“Maybe,” I reply, brushing it off, “but I don’t remember.”
“Well, we know each other now, right?”
“Yeah, I guess we do.”
***
Knowing how much Lexi likes Owen, I can tell she’s thrilled by all the attention she’s getting from him while we’re bowling. Between each turn at the lanes, Brent and I have small conversations. He’s been making it a point to hold my hand, touch my arm, or caress my leg whenever we’re near each other. There are no complaints coming from me.
An hour later, we finish at the lanes and then head over to the game room. We waste a few quarters on some dance machine, and Owen is rock solid, kicking all our butts. We play two games of pool as well. Lexi, the snake, hustled all of us and later revealed that she used to play every weekend with her brother and his friends when they were over her house.
Around ten o’clock, we start running out of things to do at the bowling alley.
“Let’s go down to the dock,” Brent suggests.
“Isn’t it closed at this hour?” asks Lexi.
“Yeah, the public one is, but my family has a membership at the boat club. We have twenty-four hour access.”
“We aren’t exactly dressed for boating, Brent,” Lexi retorts.
“Nah, we can just hang by the dock. It’s a nice night, and there’s nothing else to do.”
Although I’m having a good time and I’m really starting to enjoy Brent’s company, the idea of being in a dark-lit private area with him makes me a little nervous. By the look on Lexi’s face, I can tell she’s not nervous about it at all. In fact, she looks like she’s ready to pounce all over the opportunity, so she can pounce on Owen. Guess I’m going.
“Sounds great,” Lexi says.
“Great. We’ll meet you guys there. Owen, you know the access code,” Brent says to both of them as he grabs my hand and pulls me toward the door.
Brent and I walk to the car hand in hand. He opens the door for me and I distinctly notice the way his hand lightly brushes down the length of my arm as I move to sit in the front seat. When he joins me inside, I tell the butterflies in my stomach to calm down. He turns over the ignition and then we pull out of the parking lot to our next destination.
***
We pull into the private lot near the dock and get out of the car. Walking together, Brent leads the way until we find Lexi and Owen sitting on a bench near the water.
“Hey, guys,” Brent calls out to the edge of the lake.
“Yo,” Owen replies.
“I’m going to show Ruby our boat. We’ll meet you guys in a few.”
Brent takes me down the boardwalk to a cluster of boat slips. We walk over to a small sailboat that looks like it can accommodate about eight people. Brent steps on board and then helps me in. He takes a seat at the back, looking up at the sky, while I stand there, taking in our surroundings.
“Do you sail?” he asks.
“No. Actually, I’ve never been on anything bigger than a raft.” My eyes wander, looking at everything but Brent. Even my feet are doing a little side-to-side dance as I rock with the sway of the water. Yep, I’m nervous.
“Well, I’ll have to take you out sometime then.”
“Yeah, that would be great. I’d love to,” I say vacantly as my eyes trail down the length of the mast.
“Um, Ruby?”
“Yeah?”
“You know, there are seats. They won’t bite you.”
He’s right. I’m being ridiculous. I walk over, take a seat across from him, and look up at the sky.
“So, did you have fun tonight?” he asks, bringing my attention back to him.
“Yeah, thanks, I did.”
“Good,” he says as he leans forward, putting his elbows on his knees. A smile, one that I’m learning to really enjoy, takes over his face. “So, are you available tomorrow?”
“Um, yeah. What do you have in mind?”
“How about I surprise you?”
“Something tells me you like to dish out surprises. What’s that all about?”
He puckers his lips, not saying a word.
“All right. I’ll allow it, but you have to promise me no Michael Jackson music. Deal?”
“That’s an odd request, but it’s a deal.” He stretches out his hand, and we shake to seal the deal. Looking deep into his eyes, I attempt to pull back my hand, but he squeezes it tightly. Then, in one swift motion, he playfully pulls me toward him, forcing me to move off of my seat. I screech as I trip over my feet, causing me to fall into his arms in an awkward embrace. Well, it’s not so much an embrace as I’ve just landed on top of him. Wow, he smells good.
