Mismatched

by Elle Casey

  She smiles a tiny bit. “Well, don’t keep me waiting…”

  “Our contract has an attorney-fee clause in it.” I grin like a giant clam. I am so the boss when it comes to this lawyering thing.

  She frowns. “I don’t get it.”

  I sigh loudly. “It means that if he brings a lawsuit and loses, he pays for all your fees and costs. All of them.”

  “But you’re working pro boner.”

  I shake my head. So pitiful. “Screw working pro boner. I’m going to bill you for everything and then just write it off if I have to, pay the bill on my own, whatever. Let me show his lawyer my potential bill along with the case law and she’ll tell him to back the fuck down in about two seconds.”

  “Are you sure about that? Maybe she’s a real ball buster. Maybe she’ll tell him to go for my throat.”

  “Not if she doesn’t want to get sued for malpractice, she won’t. The case law is crystal clear. I could try this with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back.”

  Erin grabs another tissue out of the box and stares at me as she wipes her nose. “Are you sure about this?”

  “Dead sure. He doesn’t have a leg to stand on. He had a duty to ask for what he wanted. Accounts, ledgers, tax returns, the works. What did he ask for? Nothing. The court doesn’t reward idiots, especially when they enter into business deals. Business deals are for business people. He wants to play businessman now? Too late. Too bad, so sad. He can hardly claim he was taken advantage of. He’s a frigging business owner himself!”

  “Have you talked to his lawyer about this yet?”

  “No. I wanted to talk to you first.” I sit back in my chair. “So what’s the deal? Are you going to let this play out naturally or do you want me to end it right now?”

  “What do you mean?”

  She looks so vulnerable, I want to hug her. But I stay where I am because I’m not sure she’ll accept my hug yet. “I know you have feelings for him, and for the past two weeks, you’ve been living together under very difficult circumstances. This whole time you’ve probably been thinking that I screwed you over and didn’t care.”

  Her lips tremble. “That about sums it up, thanks.”

  My voice goes softer. “Now you know that I love you dearly and that everything is going to work out okay. So do you want to let him stay, maybe show him around the city, enjoy part of his trip, or do you want to full-stop end it?”

  “What would you recommend?”

  “Are you sure you want to hear my recommendation?”

  She sighs, throwing the other tissue at me. “I suppose you haven’t led me astray yet, so I might as well.”

  I think that’s about as much of an apology as I’m going to get, so I accept it silently and move on. “Ride it out. Let him do his thing. But look at the relationship not as one that could end your future, but one that will carry lots of nice memories for you. Besides … you said he’s doing good things for the bar. Maybe he’ll do more of that. Wouldn’t hurt to hear what he has to say.”

  “But what if I fall in love with him?” she says in a small voice.

  Poor kid. She really is in bad shape. “I think it’s a little late for that, don’t you?” I stand, adjusting my purse over my shoulder. “I’m going to call his attorney and talk to her about this case law stuff. I expect after I send her the citations she’s going to want to do her own research, so it could be several days or even a week before we know anything on her end.”

  Erin stands and wrings her hands. “So, I should just play along? Is that it? Pretend like everything’s okay?”

  “My advice is to just enjoy your friend. Don’t be aggressive, don’t be mad, don’t be cocky. Just be yourself.”

  She drops her chin to her chest. “I don’t even feel like I know who I am anymore. I’ve been angry forever.”

  I come around to her side of the desk and hug her, whether she likes it or not. She stands there, her arms trapped at her sides, finally giving in and resting her head on my shoulder.

  “You’re going to be fine, Erin. I promise, promise, promise.”

  “I hope you’re right,” she mumbles into my shirt.

  “I am right. I’m always right.” I pull back and kiss her on both cheeks. “Now wash your face, put some makeup on, and have a kick ass time in your amazing bar.”

  Erin smiles, her lips trembling a bit. “It’s my bar? Are you sure?”

  “Yes. It’s your bar.” I pinch her cheek and leave her there. At the door, I face her before turning the handle. “I’ll be in touch.”

  “I’m still going to text you a hundred times a day,” she warns.

