Pieces of it All

by Tracy Krimmer

  He had no more words. He was who he was. The faster he admitted his fate, the faster he moved on. He opened the door for her. "Why don't you leave now?"

  "Harvey?"

  The voice sent shivers through his entire body. He turned to see Beth standing in the doorway, her hand in the air mid-knock. "Beth! What are you doing here?"

  "I was on my way back to school and wanted to talk." She glanced into the house. "Is this a bad time?"

  Maggie. Shit. "No. This is my friend Maggie. She was just leaving. Right, Maggie?"

  "You need to come back with me, Harvey. Do what's right. You can change again."

  Beth took a step back, her lip quivering. "Maybe this was a bad idea." As she moved further away, Harvey tried to grab her arm. "I'm sorry I came."

  "Beth! It's not what you think!" Frantic, he turned in circles. "Maggie, tell her."

  But it was too late. Beth was already in her car, wheels squealing, breaking his heart again.

  Chapter Thirty Five

  Beth jiggled the keys in the lock. She turned the knob a few times before it clicked and the door opened. When she entered, the sweet perfume of roses and daisies welcomed her. A short, green vase overflowing with yellow roses, white carnations and amazing lilies and daisies sat on the kitchen table. Lush greens peeked out from the charming display. What in the world? Her eyes didn't leave the bouquet as she felt around for a surface to set her keys down. She'd never gotten flowers before. But who?

  Harvey. He must've sent them. Did he think he could win her over with flowers after she walked in on him and whoever Maggie was to him? She should grab the flowers and throw them in the trash, vase and all. Yeah. That's what she would do. She ran to the table, snatched the flowers off, the card falling out of the center and onto the floor.

  The white envelope laid on the linoleum, teasing her, aware reading the message inside would anger her more. The sweet petal scent entered her nose as she inhaled. Fine. She set the bouquet back down and grabbed the card. The words presented themselves slowly, "I had a wonderful evening with you. I can't wait to go out again. Mark."

  Relief sent tingles up her arms and a giggle from her mouth. The flowers were from Mark! Thank goodness she didn't trash them. In the midst of everything with Harvey, she hadn't considered things were moving forward with Mark, a funny, attractive man who liked her back. She pulled the card to her chest, a smiling. She had to stop wasting her energy on a destructive relationship.

  Her cell phone rang, jolting her from a daydream of thanking Mark. She put the card back in the flowers and answered without looking at the display. "Hello?"

  "Beth, it's Mark. Did you get the flowers?"

  She hadn't stopped staring at them. "Yes, I did. Thank you so much. You're so thoughtful." She gently pressed her fingers against the soft petals.

  "Heather said you had to go home for a few hours. Is everything okay?"

  "Yeah, much better now. My dad had a heart attack."

  "Oh no! Do you need me to come over? I can be a great shoulder to lean on."

  A strong, muscular shoulder. The fact he'd even consider dropping whatever he may be doing to come added to the reasons she liked him. "No, but thanks for the offer. He's doing well. It was mild and he's already going home tomorrow."

  The smile on the other side of the phone infected her. "Great news. I'm glad for you." He paused. "Did you want go out again? Well, not out so much as in. My place for dinner tomorrow? I'll cook."

  The chance to be alone with Mark appealed to her, but trusting herself was something she didn't have a lot of confidence in. After her experience with Harvey, she wanted to move at a slower pace. She needed to take her time and let things develop naturally with him. If she agreed, what would his expectations be?

  "Beth? If you don't want to come, that's fine."

  "No, no. I do."

  He sensed her apprehension. "Just dinner," he said in a reassuring tone. "A hearty, home-cooked meal. I promise I won't give you food poisoning."

  A laugh, how refreshing. "Sounds like fun. I look forward to it." She'd regret not going, and this summer didn't have room for regrets. Well, just one.

  "How about you come to my place around five-thirty?"

  She shuffled her feet on the ground, holding in a squeal of excitement. "Works for me. I can't wait." She pressed "End" on her phone, and held it to her chest as she jumped up and down.