“Uh, sorry,” I mumble into his shirt. “I’m not usually such a klutz.” I push my body off of his, turning away from him to sit on the seat next to him.
This is a really uncomfortable moment. Catching my breath, I look back to the stars in the sky. Tonight, they’re really shining brightly. As I feel him looking at me, I shift my eyes in his direction.
“Ruby…” He sighs.
I turn my head to get a better view of him. His mouth is slightly parted, and his eyes are hooded in deep thought.
He lets out a silent shaky breath before he continues, “Let’s go and see what Lexi and Owen are up to.”
“Okay.”
He stands and grabs my hand, leading me off the boat and down the boardwalk toward the dock. When we arrive at the dock, Lexi and Owen are missing. Pulling out his phone to call to see where they are, Brent notices a text from Owen, saying he took Lexi home. I look at my phone and notice it’s a little after eleven.
“Well, I guess it’s getting late. Are you ready to go?” Brent asks.
“Yeah, sure.”
***
On the way to my house we talk about the evening and I try to get some information about what he has in store for tomorrow, but he gives me nothing. I guess I’ll just have to wait.
Brent pulls up my street and parks in front of my place because the driveway is filled with cars. It’s always something over here.
“Looks like there’s a party going on.” He motions his chin to my uncle’s house.
“Oh, I’m sure my uncle is just having a few people over,” I say flustered, my eyes staring down to my lap.
From my peripheral vision, I see Brent’s body lean in my direction. His hand sweeps my hair behind my ear. With his hand near my neck, I turn to look at him. His fingers move to caress the back of my head.
“So, I’ll see you tomorrow?” He raises his eyebrows and swallows.
“Yeah, sounds good.”
“How about I come by around ten?”
“Great.”
My mind starts to trail off as I’m suddenly very aware of how small the space is getting between us. His eyes dart to my mouth and then move up to meet mine. He leans closer to me, and I wonder if he’s going to kiss me. I would certainly welcome it.
Looking into his eyes, I feel my upper lip tug in anticipation on one side. His dimples flash before I close my eyes, awaiting the inevitable. The heat of his breath skims across my face and lips before his mouth gently lands on my right cheek. I shudder slightly from the sensation of electricity thrumming through my veins. He pulls back, staring into my eyes.
Settling back into his seat, he releases his hand from my hair. “So, I’ll see you in the morning?”
I nod my head. “Yeah, see you then.”
I open the door and head up to my house. From my stoop, I turn around to wave good-bye to Brent. He waves back before he takes off down the street.
Seven
Standing outside of the house, I can hear the familiar clatter within Uncle Jas’s place. Who knows how long tonight’s get-together will last?
I gather my patience before heading inside. My dad isn’t here, which doesn’t surprise me since his car isn’t in the driveway. Nothing seems to surprise me anymore. I don’t count on much when it comes to living here.
I sometimes wish things wer
e different, but wishing doesn’t get me anywhere.
I go to my room to grab some gear, change into comfortable sleep clothes with a hoodie, and then make a stop in the bathroom to brush my teeth. Proceeding to the kitchen to gather a few snacks, I fill a bottle of water and grab the flashlight from the top of the fridge before I truck my crazy butt out the back door. As the door shuts behind me, I see two eyes in the darkness trotting in my direction.
“Hey, Dragon. You spending the night with me, boy?”
He falls in line with my pace as we head about forty yards into the backyard, stopping just under a tree. I drop my bag and reach for the tent secured in the straps of my pack. Dragon sniffs around for food in one of the bag’s compartments while I begin to set up in this familiar space.
After the tent is secured, Dragon and I climb inside with my stuff, and then I zip up the entryway to keep out the insects and block some of the cool night air. I roll out my sleeping bag and then tuck myself in with my phone and snacks while Dragon curls up on my side.