  “And I’ll answer you better this time. I’m in my regular office working regular cases now.”

  “Love you!” she shouts as I walk out the door.

  “Love you too!” I stride from the bar without a backward glance. Michaél can eat my backdraft. He’s going to be so sorry that he messed with my best friend’s heart. This is his last chance to make things right, and I sure hope he appreciates it before it’s too late.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  ERIN

  I FINISH APPLYING SOME BLUSH and appraise the damage. Some puffy residue, reddish eyes, and a bit of blotching that has now been well camouflaged by some very effective BB cream. It’s amazing what a little makeup can do.

  “Well, that’s probably as good as it gets, Babe,” I tell the girl looking back at me from the mirror in the ladies toilets. “Cheer up, will ye!” I say brusquely. Even I’m getting bored with my shitty mood.

  Just then the door opens and two very pretty girls come in chatting animatedly. “You’re gonna love it, Marnie. The traditional music is awesome and the guy who plays the drum thingy is drop dead gorgeous.” They both smile at me and carry on talking, clearly unaware of who I am. “This place used to be such a dive — full of druggies — but I think it’s under new management or something, ‘cause it’s really turned around.”

  “That bartender is pretty cute too,” ventures the friend. “Do you think I should give him my number? He is a bit short though…”

  “I don’t think you’re his type…” The girl smiles at her friend, scrunching her nose in sympathy.

  I gather up my make-up bag and walk out of the ladies room smiling. They’re the kind of customer that we’ve — I mean, I’ve — been trying to attract. They’re young, upwardly mobile, and interested in exploring other cultures, especially if it’s just a couple of blocks from work or home. Not to mention that they probably have good jobs and money to spend on the weekend.

  I’ve got to admit it; the proof is in the pudding. People love the changes that Michaél has made and I’d be mad to continue being angry with him, especially since Ridlee has assured me that he can’t just waltz in here and take half the bar. Time to put my big girl pants on and enjoy the bar’s success. Being nice is so much more fun than being nasty. I’m exhausted by the effort of the last two weeks. It’s definitely time for a change. I almost let out a sigh of relief, such is the wondrous feeling of a huge weight being lifted.

  Dropping my make-up bag back in the office, I head back into the bar to enjoy what’s left of the evening. It’s Saturday night and the motley crew of musicians and singers are making themselves comfortable in the corner booth which they have managed to commandeer to the point that people don’t use those seats much anymore, out of some kind of respect or something. Barry is dropping down pints and filling jugs of water for them. I go over to say hello.

  “How’re ye?” I ask, amping up the Irish lilt.

  “Grand, yeah … good, Erin, How’re you?” come the replies as people open music cases and store coats under seats. A lot of them are ex-pats, others are first-generation Irish, and some are just into the music. There’s even a guy from Pakistan who plays the fiddle. It’s a nice bunch of people and it seems to be expanding all the time. It was, I’ll concede, an awesome idea to have an open session. Hats off to Michaél.

  “Are ye all good for drin
ks?” I ask checking that there’s a glass in front of each of them. They nod or mutter their ascent.

  “Grand, so, Barry here will look after ye. If ye need a drink, just give him a nod.” I put my hand on Barry’s shoulder.

  “Is Michaél around this evening?” asks Sheena, the squeezebox player. “We could do with a bodhrán player. Steve’s not able to make it tonight.”

  “Eh, I’ll ask.” I glance back to where I last saw Michaél. He’s leaning over the bar and one of the girls from the ladies room is whispering in his ear. It’s Marnie, I think. She’s saying something to him while cupping her hand round her mouth. She draws back and looks at him. He gives her his devastatingly cute, perplexed look, and cocks his head, apparently confused by what she’s said. She laughs out loud and leans in again. This time she plants a kiss right on his mouth. He pulls back, mock shocked, but laughing. She’s pointing at the brass plaque behind him on the wall that reads Kiss me, I’m Irish.

  I march over, my hands full of empty glasses and set them on the bar in front of him. “Whenever you have a minute, could you wash a few glasses?” Then I lift the counter top and let myself in back behind the bar.

