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“I sort of have to.” Once I summon the courage to look at him, he blows me a kiss, and I shake my head. Little shit. “My parents are paying for school and gave me some money for necessities, but if I want to have any spending cash this summer, I have to work at least a couple of days a week.”
“What about you, Liv?”
“Mom and Dad liked the idea so much they suggested I do the same.” Tug bursts into a fit of laughter, and Liv scowls at him. I laugh, too, knowing how spoiled Liv is.
Tug and I reach for the last piece of bacon at the same time. He holds one side, and I hold the other. It’s a standoff. Oh, he wants to die. I send him a warning look. “You’d so better let go.”
The deliberate tilt of his head and his frisky smile are making me crazy. “I’ll make a deal with you, Tor. Go on a date with me and it’s all yours.”
Since I saw his ultimatum coming from a mile away, I’m prepared. “I’d rather use barbed wire for toilet paper than go out with you, Tug.”
“Too bad for you, then.” He jerks the bacon from my hand, and eats half the slice in one bite. Exaggerating his chewing, he watches me with satisfaction and moans repeatedly. “This is so freaking good, Tor. Yum-oh-yum-yeah-so-good.”
“You totally suck, Tug.”
He smirks and holds the uneaten half of the bacon slice across the island. “I’m not all that bad. You can have the other half.”
I ignore that there might be Tug spit on the part he bit off, take the bacon from him, and bite into it. What can I say? I love bacon.
Tug guzzles a glass of milk and sets the glass in the sink. “My friend Paul is having a bonfire Saturday night on the beach. It’s going to be a crazy party. You girls wanna come?”
The invite makes Liv positively giddy. “That might be fun, Tor. We should go.”
“Yeah, okay,” I agree. Anything beats hanging out here with Brady.
Liv goes upstairs to take a shower, and since Tug drank all of the coffee by himself, I decide to brew another pot. I set a filter in the basket and scoop the coffee inside. I pour in the water and flip the machine on. As I watch it brew, I stare at the glowing red numbers on the built-in clock.
Reality bites me when I notice “12:37” flashing. It’s not the correct time, but it’s the exact same time Brady left me last night. I remember looking at the dash, reading “12:37” in neon green numbers right when Brady slammed the door. I can’t comprehend why I’m thinking about him at all. And I hate myself for it. I’m toxic, like fucking poison, nothing instant, though – I’m something slow and painful. His words replay in my mind, and my heart suddenly aches for him. Something happened to Brady over the last year, something to break him. I tell myself not to think about it. Whatever it is, it’s none of my business.
While I reach into the cabinet for a coffee mug, I notice Tug out of the corner of my eye. He’s standing at the island, gawking at me.
Without looking at him, I say, “Take a picture, Tug.”
“Are you okay?”
The concern in his voice surprises me, and I look over at him. “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
He walks up, and stands next to me, his expression gives nothing away. “Could it be because you were having one hell of an argument with the coffee pot?”
I’m instantly red as embarrassment creeps up my neck. “I was not!”
“Okay, so you weren’t talking, but you were making all these crazy faces and your hands were flying around.” He imitates me by flailing his arms in front of him.
I punch him in the arm. “You’re such a shit, Tug.”
“Hey, I’m not the one who needs a straitjacket.” He dodges me when I start to smack him again. “I’m kidding. I’m kidding. Seriously, though, what’s got you so upset?”
I can’t tell him it’s a who, not a what. And I definitely can’t tell him it’s Brady that’s responsible for my crazy behavior. “It’s nothing. Sometimes I get a little expressive when I think.”
“Okay, nutty buddy, if you say so.”
“What-ev-er.” I roll my eyes and take a sip of my coffee. The second it hits my tongue, I realize I’ve forgotten the cream and sugar and immediately spit it out in the sink. God, how do people drink it black?
Tug laughs and starts to leave, then turns and leans against the doorjamb. His smile is sweet and sincere, and I smile back. “Hey, you know I’m only kidding, right?” I nod. “If you ever need to talk…well, you know I’m here for you, cuckoo.”
I chuck a piece of toast at him.
Brady