  "Ahem," a male voice interrupted her dance. She jumped, dropping her phone on the floor. A tall, lanky man with blond hair stood in front of her in nothing but boxer shorts. She couldn't help but notice his defined pecks and large biceps, a surfer type if she ever saw one. He leaned down, picked up her phone and handed it to her.

  "Can I help you?" she asked.

  "A thank you would be nice," he stated.

  "Thank you." She whispered her words.

  "I'm Robert. A friend of Heather's." He offered his hand, but she didn't take it. She did, however, loosen the grip on the phone now that she knew she was not being robbed in her new apartment. "And you are?"

  "Beth. My name is Beth. I'm Heather's roommate."

  He licked his lips and looked her up and down. He tightened his jaw, reminding her of a young Brad Pitt. "Interesting..."

  Positive his remark was a sexual innuendo, she ignored him and asked, "While you're here in my apartment, where is Heather?"

  "Coffee. She ran to get us some coffee."

  Beth ducked her head around the corner. "We have a coffeemaker."

  "Broken," he said, offering no other explanation.

  "Okay. Well, I guess make yourself at home." She shifted her head left to right, trying to find anything she could in the room to focus on but this man in his underwear. "I need to do something," she lied.

  "Those your flowers?" he asked as he pointed to them, slipping past her to sit at the table.

  "Yes, as a matter of fact they are." How did she get rid of this guy, or at least excuse herself politely? "Can I help you with anything? Do you need anything?" She pointed to her room. "I have some things I need to do." How many times did she have to say it before he got the hint?

  Robert tapped his hand on the chair next to him. "Sit down. Let's chat. You're Heather's roommate. I'm her friend. We should get to know each other, in case I'm around for a while."

  The name Robert never left Heather's lips before, and Beth wasn't aware of her currently having a boyfriend. He came off like a ditz and self-absorbed based simply on him sitting across from her in nothing but underwear. She hoped Heather hadn't ditched him and would be back soon.

  "So you met Heather where?"

  He smiled and put his hands behind his head. "Oh, the roommate interrogation. I love it. Did she put you up to this?"

  The amount of hair under his armpits should be illegal. "Um, no, she didn't. Do you recall we just met? I had no idea you existed until less than five minutes ago."

  "Right," he nodded, clearly in denial Beth hadn't a clue who he was. "We met at a coffee shop this morning. We sat and talked for hours. Then she invited me up here."

  Beth couldn't imagine anyone holding a conversation with Robert for hours, much less the time she had to until Heather waltzed through the door to save her. "So you've known her for about ten hours." Heather certainly worked fast.

  He looked at his wrist. "Oh, I suppose I'm not wearing a watch," he grinned as he rubbed the bare area.

  "No, you're not. You're only wearing underwear."

  He shrugged, not embarrassed in the least. "It's been at least ten hours. Maybe even eleven. She's fucking rad. Coolest chick I've met in awhile."

  Bile formed in her mouth. A whole half of a day and he already acted as they'd been lovers for months. What type of a person thought they had a lasting relationship so quickly after meeting?

  "Yes, Heather's ... rad." He said it, why couldn't she? However ignorant Robert's remarks sounded, Beth could relate. Despite Heather's somewhat snobby comments, she didn't fail in the friendship department. As far as
being girlfriend material, she didn't fit the mold, but he didn't need to find out from Beth.

  Moments later, Heather walked through the door.

  "Oh, hi Beth." She fumbled with the two coffees in her hands, pushing the door closed with her foot. "You've met..."

  "Robert." Beth saved her. "Yes, I have met Robert."

  "I didn't expect you back so soon. How did everything go?" She handed Robert his coffee and then slid onto his lap. Her curly hair was thrown into pigtails, and her yoga pants and tight tank showed off her hourglass figure.

  "Good. My dad goes home in the morning." She'd rather not discuss her father in front of Robert. While Heather may have thought she knew him well enough to jump into bed with him, she didn't want to confide in him.

  "Heather told me what happened. That's a real bummer."

  A bummer. This guy referred to her dad being in the hospital as a bummer? She eyeballed Heather, who tried not to laugh. "I hate to kick you out," Heather took a hold of Robert's face and gave him a big kiss, "but I'm sure Beth wants to talk about her trip home."

