Piece by Piece

by Tucker, RH

  “This isn’t a good idea. I shouldn’t have done it.”

  “Because you like him,” she says, and I nod. “Maybe he’d be open to—”

  “He won’t.”

  “But how do you know?”

  “He woke up this morning and was dreaming. It isn’t the first time.”

  “So, he had a little dream?”

  “Nightmare.” Turning off the pan, I scoop the eggs out and put them on a plate, handing it to Felicia.

  “Whatever,” she says, taking a bite of the breakfast. “That doesn’t mean anything.”

  “He said a name. Reese. I was going to ask him but wasn’t sure if I should. Then he just shut me out. It’s not like I can press him for something because we’re not together. We’re not anything.”

  “Well, you’re something.”

  “Not something real enough that lets me ask him about things.” Folding my arms, I stare down at the floor. “I think this thing was just a huge mistake. I am so not interested in liking someone who, once again, isn’t available.”

  “You don’t know who Reese is though. It could be anyone. It could be his childhood puppy, you don’t know.”

  “Yeah. Right.”

  This is so not a good idea.

  Chapter 14

  Taylor

  “How’s that?” Becky asks

  “Mm-hm,” I reply, nodding but not really paying attention to her form on the squat press machine.

  After I left Sasha’s place yesterday, I felt like an ass. I paid attention in my classes, but I’m noticing Tara more and more around campus, and when I saw her yesterday the feeling just compounded. And it’s stayed with me while I’ve been at work today. So, while I’m technically not Becky’s personal trainer, I always spot her around the gym, and I usually love it. Especially on legs day.

  Across the gym, Calvin waves at me, motioning me to come over.

  “Hey, you okay?” Becky asks with more sincerity in her voice than I’m used to.

  “Uh, yeah. I’ll be right back.”

  I know it’s Calvin’s last day. Ethan’s is tomorrow.

  “As a PT you’ll set your own hours and rate, that’s a given,” Calvin begins before I can say anything, “but you’ll need clients. Working out Becky five days a week won’t cut it, even if you fantasize about that.”

  I chuckle along with him. “What’s your point? I told you, I haven’t decided yet.”

  He smiles past me, giving a head nod, and I turn and see Becky looking over at me. “My point is I’ve got a client list lined up, and Ethan and I can’t handle them all.”

  “How’s this?” I inquire, tapping my fingers on the cool marble counter.

  “We’re located down the street from a chiropractor, and I made friends with her.”

  “Her? Oh, now I see.”

  His smile, and the way his brown eyes light up, give him away. “So, what do you say?”

  Before I can reply, my manager, Bobby, walks over to us. “Taylor, can I talk to you a minute?”

  “Sure,” I answer and follow him, casting a glance behind me. Calvin nods to me, and I know he wants me to think about it.

  “Take a seat,” Bobby instructs as he shuts the door behind us. “I’ll get right to the point. With Calvin and Ethan leaving, we’re short staffed.”

  “I know. I’ll pick up extra shifts whenever I can.”

  Bobby moves toward his chair, located behind a messy desk. “Awesome, that’s just what I wanted to hear. I know you’re taking classes this semester.”

  “Yeah, but it’s not too crazy.”

  “Great. Micah’s volunteered some more shifts, too. I know you asked for a weekend off next month, so—”

  “Yes, those are the only days I need.”

  “Yeah, see, I need you here though. My wife and I will be out of town, so I’ll need you and Micah to cover the gym those days.”

  Running my hand through my hair in frustration, I reply, “Bobby, I can’t do it. Look, I don’t even need both days, but I need the sixteenth. I don’t see the problem.”

  “The problem is our tickets are booked. I’m sorry, Taylor. I need you here those days.”

  I get up from the chair. “It’s non-negotiable, Bobby. I’m sorry, I won’t do it. I can’t.”

  He leans forward, placing his elbows on his desk. “Taylor, don’t make this difficult. It’s one day.”

  “Sorry, can’t do it.”

  “Well, I’m in charge of the schedule.”

