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I nodded. “When will I see you again?”
Alicia thought about it. “Maybe Wednesday? I’m gonna need to rest tomorrow. For the baby and everything.”
I nodded.
I thought about bringing up the fact that when Alicia’s third trimester kicked in, I had a trust fund set up so she wouldn’t need to work again—not until the baby turned ten, as a matter of fact. I’d arranged it with my lawyer first thing when I heard about the pregnancy. I guessed I owed her that much. But I wasn’t sure how she’d react—if she wanted the financial help, I could offer her or whether I’d need to persuade her to accept it.
We were downstairs and dressed by the time Sam arrived. He was shocked to see I was still there.
“You stay the night, Jake?” he said, a little suspiciously. I could tell he didn’t like walking in on us having breakfast together like that.
“I was still a little shaken up,” said Alicia. “Jake slept on the sofa.”
“Uh-huh,” said Sam. Well, I gotta change. I’ve got a flight out in two hours. Better get going.”
“Sure thing,” said Alicia. “I’m going into town to get some stuff before I work later. See you, boys!”
And just like that, she was gone. I waited there in the kitchen, tense and nervous, wanting to speak to Sam but knowing that this was his space, his folks’ old house.
“You going to the reunion in a month?” Sam asked, now that we were alone. “It’s Class of 2007.” Sam was talking about a reunion of officer cadets from the Air Force Academy.
“Sure,” I said. “I might stop by.”
“Nice!” he replied. “Wonder if Instructor Redd’s gonna be there. Damn, that guy made our lives hell! Remember?”
“Sure did,” I replied weakly. I could already tell what Sam was doing—softening me up with reference to our past, reminding me of old loyalties that he was going to test now.
“Hey, buddy,” he said, slowly. “I hate to ask you this. I really do. But …”
I braced myself for what was coming.
“You and my sister … is there anything, like going on there?”
I laughed, a hollow, empty laugh. “No, no way, dude.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Phew! Because, like, when I came back this morning and saw you together, I was totally freaked out. Thanks. Sorry to be an asshole.”
“No way,” I said. “I completely understand why you’d ask. Hey, Sam?”
He looked at me, narrowing his eyes. “Yeah?”
“Say that I did want to take Alicia out. Just for a date. Nothing special,” I said. “Would you be okay with that?”
“Is that a joke?” said Sam.
“No,” I replied.
He smiled thinly at me like he was actually kinda mad but burying his feelings inside. I’d never seen him look like that before.
“Jake,” he said. “You’re an awesome guy. Great friend, and a great leader. But you and Alicia are not right for each other. Come on, man. She’d just get hurt in that scenario. And so would you.”
I looked away. “Yeah,” I said. “Sorry dude, it’s just … she’s gorgeous. And you know what I’m like.”
“I sure do!” said Sam, looking at his watch.
He went upstairs to get changed.
“Guess it’s about time you were going,” he said. “You’re probably busy.”
