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“Oh, we have to go to the country club!” Anthony called and stomped his foot.
I pushed down my laughter and slammed my fist on the table. “To the country club it is!”
Jay shook his head, his messy beard not enough to hide his little smile. “Like they would ever let you idiots into the country club.”
Jay was the first to drive off, then Anthony went to start the car, which left me alone with Chris. We stood facing one another, and in truth, I didn’t want to leave. Even though we were to meet in less than a week, I needed to make up for lost time, just the two of us.
“I know you’re busy,” I said, “a lot busier than me, but how about you and I get together before Friday?” I shouldn’t have been so nervous, but it reminded me of asking a girl to prom.
Chris narrowed his eyes in thought. “You have a free morning this week?”
“Free morning? On Tuesday.”
“Cool. Let’s meet at my building for a swim. I can get you access. Then we’ll go grab breakfast. I’ll push back my morning meetings.”
“You don’t have to push your meetings.”
He took a step toward me, our faces close. “I’m doing what I want, E, not what I have to. Tuesday morning, you and me.”
I nodded, relieved he hadn’t left me hanging. “See you on Tuesday.”
I left him there and got into the car with Anthony. We started driving and a pleasant silence filled the air, each of us with his own thoughts as we drove further away from the lake. Broken branches were making the drive more challenging, a reminder of last night’s storm.
I thought to myself that if the four of us had been able to survive such a crazy night, it was maybe time for me to wake up from the slumber I had forced upon my career. I was wasting time in my current job because I was afraid of more rejections, but as last night clearly proven, taking risks could sometimes pay off. It was due time I got back in the game.
As we drove further from the lake, I wondered how things would be from now on between me and Anthony, but I mostly wondered how Iwantedthem to be. I had so many uncertainties about my desires and how much I was willing to embrace them, it felt that I should figure things out before expecting anything from anyone else.
I didn’t notice Anthony moving his hand until I felt it resting over mine. One glance at his face revealed how deeply nervous he was, and how much back and forth went on in his head before he dared touch my hand.
I raised his hand to my lips and gave it a kiss. The relief on his face was clear.
“You okay?” I asked.
He nodded. “Better now, but I still can’t believe last night really happened.”
“You think that you and Chris can work things out?”
“I don’t believe in grudges, so I’m willing to try. I also know how important this group is to you.”
“It’s important to you too.”
“Yes, but I think it’s different for you. You were always the heart of us four.” He smiled, the familiar dimple in the middle of his cheek. “It was great seeing how happy you were to find us together this morning.”
“Yeah, I thought I was dreaming for a minute there. You need help buying the gear for your new gig?”
“No, but I’d still like for you to join. And, hmm, I should probably have both hands on the wheel.”
“You sure?”
He laughed and glanced at me. “Safety first. My hand will return to you shortly.”
I dared ask, “What about your other parts?”
“My other parts as well.” His Adam’s apple moved. “Does it go both ways?”
“It does. But, Ant, I’m pretty new to all of this. I don’t want to promise you things I won’t be able to deliver.”
“Then don’t promise.”