  I don’t need or request many days off. The gym isn’t even closed on holidays, but I don’t ask for Christmas, or Thanksgiving, or even my birthday. But there is one day I always make sure I have off. The sixteenth. “I don’t care.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I quit.”

  Steamrolling out of the office, I head to the front of the gym, Calvin watching in confusion. Bobby comes running out, jumping in front of me. “Whoa! Taylor, wait. We’ll figure something out.”

  “There’s nothing to figure out. I quit.”

  “You what?” I hear Micah behind me, entering the gym. “What’s going on?”

  “If I can’t get the sixteenth off, then I’m out. No questions.”

  “What the hell is the deal with that day? It’s one day, Taylor,” Bobby says.

  “Don’t, Bobby,” Micah warns him. He knows what that day is.

  “Yeah! Screw this place!” Calvin comes over, slings his arm over my shoulder, and escorts me out of the building as we walk over to my bike. In the distance, I can hear Bobby asking Micah what just happened. I know Micah won’t tell him, but maybe he should. Maybe I should. But I won’t because it’s none of his business.

  “What the hell was that about? You didn’t have to do it for little ol’ me.” Calvin laughs.

  “I didn’t,” I snap at him.

  “Whoa, okay. Okay.” He lifts his hands. “Tonight, you, me, and Ethan. We celebrate the CTE Effect branching out on our own.”

  “Yeah. Fine, whatever.” Grabbing my helmet, I take a deep breath. “Mind picking me up? I feel like letting loose tonight.”

  “Hell yeah! You sure you’re okay, though? You hardly ever get in anything with four wheels.”

  “I’m cool.” I raise my fist, and he hits my knuckles. “Hit me up when you’re on your way.”

  “Yeah, for sure.”

  Slipping on my helmet, I look back at the door. I watch as Bobby walks away from Micah, who stares at me through the glass door. I’ll have to explain it to him later, but I know he’ll understand. It’s not like I’ll be messing things up since I’ll still be able to pay my share of the rent. For now, at least. But I don’t want to think about any of that. Things feel like they are starting to unravel, and right now I just want to forget everything for the rest of the day.

  * * *

  “Whoa, started early, huh?” Ethan laughs as I open the door, empty shot glass in my hand. I shrug, turn around, and head back into the kitchen. “What the hell happened today?” Ethan asks, following me in. “Cal asked me to pick you up. He said he was calling some girls.”

  “Whatever. And nothing .” I wave him off, leaning against the kitchen counter.

  “Right.” He stares at me a moment, maybe waiting for me to expound, but I don’t.

  “What are we getting into tonight?” I throw back another shot.

  “What’s going on with you?”

  “Nothing.”

  He walks over slowly, taking the bottle from my hand and puts it back on the counter. “Becks said you’ve been ignoring her. I know you guys had an arrangement, or whatever, but I think she’s actually starting to like you. And then you just up a quit today? What’s up?”

  “It’s nothing. I haven’t been ignoring her, I had this thing on the side with this other girl. Kind of like a friend with bennies thing.”

  “Had? Not anymore? Maybe you should let Becky know, in case she is digging on you now.”

  I shake my head, walking past him, and grab my jacke
t. “Ugh, you and Micah. She’s not into me, okay?” I lock eyes with him. “We just haven’t hooked up in a while. And I don’t know what’s going on with Sasha. This stupid arrangement is dumb, and I never should’ve—” I throw my hands into the air, letting out a frustrated groan. “Dude, just forget it, okay? Come on, I need to blow off some steam tonight.”

  Instead of agreeing, he stands there. His eyes on me, I know he’s questioning even taking me out. I would probably do the same if a friend were acting like me, but I really need to forget everything tonight. I’m not calling Sasha because that would just make things worse, and if Becky is starting to like me, I don’t want to lead her on. I know I had a deal with Sasha, but I can’t take this. I need to zone out.

  “We doing this, or what?” I ask him.

  “Yeah, sure,” he answers, but he sounds anything but confident. “Cal’s already called some girls down at Chevy’s, but I can’t stay late tonight. My mom’s watching Ash.”

  “Let’s get it started then.”

