Friends
Kenna
Even though we still live together, Jake and I managed to avoid one another, as well as the elephant in the room—the status of our relationship—for the past few weeks. Both of us have become consumed in work. His schedule at the garage allows him to make his own hours as long as the projects are completed by their deadline. I can tell he’s been coming home during the day to shower and grab clothes while I am at work. I know I should reach out, let him know it’s okay to come home, but I can’t bring myself to make the first move.
Chad and I have been working long hours together on a new account. We have also been steadily sharing lunch and dinner together. I’m comfortable with him. We talk about everything.
I smile when I think about spending time with him again. He makes me laugh. Chad is a huge flirt, and as inappropriate as some of it is, I like it. What woman doesn’t love to be called beautiful every day?
My heart and body ache for Jake, though. Things have never been this disconnected between us. I yearn to be united with him, but he hasn’t given me the time of day since I sort of kicked him out. I only wanted a little space to cool off.
He hasn’t even sent me a text or called, but I do find a new note everyday around the house that simply says, “I love you beyond forever.” It’s something he used to tell me when we were first dating.
Foolish pride stops me every time I reach for the phone to call or text him. Jake’s the kind of man who isn’t going to come home until I tell him to. He has always made it clear he won’t stay somewhere he isn’t wanted. I know it stems from his mom kicking him out so many times. As long as she was single, she wanted Jake around. Even now, she pulls the same crap. Once husband number seven left, she was calling again. Jake was deployed at the time, and I never bothered to tell him. He never calls her, but he can’t stop the little boy inside him from answering when she calls.
Sitting in this house right now, the quiet threatens to consume me as I look around at the home Jake and I built together, beginning to feel guilty. This should be enough. He’s mine, he’s completely committed to me, and more than that, he loves me entirely. We have built a home and a life entwined together. The only thing we don’t have is a piece of paper and a shared last name.
My phone rings, shaking me out of my musings. Looking at the caller screen, I see it’s Chad, and I smile as I answer.
“Hello.”
“Hey, beautiful, I just wanted to hear your voice,” he says in such a hushed tone I almost don’t hear him.
“Why are you whispering?”
“Allison is in the other room, nagging as usual. I spend too much time at work,” he says in poor imitation of her voice. “Blah, blah, blah. She sure doesn’t complain about the paycheck when she spends it.”
“I’m sorry,” I reply, not knowing what else to say.
“It’s okay. I needed to talk to someone who gets it. You understand it all; she doesn’t.” He’s still whispering.
“Take her out for coffee and dessert. She probably misses you. This is just a cry for attention,” I tell him, wanting to help my friend.
He sighs. “I’d rather have dessert with you.”
“You’re so silly. Go take your woman out. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Until morning. Goodnight, gorgeous.”
***
Jake
Every day is another day I spend waiting for some response from Kenna. I want to be home with my girl. Crashing on the couch at work is getting old.
“Man, do you ever plan on going home?” Harrison asks.
“I would give anything to be home, but Kenna still isn’t talking to me.” Instinctively, I bring my hand to rub my chest as it constricts just thinking of home.
“You want me to keep it real with you, or tell you what you want to hear about your situation?” he asks.
“Lawson, you’re one dude who always keeps it real with all of us. Why the fuck would I expect anything different?”
“You say you’ll give anything to go home; do you mean that?” His eyes are wide in a bold stare.
With my hands on my hips in agitation, I say, “Yes, I sure as shit mean that. Why would you think otherwise?”
“Then do what the hell you need to do. Get the ring, take the stupid stick outta your ass, and marry your girl.”
“It’s not that simple,” I say with frustration building inside me.
“Why the fuck not? It’s as simple or complicated as you make it. Dude, I’m an ass. I’ve been an ass for way too long. I’m getting older, and I have no one to share a damn thing with. You have the perfect girl for you. Quit letting some dumbass, childhood hang up get in the way of your future.” Harrison is practically laughing at me through his eyes. He makes it sound so simple.
“You’re right. I’ve gotta get my head outta my ass.” I really hate when he’s right. Even more, I hate admitting to him that he’s right. It’s not like I haven’t thought about it all. I have. Hell, I have the fucking ring.
He laughs. “Seriously, Jake, what you and Kenna have is the real shit. It’s like what my parents have. Don’t mess that up, and don’t let it walk away.”
“What’s up with you?” I ask, trying to change the subject. “I’ve seen Sophia come by a few times since you got that new ink.”
“Sophia, Sophia … That girl has me all twisted. She only wants my body, while I’d gladly lay the world at her fucking feet. She wants none of that. Finally, someone I instantly want to give it all to, and she only wants a good lay. It’s not just sex—we really enjoy hanging out—but she won’t let it go any further than that. No strings.” His eyes drift to a faraway place in his mind that I imagine to be Sophia’s body.
“How’s Maggie handling that? Her brother and her girl hooking up?” I know how feisty Maggie can be when it comes to her big brother. From the way she speaks about Tiffany, Harrison’s ex, if that girl ever comes around, it’s a cat fight waiting to happen.
“I don’t know if Maggie has caught on yet. Sophia stays busy with her work, so they have only hung out a few times. She questioned me once she sobered up to realize I spent the night taking care of a drunken Sophia, and I neither confirmed nor denied.”
Come to think of it, none of us think about Harrison and Sophia actually together. We know they are friends, but actually having something more … well, I didn’t see it coming, but I can see where they fit.
“Does anyone know?”
“Nah, I’m not one to share my shit much; you know that. I’m only telling you now because I wish I could have what you have.”
“When I got back from the sandbox two years ago, I thought you and Tiffany would be the first couple down the aisle,” I state, being completely honest with him.
He laughs a hard, belly laugh. “You and me both, bro, you and me both. Things with her started out as a way to scratch an itch. Just a fling, but dammit, it didn’t end that way.”
“What happened? You got out of the Corps and settled in South Carolina for her, so why is your ass here, building a new life with a new chick?” I feel nosy asking all these questions, but Harrison has never really spoken of what happened with Tiffany.
He pauses before answering. “We are from two different worlds. It was doomed from the start, but I had my head too far up her ass to see it. Enough about me; when are you gonna go home and fix your shit?”
“No time like the present, I guess.” I suppose I have stalled long enough.
“I’ll lock up. Get the hell outta here,” he says with a shit-eating grin.