Page 75 of Imperfections Forbidden
“I thought you were coming inside.”
“No, meet me outside.”
“Okay, five minutes.”Ava stands in front of me with her hand on her hips leaning on the counter.I ask, “What?”
“Why won’t he come inside?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, maybe I’ll come outside with you.He doesn’t want to come to me, I’ll come to him.”
“Easy, girl.Take it down a notch.You’re getting yourself all worked up.”
“Your brother is a hard nut to crack.If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to crack it and make a meal of it.”
“Careful now, you’re going to need those nuts.They don’t grow back.”
“You’re right.”She holds out her hand and yanks down.“I’ll just squeeze them a little, that will get his attention.”
“I’m sure it will.I’m outta here, bye.”I put my coat on and head out the door.
“Tell him I said hi!”
“Okay!”I yell back over my shoulder.
I meetup with Chris at the corner of the block.He’s dressed in his suit and his double-breasted wool coat.He looks good, as usual.A girl walks by and smiles at him.He smiles back and gives her the eyes.I give her a frosty side eye when she looks like she’s going to stop.She notices the look I’m giving her and keeps on walking.
“Why did you do that?She was cute.”
“She wasn’t that cute.”He’s lucky Ava didn’t come out here with me; he would have seen cute.“Why didn’t you come inside?”
“Nah, I need the fresh air,” he says, straightening his collar.
“I’m sure you do.”I give him a knowing look.
“You want to get something to eat?”
“No, I’m not hungry.You can walk me back to the apartment, and we can talk there.It’s not too far from here.”
We walk backto my apartment in silence.When we get in the door, I take his coat and we sit on the couch.
“So how have you been doing?”
“You tell me.Don’t I look fine?”
“Looks can be deceiving.”
“They can.I’m keeping it together the best I can.”I want to ask him how Kate’s doing, but I don’t.I think about her all the time.“What did you want to talk about?”Like I don’t already know.
“No one has heard from you in days.I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“They know where to reach me if they have anything decent to say to me.”
“You have to talk to someone sooner or later.You know we’re still your family; we can work this out.”
“I don’t know if we can.I messed up; I fell for the one guy I shouldn’t have.I took a risk and I lost my family and the guy.”
“I always knew he liked you.”