  * * *

  We get to Chevy’s, and Calvin already has three girls around him when we walk in. Ethan taps my chest, motioning over to the bar. “I’m gonna grab a drink. I’ll get you water.”

  I scoff, rolling my eyes at him. “Jack and Coke.”

  I think he’s getting annoyed with me, but he doesn’t say anything. Calvin introduces me to a girl, but I’ve forgotten her name by the time Ethan comes back with my drink.

  “Hey, take it easy, man.” He hands me my glass. “I know your cousin hooks you up here, but you’re still underage.”

  “Yeah, thanks, Dad.”

  He scowls. “Taylor, what’s your deal?”

  I don’t answer. Instead, I knock back my drink and then grab Calvin’s beer, downing it.

  “Dude, knock it off,” Ethan hisses at me.

  “Try this.” The girl whose name I’ve forgotten leans over, handing me her cup.

  “What is it?” I give her a smirk.

  “Sex on the beach.” She’s wearing smokey eyeshadow, and I’d normally find it sexy. Right now I’m comparing her eyes to Sasha’s, and I shake my head at myself.

  “Don’t mind if I do.” I drink the remaining half glass, grinning at her.

  “And next up, we’ve got Taylor singing Lionel Richie’s ‘All Night Long’.”

  I look back at the DJ who hosts karaoke night. I’ve sung before, but didn’t sign up tonight. At least, I don’t think I did. Shit, I’m drunk already.

  “I signed you up.” Calvin slings his arm over my shoulder then looks at Smokey Eyeshadow. “I’ve been talking you up,” he whispers to me. “You owe me.”

  Rolling my eyes, I decide to go with it and hop up on stage, but I don’t even know if I’m singing the words right. The girls are giggling, and Calvin chuckles along, but Ethan is shaking his head at me like I’ve let him down.

  The rest of the night is fuzzy. I know Calvin gets me another drink and I’m about to take off with the girl whose name I’ve long forgotten, but Ethan pulls me aside.

  “You’re not leaving with her.”

  “Why not?” My words stumble out.

  “Because you’re not right. Give me your phone.”

  “I’m not giving you my phone,” I tell him, reaching into my pocket.

  “Dude, I have to leave and I sure as hell am not leaving you alone with Calvin or the girls.”

  “Aw.” I drunkenly grin at him. “You’re a good dad. I’ll be fine.”

  “No. You won’t. Now give me your phone.”

  Pulling my phone out, I wave it in his face. “I told you, you’re not getting my—” He quickly snatches it from my hand. “Hey!”

  “I already called Micah, but he’s not responding. What’s your friend with bennies’ name again?”

  “Dude, just let me go have fun with …” I look around the place, my head getting foggy. “I don’t remember her name.”

  “No. Something is going on with you, even if you don’t want to tell me. And if you haven’t been hooking up with Becky because of this other girl, then that has to mean something.”

  “Dude, it’s just … It’s nothing.”

  “Is this her?” He shows me the screen, and I see our text message conversation.

  “Don’t call her.” I reach for my phone but move too slow. My words are slurring together more now. “Just grab me another drink, and I’ll be fine.”

  He doesn’t answer. Leaning against the wall, I see him talking, but the surrounding conversations and the music in the place block out his voice. Plus, I’m starting to feel dizzy.

  “Drink this.” Ethan hands me a bottle of water, and I’m not sure how I’m in a chair now, but I am. I struggle with the top, but get it open, splashing a little on my shirt, before guzzling down the cold liquid.

  “This is good.” I grin at the bottle.

  “Wow, how much has he had?” I hear a female voice that I’m instantly drawn to. Turning around, I see Ethan get up and walk over to Sasha, who looks like she just got off work.

  “Too much,” Ethan responds. “Sasha?” She nods. “Thanks for coming.”

  “Sure.” She looks over at me. “And why couldn’t you take him home?”

  He points to the back, and I see Calvin, happily dancing with the girls. Calvin doesn’t dance. He looks incredibly stupid dancing, and I know the only reason he is right now, is because he must be drunk, too. “I’m fine leaving Cal with the girls, but Taylor … something’s up. And I have to go pick up my daughter.” She nods again. “Will you guys be okay?”

