you, man. Thanks for coming.”
“Of course. Wouldn’t miss it.”
After we collect my lone suitcase, we head to John’s car. As soon as we’re on the road, John asks, “How’s the job going?”
I run a hand through my hair. “Okay, I guess. I’ve got the New York Bar coming up. I can’t wait to get that shit behind me. The office is busy though, so that’s good.”
“Good.” He nods once, his expression stoic. John is my best friend. I know exactly what he’s thinking.
“You thinking you made a mistake?” I ask.
He winces with my words and shakes his head. “No. If I were there, I’d be fucking miserable without her.” I know he’s telling the truth. I spent a few weeks living with him after he first left Edie and he was a fucking mess. I couldn’t even give him a hard time about it and call him a pussy because I’d felt so bad for him.
“Then what is it?”
He sighs, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. “Old dreams die hard . . .” he explains. “It was something I wanted for so long . . . I guess I wonder about it, is all. Not that I have regrets,” he clarifies quickly. “I thought I’d be working in criminal law. I’m handling property disputes and divorces.”
“I see.” I nod. “How’s Edie?”
His somewhat grim expression fades as a huge smile seizes his features. “She’s good. She’s really good.”
“God, John. I gotta tell you . . . this whole thing shocked the hell outta me. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for you, and Edie is a gem, but . . .”
“I know,” he laughs. “Surprised me, too. But Edie . . . I don’t know how to explain it without sounding like a huge pussy, but . . . I feel like I’m at home with her. It’s been a long time since I felt that way.”
What could I say to that? There’s no point in pointing out how crazy it all seems. The man is happy. He’s my best friend and if he’s happy, I’m happy. So I let him know. “I’m happy for you, John. Truly.”
“Thanks, dick.” And were back to familiar territory.
“So . . . how’s Nikki?”
John’s brows rise and he sighs loudly. “I don’t know. Edie’s been spending a lot of time with her lately. I think something’s up. I saw Nikki two days ago and she looked . . . off. I asked Edie about it last night and she said Nikki was going through some shit.”
“What shit?” I ask. Please don’t let it be boyfriend trouble.
“Dude, fuck if I know. Edie hasn’t divulged jack shit, not that I’ve really tried to get the scoop. I do have a penis and all.”
“But it’s so small.” I take a stab. That’s what friends are for, right?
“That’s why you were gagging on it last time,” he shoots back and I snort out a laugh, almost choking on it.
“You’re a dirty bastard, John.”
“With a huge penis,” he adds.
“Is that what they’re calling huge these days?”
“That’s what your mom is calling huge these days,” he retorts. “She says hi, by the way.”
“Ugh! Don’t mention my mom and your penis in the same sentence ever again, dude.”
“Okay,” he agrees. “I have a huge penis, period. Your mom says it’s the biggest she’s ever seen, period. There. Two sentences.” And the bastard starts laughing.
I punch his arm. “Stop talking about your fucking flaccid dick and my mother, asshole!”
He laughs again as he rubs his arm, his face turning red. Even though I’m pissed, I’m laughing too. I swear, for two highly-educated lawyers, we have the maturity level of middle-schoolers sometimes.
“Now, back to Nikki,” I order.
John clears his throat, getting his laughter under control. “I honestly don’t know what’s going on. But Edie’s told me before Nikki’s father is a douche and she has this pageant, or something, coming up. Might be that.”
“Hmm.”
“Has she spoken to you?” he asks.
“Nope.” I run a wide palm down my face. “And I’ve fucking tried.” God, have I tried. The girl is
“Of course. Wouldn’t miss it.”
After we collect my lone suitcase, we head to John’s car. As soon as we’re on the road, John asks, “How’s the job going?”
I run a hand through my hair. “Okay, I guess. I’ve got the New York Bar coming up. I can’t wait to get that shit behind me. The office is busy though, so that’s good.”
“Good.” He nods once, his expression stoic. John is my best friend. I know exactly what he’s thinking.
“You thinking you made a mistake?” I ask.
He winces with my words and shakes his head. “No. If I were there, I’d be fucking miserable without her.” I know he’s telling the truth. I spent a few weeks living with him after he first left Edie and he was a fucking mess. I couldn’t even give him a hard time about it and call him a pussy because I’d felt so bad for him.
“Then what is it?”
He sighs, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. “Old dreams die hard . . .” he explains. “It was something I wanted for so long . . . I guess I wonder about it, is all. Not that I have regrets,” he clarifies quickly. “I thought I’d be working in criminal law. I’m handling property disputes and divorces.”
“I see.” I nod. “How’s Edie?”
His somewhat grim expression fades as a huge smile seizes his features. “She’s good. She’s really good.”
“God, John. I gotta tell you . . . this whole thing shocked the hell outta me. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for you, and Edie is a gem, but . . .”
“I know,” he laughs. “Surprised me, too. But Edie . . . I don’t know how to explain it without sounding like a huge pussy, but . . . I feel like I’m at home with her. It’s been a long time since I felt that way.”
What could I say to that? There’s no point in pointing out how crazy it all seems. The man is happy. He’s my best friend and if he’s happy, I’m happy. So I let him know. “I’m happy for you, John. Truly.”
“Thanks, dick.” And were back to familiar territory.
“So . . . how’s Nikki?”
John’s brows rise and he sighs loudly. “I don’t know. Edie’s been spending a lot of time with her lately. I think something’s up. I saw Nikki two days ago and she looked . . . off. I asked Edie about it last night and she said Nikki was going through some shit.”
“What shit?” I ask. Please don’t let it be boyfriend trouble.
“Dude, fuck if I know. Edie hasn’t divulged jack shit, not that I’ve really tried to get the scoop. I do have a penis and all.”
“But it’s so small.” I take a stab. That’s what friends are for, right?
“That’s why you were gagging on it last time,” he shoots back and I snort out a laugh, almost choking on it.
“You’re a dirty bastard, John.”
“With a huge penis,” he adds.
“Is that what they’re calling huge these days?”
“That’s what your mom is calling huge these days,” he retorts. “She says hi, by the way.”
“Ugh! Don’t mention my mom and your penis in the same sentence ever again, dude.”
“Okay,” he agrees. “I have a huge penis, period. Your mom says it’s the biggest she’s ever seen, period. There. Two sentences.” And the bastard starts laughing.
I punch his arm. “Stop talking about your fucking flaccid dick and my mother, asshole!”
He laughs again as he rubs his arm, his face turning red. Even though I’m pissed, I’m laughing too. I swear, for two highly-educated lawyers, we have the maturity level of middle-schoolers sometimes.
“Now, back to Nikki,” I order.
John clears his throat, getting his laughter under control. “I honestly don’t know what’s going on. But Edie’s told me before Nikki’s father is a douche and she has this pageant, or something, coming up. Might be that.”
“Hmm.”
“Has she spoken to you?” he asks.
“Nope.” I run a wide palm down my face. “And I’ve fucking tried.” God, have I tried. The girl is
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