  “Is that your boss?” I hear Marnie ask with more than a little disdain. “I thought you were the boss.” The disappointment in her voice makes me smile.

  Michaél just grins, drops her over some complimentary peanuts and starts loading glasses in the dishwasher.

  I discreetly remove the plaque from the wall near the cash register and put it on one of the lower shelves. Standing up again I turn to him. “Eh, Michaél, Sheena was asking if you’d be playing tonight — they’re down a bodhrán player.” For once there’s no tension or bitterness in my voice and it feels so good not to think of him as my enemy.

  “Sure, if you and Barry are okay with the bar. It might get pretty busy, ye know.”

  “It’s grand; I’ve got Sharon coming in a bit later to help out. And, anyway, if it gets too hectic, I’ll call on ye.” That sentence is out before I have time to stop it. It’s so obvious how much I’ve come to rely on him already. I’ve really painted myself into a corner here.

  I catch the eye of a punter and almost race down the other end of the bar to take his order. When I glance back at Michaél, he’s chatting to Marnie again, who’s sipping her drink through a straw and staring at him coquettishly.

  “What can I get ye?” I ask the guy waving a twenty dollar bill at me. If Michaél wants to flirt with Marnie, he can flirt with Marnie. He can fuck her brains out for all I care! I give a million-dollar smile to the customer.

  “Three pints of Guinness and whatever you’re having yourself.”

  Five minutes later I drop his drinks over to him. “You’re a gentleman and a scholar,” I say taking his money.

  He winks at me. He’s cute, a little older than I am, and wearing a suit. In days gone by, pre Margaret’s illness, I’d have returned the wink and sent him and his friend a drink or two on the house. Then it would have been a roll in the hay, either in the office or up in the apartment. We’d have hung out for a couple of weeks, gone on a few dates, had some fun — nothing serious. But now I just thank him and put the tip he’s given me in the communal tip jar. I shake my head at myself. What has gotten into me?

  “Everyone’s sorted, Erin, so I’ll head over to play for a bit.” Michaél is standing right behind me, and his closeness turns me to jelly.

  “No prob. I got this.” I don’t even turn to look at him. Instead I fold and refold the bar towel I’m holding and start polishing the already immaculate bar surface. He squeezes past me, touching my upper arm as he goes by. I pretend not to notice.

  Marnie slides down off her stool and follows him over to the booth where the musicians like to play. I scowl after her.

  “Ohh boy, you have got it bad!” says Barry, coming round to my side of the bar.

  “I don’t know what you mean.” I keep rubbing at an imaginary stain on the bar.

  “Bodhrán boy.”

  “Who?”

  Barry laughs. “Michaél, of course! As if ye didn’t know. It’s like watching two strange birds of prey do some queer mating dance or something. Ye like him and he likes you. Get on with it, why don’t ye!”

  “I really don’t know what you’re talking about. The situation with Michaél is all business, and pretty complicated at that.”

  “Okay, okay. There’s still a bit of the dance to play out, is there? Well, don’t leave it too long. The girls here really go for the Irish accent. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel, being a straight man here, Erin. Don’t say I didn’t warn ye…” And with that he walks off to serve a young cute guy in a tight button-down shirt.

  The music has started up now, and the bar is hoppin’. Michaél’s broad shoulders catch my eye as he leans in to his drum as though listening to its response to his beating. My mind wanders. I like him. I really do. But what can I do? There’s so much history between us now, and none of it very romantic.

  Marnie is also gazing at him, smiling sweetly in his direction lest he lift his eyes from the drum. The song ends and she claps and wolf whistles loudly. Michaél laughs at her. I do too, but maybe not for the same reason.

  “Remember what I said,” Barry says out of the corner of his mouth like a ventriloquist.

  He’s right and I know it. I pull a pint and am just about to take it over to Michaél so that we can have a chat when a huge party of bachelorettes arrive and I spend the next few hours being rushed off my feet. I barely manage to clap eyes on Michaél for the rest of the night.