  "No, babe, it's okay. I don't mind."

  "That's not what I was getting at."

  They stared at each other for a moment, and Heather let Robert read her face, which took him quite a few moments. "Oh!" he finally said, letting Heather off his lap. "I get it. She needs to be alone."

  "Yes, that's it." Beth said. "I need to be alone."

  He reached for Heather's hand. "Why don't we-"

  "Actually, I want Heather to stay. Alone. With me. Alone." Beth tried not to giggle as she contradicted herself.

  "Sure. Chick stuff." He got his clothes out of Heather's room and took his time putting them on. "Call me babe, okay?"

  She opened the door for him. "Sure thing. Talk to you later."

  "Awesome. Nice to meet you, Beth." He pointed to Beth, then to Heather, and then back to Beth. "Heather's roommate."

  Heather didn't offer a kiss, and shut the door the second he walked out. "Thank you for saving me, Beth. I owe you one."

  She stood up from the table. "You sure do. How did you manage to talk with him for hours?"

  "He's just so pretty," she said as she batted her eyelashes and clasped her hands together. "I forced myself to. The reward was worth it."

  Beth stuck her finger in her mouth. "Gag me."

  She handed Beth a coffee. "Here, take this. Everything cool? No problems?"

  In need of caffeine, she didn't hesitate and took a drink. "My dad happened to be in a surprisingly good mood. Sorry about Harvey barging in this morning."

  "Ah, it's fine. Consider your conversation with pretty boy payback." She smiled. "I'll tell you one thing, Harvey is hot. Did I overhear you right? He stole from you?"

  No, rehashing the drama over and over again drained her emotionally. The cheerful flowers brightened her day and she didn't want to ruin her mood. "It's a long story. But, yes, and he has commitment issues." She thought about Maggie and what they possibly could've been doing before she arrived. "Big time."

  Heather tossed her head back as she took a last drink from her coffee. Tossing the empty cup into the trash, she stepped past Beth. "Some people do. We're not all bad."

  Chapter Thirty Six

  A day passed since Harvey kicked Maggie out of the house. It took some nerve thinking she could correct his wrongs. On top of everything, she probably ruined any opportunity he had to reconcile with Beth. He had no opportunity to explain, with Beth running out so quickly, and trying to call her or text seemed pointless since she ignored his last attempt at that. He'd fucked up. Big time. Beth made it clear she didn't appreciate the texts the first time. Any more and she'd probably end up calling the police and filing a restraining order. He couldn't blame her. She didn't deserve any of the texts.

  What did she deserve? Certainly not an asshole like him. In a matter of a few weeks, he managed to turn his life back eight months to a point which he thought he'd never return. Rock bottom slapped him in the face once, and now it served a more damaging blow. Sure, Beth didn't deserve Harvey's indecision and his sordid past, but when did Harvey earn the right to determine how much information about him he shared? He wanted Beth to love him, not pity him. A dead mom and abusive father? Turn on the faucet because the waterworks were coming once Beth realized the truth.

  His father didn't come home the night before, the only positive in a jar of negatives filling his life. He parked himself in front of the television, flipping through the channels. Shit, as usual, crap followed by more crap. He stumbled on Rounders, so he settled on the drama. A kid landing in trouble seemed to fit the bill of his current situation. Now with his rent doubled, he needed money, much like Matt Damon in his role. If he didn't find the cash, he'd either be beaten to a pulp and still living with his father, or beaten to a pulp and living on the street. His options were practically non-existent. The cleaning thing guaranteed a decent amount of money, but he'd be stupid to think Sue would add him to her payroll. Flipping burgers really wasn't his style, and working in retail gave way to too many temptations. He couldn't play poker worth a shit, so outsmarting John Malkovich was out of the question. He'd messed up his only shot at starting over and moving on with a normal life in this world, and that was working for Nelson. An attempt to get his job back would be unsuccessful.

  Somewhere in the next few days, he had to come up with six hundred dollars. No matter where he worked, it'd take at least two weeks for a paycheck to show up. Life continued to fall in pieces around him. Everywhere he looked, each way he turned, he fucked up something in his life. The only viable option killed him, but still he pulled out his cell and dialed Ricky's number.

