure. So they really are that upset with me still, huh? Even after all this?”

“They’re worried about you,” Alex said. “I kind of am too, if you’re seriously getting into bar fights and getting in trouble with the cops.”

“Talk to Aunt Isabel if you’re really that concerned,” Jake said, forcing himself to remain calm. “She’ll tell you the truth. I’m gone every evening, so call then. Better yet, have Mom or Dad call her. She can tell them exactly how useless I am when I’m fixing her car, or painting the house, or mowing the lawn.”

“I believe you,” Alex said. Her tone had softened, and she sounded like she was sitting down now instead of pacing like she usually did when she was on the phone. She paused, and Jake knew what was coming before she said it. It was the reason she had called, even if she didn’t ever outright admit that. “Why don’t you come live with me for a little while once the house sells? I’ve got this nice new apartment, and it’s too big and lonely for just me. You could find a job around here and it would be just like old times, when we were kids.”

“Oh, yeah, that sounds great.” Jake rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. “I’ll think about it, Alex.”

“You really should. It might be just what you need.”

“Maybe. But more importantly, you need to come down and visit soon. I mean it. Aunt Isabel would love it, and you can getout of the city for a bit.” Jake could hardly believe he was the one saying these things. It sounded nothing like him.

“I hope you’re serious, because I’m really planning on it.”

“I am.”

“Can I meet this friend of yours, too?”

“No.”

“I’m going to anyway, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me. What’s his name?”