  Glancing back at me, she shrugs. “We’ll be fine.”

  I’m inebriated and starting to get sleepy, but her defeated gesture makes me feel like an asshole all over again after our last conversation. Turning back around at the table, I reach for my water bottle and then see the drink Ethan’s been working on. I have no idea what it is, but I grab it and down it.

  “Damn it, Taylor. Stop,” Ethan scolds me.

  I look over at him and then at Sasha, feeling the warmness of the liquor float through me. I grin at both of them, shrugging my shoulders.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Sasha finally talks to me, sitting next to me.

  “Nothing. Everything.” Staring at my hands on the table, I finally meet her eyes. “I’m an asshole.”

  “Well, no arguments there.” She’s not joking, but her words make me laugh. She shakes her head, wrapping my arm over her shoulders. “Come on.”

  Gone is my self-deprecating mood, feeling her next to me, and smelling her hair that’s a mix of her sweet perfume and the grease she cooks around that I’m starting to get used to. “Oh, making moves on me in public of the view, huh? You into that public and the open, with the people? I didn’t know that about that about you and that—”

  “What?”

  I register the laugh that follows her word and tap my finger over her lips. “Have I told you that you’ve got sexy lips?”

  Ignoring my comment, Ethan walks on my other side as I’m ushered out of the building. “Yeah, you’ve definitely had too much.”

  My head’s floating and I think my feet are moving when I feel the cold hit my face. Ethan says something to her, and then I’m sitting in a car. Sasha leans over me, buckling a seatbelt across my chest. Reaching over me, her face and neck cross in front, and I reach up, running my hand up her arm.

  “Hey,” I mumble out, trying my hardest to make sure I don’t slur my words.

  “What?” She looks back at me, waiting.

  “I didn’t … I didn’t do anything tonight.” I reach up, feeling my eyes get heavy, but still wanting to hold her.

  “It doesn’t matter, Taylor,” she replies. “We’re not together, remember?”

  Without waiting for my response, she shuts the door, and I watch her walk around the front of the car and then get into the driver’s seat. Then we’re off.

  Chapter 15

  Sasha

  To say I was surprised to see Taylor’s name flash
across my phone as I got off from work would be an understatement. I almost didn’t answer it, but then I thought maybe he’d be calling to apologize about how he left. So, upon answering his call, I was doubly surprised to be talking to a friend of his asking if I could pick him up because he was drunk off of his ass.

  After talking to Felicia a little more, and then Tara after that, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do when he originally left my apartment. I debated texting him and calling the whole thing off. It ran through my head again, as I cooked over the grill during my shift. Then the call came in, and even though I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, I didn’t feel right just leaving him out there without anyone either.

  Maybe this is better though. He’s drunk and almost passed out in the passenger seat as I drive back to his place. Parking next to his bike, I walk over to the passenger door, and he stumbles out. He’s been quiet the entire drive. It’s difficult trying to help him hold himself up, but somehow we make it to his front door.

  “It’s locked,” I whisper to him, hoping we’re not being too loud in the middle of the night and waking up his neighbors.

  “I got door in my pocket,” he slurs.

  “I think you mean keys.”

  “That’s what I said. Boop.” He taps my nose with his finger, and I smile, even though I know he probably won’t remember any of this tomorrow.

  As I’m rummaging my hand into his pocket, he laughs. “Girl, moving in on third base, and didn’t even buy me dinner.”

  “We’re not dating, Taylor.”

  “Right. Well, we did. I mean, we should and could because we did. You were perfect.”

  Pulling out his keys, I stare at him for a moment. Droopy eyelids, covering over his hazel eyes, he still has a crooked grin, though it comes in and out, as he wobbles to and fro. He’s almost passed out standing up, and I’m trying to understand the words he just said, but know I need to get him down.

  “Ah, home sweet home. Just like I promised you.” He yawns, pulling me closer and pressing his lips to my temple. I have just enough time to shut and lock the door before he drags me toward his room. “I have a confession to make,” he says, laughing to himself.