Luckily, most of my uncle’s parties take place during the summer, so this tent arrangement works out nicely. I figured this out when it was nothing but nonstop ‘get-togethers’ last summer. Yeah, it’s weird to camp out in my backyard at seventeen, but this way, I get the luxury of a quiet night’s sleep. It’s more peaceful out here anyway because there’s definitely no peace in the house no matter how I look at it. I think Dragon also prefers this arrangement.
After settling in, I pull out my phone to check the time and decide I better get some sleep if I want to be well rested for tomorrow’s “surprise.”
“Night, Dragon.” I give him a final pat on his head and then turn over for the night, falling fast asleep.
***
I’m in a dead sleep until a noise awakens me. Dragon is up on his feet, nudging my cheek with his wet nose. As my brain focuses, coming out of the haze of sleep, I realize my phone is ringing. Crap! I move my hand in the direction of the ringing until I find my phone in my pack. The caller ID flashes Ace’s. Rubbing my eyes, I push the green button to accept the call.
“Hello,” I rasp.
“Hey, Ruby. Sorry to call you. I tried Jas, but there was no answer.”
Of course, he didn’t answer. He’s likely passed out drunk or possibly stoned. Then, I wonder if he still does that, too.
“Nah, Benj, it’s okay. Is he all right?” I ask the bar owner of Ace’s.
“Yeah, he’s fine. He just can’t seem to move off of the bar.”
“Okay. Do you have his keys?”
“Yeah, I had him give them to me when he got here.”
“All right.” I sniff and rub my eyes again with the back of my hand. “So, do you need me to come get him?”
“Yeah, that would be great. Thanks, Ruby.”
“Okay, I’ll be there soon,” I say, blowing out a lungful of air as I end the call.
Looking at my phone, I see it’s just after two in the morning. Figures. It’s almost closing time for Ace’s. Wiggling out of my sleeping bag, I slip on my sneakers before I crawl out of the tent. Dragon follows close behind me as I head toward the street. With only a few cars left in the driveway, it looks like the party at Uncle Jas’s has died down. That’s a good sign.
“You up for a little walk, Dragon?”
He looks up at me and wags his tail.
“Good ‘cause I could use the company.”
Ace’s is only about a mile up the road. I could run there in less than six minutes, but hell, it’s two o’freakin’ clock in the flipping morning. At this hour, it’s gonna be more of a pedestrian pace.
About fifteen minutes later, I arrive at the bar. It’s a crappy hole-in-the-wall type of place tucked away next to an empty lot and a field that hasn’t been mowed in a decade. The façade has no windows, and its paint is peeling. I look around the dirt lot and spot my dad’s car near three others.
Since it’s close to closing time, I’m not too worried about any of the locals making a stink about a minor entering the bar. Who am I kidding? That’s what “normal” people would do. At this place, I’m usually offered a drink with a wink and a smile.
Stepping inside the door with Dragon by my side, I notice the beer-and-feet stench immediately. I wonder if there’s a no-bath requirement to enter. If that’s the case, I probably qualify for entry since I was basically pulled out of bed to be here. Walking over to the bar area, Benji nods at me as I approach, but then he gives me a sour look when he sees Dragon.
“What’s up with the mutt?” Benji asks.
“He’s with me. We’re outta here in a minute anyhow. So, where is he?” C’mon, Benj, we’re beyond small talk.
After handing me the keys to my dad’s car, Benji points to a booth behind me. I turn around and see my dad with his head on the table, spinning a bottle next to his face. I walk in his direction as I would carefully approach an unfamiliar animal. Dragon follows suit, but he seems to assess that the situation is okay as he begins to lick my dad’s elbow.
“Hey, Dad,” I whisper, placing my hand on his arm, “I’m here to take you home.”
I stare at him, hoping he’ll start to move so we can get out of this hellhole. His eyes look up at me while his fingers continue to flip the bottle round and round.
“Do you think you can walk to the car?” I shake his shoulder. “Dad?”
Well, this is going nowhere.
