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“Wow. You don’t seem old enough…”
“I’m not that much younger than Laurel. There’s just eighteen months between us.”
“Right. I remember now. What’s your degree in?”
She lets out a heavy sigh. “Nonprofit management.”
“Nonprofit? So, like you want to run charities?”
“I know what you’re thinking. My father likes to point out daily that it’s a completely worthless degree since it’s probably never going to make me any decent money. Not to mention that it’s been months and I haven’t had any luckfinding a job.”
“That’s too bad. And I don’t think it’s worthless.”
“Thanks,” she says as silence falls between us. Lyla even glances toward the parking lot, formulating her escape from me. “Well, it was good seeing you.”
But I’m not ready for her to leave just yet. Seeing her brings back memories, good and bad, but they’re familiar all the same. And she hasn’t mentioned how Laurel’s doing.
That’s why I blurt out, “Actually, I know someone who wants to start up a nonprofit for military vets.”
Lyla’s emerald-green eyes light up with interest. “Oh yeah? Are they hiring? Are they local? Honestly, I don’t care where they’re at if you get me an interview.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Great! I can give you my number if you want so you can let me know. I’m so desperate I would take any position available anywhere in the country.”
“Sure,” I say as I hand over my phone for her to put in her number. While she’s distracted, I say, “I hate to ask this, but how is Laurel?”
“Oh, she’s still a spoiled little bitch,” Lyla responds without looking up from my phone in her hands.
“Yeah?”
She holds out my phone, and when I take it, she says, “And, um, she’s getting married again. October fifteenth at the fairgrounds.”
“Oh. Wow. I didn’t know,” I say. Slipping my phone into my pocket, I reach up to rub the rough scruff growing over my chin. “She’s getting married at the fairgrounds?” I repeat.
“I know, right? So weird, like they’re carnies or something. Apparently, it was the only place big enough to invite the whole town.”
“She wanted a guest list so big they had to book the fairgrounds? Damn, that is the total opposite of the little ceremony we had, with just family,” I remark.
“I’m sorry to be the one to have to tell you.” Narrowing her greeneyes at me, she says, “You’re not going to crash it and object or anything, are you?”
“No, of course not. Just because I don’t ever want to get married again doesn’t mean I’m not happy for her.”
“Good, because you deserve better than her, Barrett. In fact, I could give you a hundred reasons why she’s a horrible person and you’re lucky that she’s no longer your problem.”
“A hundred reasons, huh?”
“At least.”
“Okay. Do you want to grab some lunch while you enlighten me?”
“Ah, sure, I guess, if you’re paying. Like I mentioned, I’m currently unemployed. Where are you working now?”
“Here and there.”
“Right. That’s not the least bit vague.”
“I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do, so there’s nothing to tell yet.”