  "What the fuck do you want?"

  Harvey ignored the less than polite greeting from his old pal turned enemy. He couldn't do this alone. If he had to swallow his pride, so be it. "Ricky, I've got a favor to ask you."

  "You've got some nerve, you know that? You owe me a favor. Shit, not even a favor. You owe me money."

  "Please, just meet me at my house. I've got a proposition for you promising us both cash."

  Fifteen minutes later Ricky stood in Harvey's living room, baseball cap atop his head, a stench of weed and lack of showers emitting from his knee length trench coat. How he wore something so long and padded in hot weather never made sense to Harvey. The knee-length coat was practically glued to his body, along with the lit cigarette in his hand. If not a cigarette, a joint, something Harvey never found interest in. Only the alcohol for him.

  "So, what's this plan of yours?" He asked.

  Harvey waved his hand around his face. "Jeez, Ricky. Do you ever not smell like pot?"

  "What's the deal?" He ignored Harvey, shoving his way past him into the house. "How are we getting this cash, and how much we talking?"

  "Not sure, but should be enough for me to pay you and also cover my rent." He hoped so, anyway. With a sufficient amount, he'd be able to rent a motel room, find a job and sober up. Again.

  Ricky went into the kitchen, helping himself to a beer. "Talk." He slammed the refrigerator door shut, popped the top, and poured the liquid into his mouth, his lips never touching the can.

  "I got fired from Rivertown, so I've got no cash flow right now. I'm not the most sellable person when it comes to interviews, and sure as hell can't get a job lending me the kind of cash I need now. I must acquire it by other means."

  Ricky chuckled, followed by a large burp. "What are you suggesting? We rob a liquor store?"

  Booze would be the only reason he'd do that, not the money. The thought crossed his mind a few times in the past, but he never acted on it. Fuck, maybe they'd have time to hit a beer depot, too. Damn, liquor sounded good, but no. Get money and get sober, that was the plan. He shook his head. "Not a liquor store. An auto store."

  Ricky slammed his beer down, ale hopping from the can dotting the table. "You're fucking serious?" Harvey didn't budge. "That's a felony. I'm pretty sure we'd be looking at jail time."

  "We wo
n't get caught. Nelson is the only one in the store after eight. We go in, demand money, and leave. He'll be too in shock to do anything. By the time he does, we'll be gone with the cash."

  "I always thought you were an idiot, and now you confirmed it." A missing tooth caught Harvey's eye as Ricky flashed a smile, dark cavities filling the rest of this teeth.

  Harvey raked his fingers through his hair. He needed Ricky to help him out because he'd be sure to get caught attempting it on his own. Crossing his arms and flexing his biceps, he responded to Ricky's insult. "This is the only way you're getting your money back."

  Consequences weighted the air, dollar signs dancing between their eyes. Robbery wouldn't be Harvey's first choice, but what other option presented itself? Ricky didn't have much going on in his life besides living in his mother's basement and smoking pot half the day, and spending the other part of the day harassing people he "thought" owed him money. He was so hard up for cash all the time. Once at a gas station, Ricky stole a donation jar for some sort of research shit straight off the counter when no one was looking. The jar only contained fifty bucks, but bought him a little pot, and Harvey some alcohol.

  "Fine. I'm in."

  Chapter Thirty Seven

  Dressed in a black strapless dress just grazing her knees, Beth impressed herself with how she looked. Her hair swept off her neck elegantly, pinned in an evening style. Haven't worn earrings in years, she managed to slip in a pair of small diamond studs she got from her father and a necklace with a matching stone.

  "Here," Heather said as she handed her a bottle.

  "What's this?" She turned the shimmering bottle around. "Glitter? You want me to wear glitter? We're freshman in college – not high school."

  Heather snatched the vial from Beth, took the cap off, quickly spraying before giving her a chance to refuse again. "Oh stop. He'll think it's sexy." Beth stiffened as Heather patted her hand around Beth's chest to spread the glitter around.