Drew hesitated outside the door of the maintenance office. It was more of a workroom and storage area than an office, but there was a grimy desk in the corner, so technically, it still qualified. He walked across the threshold and sat on a stool to wait. Jordan had to be around somewhere. He'd just seen him walk in a few minutes ago.
It had been a long time since Drew had been in here. It hadn't changed much over the years, though. The room was still poorly lit with dusty bare light bulbs, and the air still musty with the scent of grime and old shop rags. As a kid, he had never understood why Jordan always wanted to hang out here. He just didn't get the whole 'tinkering' thing. Drew had always been more of a sports nut. If he wasn't playing, then he was camped out in front of the television watching. Jordan loved sports too, but given the option, he could be found in the maintenance shop. He must have driven poor Mr. Smithers to distraction when they were kids. Always under foot, always trying to get the old guy to teach him things. Of course, by the time they were teenagers, Jordan had evolved into a real helper, often filling in when the caretaker had to be away. It seemed only natural for him to take over when Mr. Smithers retired. Now, he could tinker away to his heart’s content.
Drew turned toward the stairwell when he heard Jordan's heavy footsteps approaching. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, still unsure what to say. There was a time, not that long ago, when conversation came easy between them. When each knew how the other would react in a given situation. When they could practically finish each other's sentences. They had been best friends since they were toddlers, when their mothers served on the same church committees. Now, they could barely be in the same room without wanting to throttle each other. If Drew were home to stay, then he had to make amends with Jordan. He just wasn't sure how to begin.
"Drew," Jordan said. "What are you doing here?" He crossed to the workbench in the corner, depositing his heavy toolbox. His voice sounded weary and uncertain.
"Don't sound so happy to see me, buddy," Drew said. He managed to keep his voice jovial, but he had to admit, it did sting a little.
"Just a little busy." Jordan gave Drew a scathing look. "I do have real work to do around here, you know. Not all of my jobs are fake emergencies."
"Yeah, sorry about that." Guilty as charged, but considering how last night had turned out, he would do it all again in a heartbeat.
"Uh-huh." His words may be agreeable, but his tone dripped with disbelief. "What do you want, Drew?"
What could he say? This was much harder than he thought it would be. He just wanted the animosity between them to be gone. He wanted his friend back.
"I just want us to be friends again," he finally said.
Jordan looked at him long and hard, and Drew knew exactly what he was doing. Sizing him up. Trying to determine his true intentions. When he spoke, his tone was still weary, but a little less uncertain this time.
"I wasn't aware we stopped being friends, Drew."
"Well, you sure as hell aren't jumping for joy when you see me."
"Get over yourself, Drew. Nobody's jumping for joy when they see you." He rolled his eyes and turned to arrange the tools on his workbench.
"Yeah. Well..." This was ridiculous. He wasn't getting anywhere. Probably shouldn't have come. He made it halfway to the door before Jordan said a word.
"Where are you going?"
"Out. You obviously aren't interested in talking."
"And you obviously still think you can deal with your problems by running away from them."
Drew stopped dead in his tracks. Jordan was right. He was running away from the situation. Again. If he was serious about changing his ways and making a life with Miranda, then he had to learn to face his demons head on. He turned to face Jordan again. "What do you want me to say?"
"I don't want you to say anything, Drew," Jordan said. "You should say what you feel, not what you think I want you to say. If you want us to be friends, that will go a long way toward making it happen."
"When did you get so grown up?" Drew couldn't help but laugh. Jordan had changed. Matured. No wonder everyone seemed to be in love with him these days.
"Spending seven years caring for your best friend's son has a way of making you do that."
Drew sighed, biting his bottom lip in shame and frustration. Jordan's words had cut him to the quick. Drew realized he was taking the wrong approach here. All anyone ever wanted was to be recognized. To be thanked. Appreciated. He had never done that for his friend.
"You know, I never thanked you for that."
"I know."
"So..." A short silence. He'd never been very good at saying thank you. Add that to the long list of things he was going to have to get better at. "So, I'm thanking you now. Thank you for taking care of my boy and for helping my family." He hesitated again, not sure what type of reaction his next words would bring. "For taking care of Mandy."
Drew extended his hand, wondering if Jordan would take it, or tell him to buzz off. Welcome his friendship, or sock him in the nose? Either way, Drew was glad he had approached him. It was time he started trying to make amends. Still, it didn't stop him from breathing a huge sigh of relief when Jordan grasped his hand and gave it a firm shake.
"You're welcome. Although, I don't think you can include Miranda in that." Jordan chuckled at Drew's inquisitive look. "I may have been there for her, but she took care of herself. She'd be pissed if she heard either one of us talk about taking care of her."
"Yeah." Drew smiled, his wistful expression betraying his aching heart. "Yeah, I guess she would." He filled a paper cup with water from the nearby cooler and took a soothing drink. "I really love her, you know."
"I know."
"And, I know you love her, too." Drew paced around the room, trying to formulate the words he needed to say next. "Your friendship means more to me than I know how to put into words, Jordan," he said. "But, I'm telling you that I'm not giving up on her. She may not want me now, but I refuse to sit back and quietly fade into the sunset. If you want her, then you're going to have a fight on your hands."
"In other words," Jordan said with a smile, "you'd like to know if Miranda has changed her mind about me, and you're too afraid to ask her yourself. You're so predictable, Drew." Jordan shook his head in disbelief. "I don't understand it. I should be so pissed off at you right now, but I know what it took for you to come and talk to me like this. Besides, she dumped me this morning. Not that I had a chance once you came back to town, anyway."
"Jordan," Drew said, "right now, Jack the Ripper would have a better chance with Miranda than me."
"She'll come around in time," Jordan said.
"How do you know?"
"Because all she does is talk about how infuriating you are, what a jerk you are, how immature you are..."
"Oh, yeah," Drew said. "Sounds like she's coming around to me."
"Ah, my sarcastic friend," Jordan said. "The point is that she is talking about you. Which means you're on her mind and in her heart. You just have to figure out how to change those negative thoughts to positive."
Drew smiled, thinking about their recent night together. That should be worth at least a few positive thoughts.
"So, what do you say?" he said, extending his hand to Jordan once more. "Truce?"
"Truce," Jordan said, taking Drew's hand readily this time. "How about a game of basketball to seal the deal? For old time's sake. What do you say—a game of one-on-one?"
"As long as you make it a game of two-on-one," Drew said. "I promised Tommy I'd play with him."
"Fine," Jordan said. "As long as I get the kid on my team. He's pretty good."
Drew laughed and followed Jordan out the door. His chest felt lighter and his step quicker than it had in years. He hadn't realized how much he had missed his friend until now. He wanted things to work out with Mandy more than he had ever wanted anything in his life, but he had meant what he said to his father earlier. It was her choice. Ultimately, however, whatever she decided, Drew knew he was right where he needed to be. Even if she said they couldn't be together, he had his best friend back. He had his family back. And, he was finally home where he belonged.