Page 60 of Midlife Crisis

“No maybe. You are not fucking working for him.” I don’t know where the demand comes from, but I’m ready to punch someone and sight unseen Julian Pendelton is the man.

“Well, I appreciate the command,” she snips, “but as I didn’t get the job, I won’t have to worry about it.”

“You don’t know the old man won’t still hire you.” I swallow the bitter thought of her working for someone like Julian Pendelton. He’s a sexual harassment case waiting to happen. Then again, I’ve been flirting and fucking her for almost two weeks now. It’s not the same thing, I immediately think.

“That isn’t how it works, Hank. If I don’t get to show Pendelton myself, it’s a firm pass on the campaign.” Her voice shakes, and I worry she’ll cry.

“What can I do?”

“Nothing.” She exhales deeply again. “I don’t know what I was thinking, quitting my job at forty-one when I have three kids still in school. I must have been crazy to think I could do this.”

“Stop,” I bark. “I don’t want you talking like this. We’ll figure something out. Pendelton is an asshole.” I’m huffing mad, body trembling with the need to crush something. This isn’t fair. Midge Everette is one of the nicest people I’ve ever known. She worked damn hard on his campaign, and she doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment.

“We,” she whispers, the heartache slipping through the phone.

“Let me take you out tonight. Let’s just hang.” I’m brushing through my hair, fingers digging tunnels I’m getting so worked up. I want to comfort her.

“My boys are home. It’s pizza-movie night.” She pauses a moment, and I think about how I didn’t end up going to her house last night after my lost opportunity to tell her how I feel. “I think I’d like to just be home tonight.”

“Let me come over.” I’m practically begging. “My treat for pizzas.” I need to do something.

“You don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine.”

“I want to come over,” I snap. I do, half thinking I might just show up even if she says no.

“Okay.” Her voice returns to a small sound. “How about six?”

+ + +

When she opens the door, her frame looks even smaller although she smiles weakly. Her boys are fighting in the background.

“Deciding on a movie appropriate for all three of them is becoming more difficult.” I imagine the seventeen-year-old no longer wants to watch age-appropriate animation for a ten-year-old, but then again, the things I witnessed at ten were not cartoons. “Normally, blood and guts win.” She chuckles lightly, leading me to her couch. Pizzas already cover her coffee table. Cans of soda line the edge of the surface.

“Green Lantern or Hurt Locker?” Liam asks me. I look at Midge for support. She mouths Green Lantern, and I offer the suggestion. Elston groans, but Ronin high-fives Liam.

“Mom wants that one so she can drool over Ryan Reynolds,” Elston mocks. “He’s so cute, ew, ew, ew…”

The boys laugh, and Midge smirks. “I do not act like that, and I don’t think he’s cute.” Her eyes shift to me, and my eyebrow rises.

“You can’t say a girl thinks someone else is cute in front of her boyfriend,” Liam states, serious and worldly at ten. Midge’s mouth falls open, and I chuckle.

Boyfriend? I mouth. She shakes her head, the weak smile returning. She sits near me on the couch but not close enough, so I reach out for the back of her neck, trying to make it appear as if I’m only resting my arm on the edge of the cushions. I massage lightly.

“How do you know this stuff?” Ronin asks.

“Carson says—”

“Ugh, not Carson,” Ronin groans, covering his head with his hands.

“Who is Carson?” I whisper to Midge.

“Carson is Mick’s little brother. Mick is Elston’s best friend, and everything Carson knows about girls he learned from those two, which is nothing,” Ronin explains, and Elston leans over the armrest and punches the arm of his younger brother who sits on the floor.

“Don’t fight,” Midge interjects, but the smile returns to her voice. Her shoulders relaxing under my massage.

“It’s true. Carson also says you shouldn’t talk about other girls in front of the girl you like. This only makes her jealous,” Liam continues spewing his female wisdom. My head turns in his direction where he sits on the other side of his mother.

“You know what else you should do?” I offer and realize I have Elston’s attention from across the room. “You should tell a girl how you feel about her. Be honest.”