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She joins me, sitting on a stool across from me at the island. “Why are any of us single in this town?” She shrugs and sips her wine. “This job is demanding and it’s hard to find someone who will put up with your schedule. Dating in LA is a cesspool. Most men are more interested in getting into my pants than my heart.”
I pull the chicken from the fridge and rinse it. Thankfully, my back is to her, I’m not sure what to say to that since it’s true. “Maybe you’ll like my buddy Tripp when he gets here. He’s a good guy.”
“Maybe. Why are you single?” she asks, then seems to think better of her question. “Areyou single? Or is Lilah your…”
“Me and Lilah are complicated.”
She presses her lips together and gives a big nod. It comes off a bit skeptical, so I feel the need to explain.
“We’ve known each other since we were kids. Been through a lot together.”
“So you’re what? Friends with benefits?”
I place the chicken on a large cutting board and pull the meat tenderizer from the drawer in the island. “I don’t think there’s a word for what we are. We’re sort of like two planets orbiting the sun. Sometimes we’re close to each other, and other times we’re on opposite sides of the universe.”
I grab some plastic wrap and cover the meat, so the juices won’t splatter all over us while I beat it. I bang the tenderizer on the meat, relieving some of my frustration about the topic of Lilah and what we are to one another. Adelaide seems content to watch me, and I grow uncomfortable under her gaze, as though she senses more than she should. When I finish, I place the tenderizer in the dishwasher and toss the plastic wrap in the garbage.
“Well, I think she’s foolish if she doesn’t see how good she has it with you.” She smiles and sips her wine again. A smile tips the corners of her mouth over her wine glass.
She does see too much.
“Trust me, I’m no angel.” I give her a friendly wink and move the chicken to a plate before I head to the sink to wash my hands.
Thankfully, Tripp joins us then, walking right in as usual.
“Hey, man.” I give him a nod.
“What’s up? And who is this lovely lady?” he asks, knowing full well who Adelaide is.
“Adelaide, this is my friend Tripp.” I motion between them with my hand.
“Good to meet you,” he says, taking her hand.
“Same here.” She smiles and gives him the once-over.
“Well, you two get to know each other. I’m going to warm up the barbeque. Be right back.”
I listen to them chitchat as I walk across the living area and out the sliding doors onto the deck overlooking the ocean. After lighting the barbeque, I look inside the house to judge how it’s going. Tripp and Adelaide are engaged in a conversation, and my mind fills with the thought of what it would be like if Lilah and I ever did something so normal as have a night in with another couple. You know, were Lilah and I are officially a couple ourselves. My hope that that will ever happen is vanishing every day.
No matter how much I push, she won’t budge and give us a real chance. Sure, sleeping with her is great. But I want her to clean up her shit, move on from the past, andreallybe with me. As a couple.
But I learned early in life that you can want something, but you might never get it.
* * *
A couple of hours later,I’ve cleaned up from dinner. Adelaide and Tripp are getting along well enough, but I’m not sure there’s enough spark for a love connection.
I’m enjoying myself too. I’m on my fifth drink, lying to myself that it’s not because Lilah hasn’t shown her face. I texted her an hour ago, and so far, I’ve heard nothing back.
Tripp hasn’t mentioned Lilah at all tonight, which is a blessing, but we’ve all had a few and the conversation won’t go as nicely as it would if I were sober.
“Where’s Lilah tonight?” he finally asks, as though he can hear my thoughts.
I shrug and lean farther back into my lounger.
“What, is your GPS tracker not working?” he teases.
“Fuck off.” I guzzle a fair amount of whiskey. I moved on to the hard stuff after my first beer.
