Page 67 of Midlife Crisis

“Death isn’t a choice. As much as you prepare for it, someone is taken from you before their time, before your time. You loved her, Hank, and I understand that. I do. But I can’t fight her memory.”

“You aren’t,” he says, his voice weak.

“I am. Lawson will be a constant reminder of her. God forgive me for speaking ill of the dead, but she lied to you. She wasn’t good to you, honey, and you deserve someone who will be. You deserve to be somebody’s someone.” I take a deep breath, swallowing as I blink back the tears. “But so do I. With this new discovery, you aren’t ready for me. Lawson is another notch in the struggle of your love for Kit. Beautiful, famous, lying Kit. And I’m not her.” My voice squeaks with bitterness I feel toward a woman I’ve never met, who destroyed the heart of this man, and continues to do so from the grave. “Your life is a love song, only I’m singing the wrong lyrics.”

I draw his fingers up to my lips, kissing his warm skin. His scent lingers. Manly. Woodsy. I stand before more tears fall. A crying woman is the last thing this man needs.

“I don’t want you to go,” he admits, and it almost breaks me. I want to crawl back into his bed and hold him, but I have my own responsibilities. Three of them. Waiting for me at home. Not to mention, my heart can’t take anymore.

“I don’t want to leave, but I already called an Uber,” I lie.

He sits up and reaches for me, calling out, “Kit.”

And that’s my cue to go.

“Fuck…Midge,” follows me out the bedroom door. I skip down the stairs to find Chopper sitting in the living room.

“Midge?” His eyes widen in surprise.

“Could you give me a ride?” My voice shakes as I ask, tears running down my cheeks. “I want to go home.”

28

Advice from all over

[Hank]

Fuck, fuck, fuck. I slap a palm on the mattress as I hear Chopper’s car roar to life. Sitting up and reaching for my boxers, I race to the first floor to see headlights swing out of the driveway.

“Was that Midge I heard?” Brut says behind me.

“Fuck,” I yell, hands fisting my short hair. I can’t believe I called her Kit. It just slipped out.

“What happened?”

“I’m an idiot,” I huff, spinning to face my brother standing in the doorway to the kitchen. He’s eating a cupcake, but I don’t have time to question where he got it.

“Whatcha do now?”

“I…” I step around the couch and fall onto the cushions. “I called her Kit.”

“You what?” Brut bellows, then points the partially eaten cupcake at me. His voice rises an octave. “During sex?”

“How do you know I had sex with her?” Brut’s eyes roam to my boxers. Sitting forward, I cover my face, swearing into my hands.

“What happened?” my brother repeats, taking a seat on the chair opposite me.

“I took her to meet Lawson. It didn’t go like I thought.” I scrub both hands down my face before brushing over my head, holding my neck.

“Told you to tell her,” Brut mocks with a mouthful of cake, icing sticking to his lips.

“She had the interview. It was more important for her.” My thought process was all her, despite finding out a few days ago about Lawson. Brut shakes his head, wiping at his lip.

“She broke up with me.” The thought startles me. Did she break up with me?

“What is it with you and women?” He snorts as if he’s some expert.

“She’s different.” Like a teenager, he rolls his eyes.