“Hey, Benji!” I yell over my shoulder. “You think you can give me a hand?”
Benji walks around the bar, standing at the end of the booth where my dad is basically lying on the table.
“Hey, Jerry, time to go. Ruby’s here,” he says to my dad.
My dad refuses to budge.
“All right, let’s go,” Benji says. Reaching for my dad’s arm, he swings it around his neck.
My dad doesn’t put up a fight. He mumbles some unintelligible things, but other than that, he says nothing. I’ll never understand why Benji lets him get like this.
After I follow Benji out the door while he’s helping my dad to the car, I open the back driver’s side door. He eases my dad in as gently as possible, which is saying a lot when handling a 180-pound limp noodle. My back hurts just watching the maneuver.
“All right, girlie,” Benji says as he shuts the car door.
“Yep, see ya, Benji,” I say, opening the driver’s side door. “C’mon, Dragon. Let’s go.”
My dad doesn’t make a sound on the way back to our house. Glancing in the rearview mirror, I can see his chest rise and fall while his eyes are closed. He’s either fighting off nausea associated with the movement of the car, or he’s simply passed out. I hope it’s the latter. I don’t want to deal with the smell of vomit for any amount of this car ride.
Pulling into the driveway close to three in the morning, I find that all of my uncle’s guests are gone. I get out of the car, not even attempting to remove my dad. I know my limits, and in his current state, he can sleep just as easily on the backseat as on the bed. I head into the house to get a few items to make things more comfortable for him while he sleeps off another binge.
Opening the back door of the car, I lay a blanket over him, considering the night is somewhat cool and his body might start to shiver and sweat from the alcohol. I cover the floors with a trash bag and some old towels, just in case anything decides to come up. Then, I place two bottles of water in plain view within his reach. I lift his head to cover as much of the seat as I can with another towel. Before heading back to my tent for the night, I crack all the windows for ventilation. That’s about all I can do for now. I know I’ll be up at dawn, so I can check on him then.
Dragon and I head back to the tent. Trying to fall back asleep, I close my eyes and think about the look on my dad’s haggard face. I start wondering if he’s ever going to snap out of this or if this is a permanent condition. I miss him. He’s not who he used to be, so we aren’t who we used to be. I lost my mother so long ago that I never needed to mourn that rel
ationship. This though, this thing with my dad, is like a long tortuous death. Laughing in my face on a daily basis, it taunts and teases me with small rays of hope before it reminds me of its opposing darkness.
What a shitty lot. I have been going through the motions for the past year, and now, I realize he really is gone. He’ll never truly be who he once was. I hate this feeling. Moments like tonight always remind me that sometime since we moved here, my father turned into the child, and I became the responsible one.
I sniffle and rub the moistness coming from my eyes. Dragon must sense my distress because he nudges my hand before licking my cheek.
“It’s fine. I’m fine. I’ll be out of here soon. You can come, too, if you want.”
I pull myself together a bit, trying to calm myself into sleep. Dragon cuddles closer, occasionally nudging my body into a sense of security. After a few lung-filling breaths, I fall sound asleep, looking forward to a day with new possibilities.
Eight
The noise from the tent zipper opening wakes me from my sleep. The exhaustion I feel is telling me to keep my eyes shut, but somebody has a different idea. Dragon licks my nose, so I surrender and get up. I don’t care how much I love him; a wet tongue on the face is just gross when I’m not expecting it. Blinking my eyes, I open them and see it is morning.
“Wakey, wakey, Pubies,” Cody chants with his face in the tent’s entry.
“Hey,” I croak and then clear my throat. “What are you doing here?”
“I stayed at my dad’s last night.”
“Oh, what’s up?” I rake my hand across my eyes.
“I took your dad in the house.”
“Oh!” He’s caught my interest. “Thanks. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yeah, yeah. So, do you want some breakfast?”
These Days Series: After Tuesday | Forgotten Yesterday | Deciding Tomorrow Page 6