  It’s been a great night but a long one and I’m beat by the time I turn off the lights and head upstairs. I don’t know where Michaél is but he has his own key, so I don’t have to wait for him. A noise makes me pause half way up the stairs. I hear someone giggle and then his voice. “I’ve called a taxi; it’s on its way.” More giggling. “A cab, then. I’ve called a cab. Jaysus!” Even more giggling, followed by a high pitched scream, like the kind of one you give when someone pinches you playfully, or grabs you round the waist, or…

  Enough, Erin! Bed! I climb the stairs wearily.

  Falling asleep after a good night at the bar is difficult at the best of times, but tonight it’s worse. I keep imaging that I hear Michaél’s key in the lock, but it’s only my imagination. I look at the clock radio; it’s 5:12 a.m. Can I really have been awake all this time? I must have been sleeping and not even realized it. I hate that feeling. I have to get up in an hour, and I feel as though I haven’t slept at all. Right. One more hour. Get your head down, Erin.

  The inevitable happens; I get it into my head that I have to go to the loo, and the feeling won’t go away. Reluctantly, I get up and without turning on any lights because then I’ll truly be awake, I pad down the hall to the bathroom. Opening the door, I’m surprised find that the light over the mirror is on. I look up to find Michaél standing there in all his glory, dripping wet. My eyes lock onto his manhood, which is standing to attention, bold and erect.

  Covering my eyes, I let out a little scream. “Jaysus, Michaél, put it away!”

  He grabs a towel and covers himself up. “Jaysus, Erin, ever think of knocking?”

  “I didn’t think you were home,” I say backing out of the bathroom, my hand still over my eyes.

  “Mick?” comes a female voice from his room.

  I recognize that voice; it’s Marnie!

  “Sorry,” I mumble and am back in my room with the door shut before he can say anything. I scramble into bed and pull the covers up tight to my chin. My insides are churning and there’s a tightness in my chest. I waited too long. I’ve lost him to another girl.

  “Erin?” his voice is muffled through the door.

  I don’t answer. I don’t trust myself to.

  “Erin?”

  I hold my breath and listen. Then I hear Marnie’s muffled voice and Michaél’s fading response as he goes to her.

  The tears come quietly. They spill down my cheeks
and onto my pillow as Barry’s warning echoes in my mind.

  “Stupid, stupid, stupid!” I chastize myself.

  My mind buzzes for the next couple of hours until I finally give in to the fact that I am not going to get any more rest tonight. At 7:30 I creep down the hall and into the kitchen to make a much needed coffee. I turn on the machine and wait for the water to warm up. The buzzing in my head has become a dull hum made up of one single refrain: I pushed him into her arms.

  Taking my coffee, I cross to the sitting room in search of my laptop. My plan is to drown myself in emails and business tasks that I’ve been neglecting lately, but I almost jump out of my skin when I see a body under one of my grandmother’s old quilts on the couch. The head is obscured and so I have to circle it a few times to try to get a good visual. Orpheus is snuggled at the feet, snoring loudly. I reach my finger in and very carefully pull back the cover just a smidgen.

  “Michaél!” I exclaim, not meaning to be so loud.

  Groggily, he opens his eyes and sits up, the quilt like a cape over his shoulders. “Morning,” he yawns.

  “Here.” I hand him my coffee and go over to pour myself another.

  He takes a sip and sits as if waiting for me to come back.

  I adopt a breezy, devil may care attitude. My mantra is, don’t let him see how hurt I am.

  “Erin, about last night…”

  I stop him, holding up my hand. “Michaél, who ye choose to shag is absolutely none of my business. I would just ask that ye keep your pecker in your pants when I’m around and that ye not bring yer little slags back here.” The last bit comes out a little sharper than I meant for it to.

  “I didn’t shag her.” He’s actually smiling when he says this.

  “Michaél, whether or not ye shagged little Marnie is neither here nor there, and none of my affair.” I adopt one of my mum’s lecture tones of voice. “Personally, I couldn’t care less what ye do, or who ye do it to. Just so long as ye don’t do it on my doorstep or in my spare room.” I take a sip of my coffee so that I don’t have to look at him.