“I know. That’s why I love you,” I tell her, pulling her towards me and kissing her long and soft, how she likes it. I don’t do anything else. I don’t deserve anything else. We have a problem, the clock has just started on our happy ending and it’s turning backwards. She’s about to find out I’m not her fucking prince charming, not even close.
Chapter 15
Chris
This morning if you’d told me that my dad and Lauren would be able to talk without scowling at each other I wouldn’t have believed you. That Lauren actually agreed to stay until the end of the month in my parents' house, I would have laughed in your face. It’s funny how so much can change in the span of a few hours. I don’t know what prompted my dad's change of heart. I wonder if it was the threat of kicking him out of my life that did it. Who ever said you win more flies with honey never met my dad. I look forward to living in a house that isn’t a warzone. I’m glad to have him back to himself again and not this angry ticked off guy he’s become since Lauren arrived. At first I didn’t think she would accept his apology but she did and I know it was because of me. Because she thinks I needed her to. Maybe I did.
I just can’t help but want some things to be more familiar, like they were before all of this chaos happened. Getting things back on track is a huge step in the right direction. It reminds me that everything that’s gone wrong could possibly be fixed. Nothing is unfixable. That’s what makes me feel better as I walk to Lisa’s door. I don’t know what it is she has to tell me but whatever it is we can fix. With Lisa you never know what the problem could be. We’ve been friends since elementary school. She’s always been the person I could talk to. She’s always had a way of making me feel better when things seemed hopeless, when we were young anyway. Now the things that seemed hopeless then would be a cake walk now.
I know she’s going to be happy to hear that Lauren and I are making it official. Well, I guess it doesn’t get any more official than being married. I ring her doorbell and wait for her to answer. After a few minutes, she still hasn’t come to the door so I ring it again and knock harder at the door. Her car’s outside so I know she’s home.
“Come on Lisa,” I mutter to myself. Before I start to knock on the door again she’s opened it.
“Hey Chris,” she says, avoiding eye contact.
“Hey. What’s going on with you?” I ask, walking past her into her house. I’m surprised it’s clean. Ridiculously clean. Lisa’s never been filthy but she always has stuff everywhere—clothes, old containers of food—but today it looks like my mom has been here and cleaned up for her.
“I’ve just been busy,” she says as she walks past me and sits on her sofa, her hands clasped together in front of her.
“How are you?” she asks dryly. I chuckle.
“I’m good and you ma'am?” I ask sarcastically. That causes her to smile a little.
“What’s up? What’s been going on with you?” I ask, sitting next to her on the couch. She sighs and runs her hands through her hair.
“I-I have a lot on my mind,” she chuckles.
“Did you get fired? Are you going to jail, what’s up?” I joke, nudging her and she stands up and crosses her arms.
“You changed your hair,” I say, surprised. I didn’t notice it until now but the red streak is gone and she’s back to her normal blonde color. Her nose ring is out too.
“Yeah. It’s time for a change,” she says quietly.
“So, you’re going to Chicago?”
“Eventually. Right now we decided to stay,” I tell her happily. Her eyebrows rise and a smile spreads across her own face.
“We?” she giggles. I nod.
“Me and Lauren and Caylen,” I tell her and her eyes widen and the dark cloud that’s been over her head since I walked in has disappeared briefly.
“So you guys are… Did you break things off with Jenna?” she asks excitedly.
“Yeah. We’re going to try to make this thing work,” I tell her and she runs over and gives me a big hug.
“That’s so great Chris. It’s about time you listened to me,” she says, patting me on the back.
“Thank you. For being there, for listening, for being you, and never judging. I don’t tell you enough, but you’re a great friend. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I expect her to joke and give me one of her sloppy kisses on my forehead when she gets emotional but instead her whole body stiffens. I step back from her and I see tears in her eyes.
“Lisa what’s wrong?” I ask, starting to feel nervous. I’ve only seen Lisa cry once in my whole life and that was when her mother missed her graduation because she was too drunk to remember to show up.
“I’m so glad you’re happy Chris,” she says, her voice wavering as she turns away from me.
“Lisa, what is going on?” I ask, starting to become anxious.
“I don’t want to be the one to ruin it. I didn’t want to do this. I swear to God I never meant to hurt you,” I turn her around and she’s crying so hard her body is shaking. I pull her to me.
“Lisa what is it?”
“Why are you crying Lisa?” a small voice says from behind us. I turn around and see a little girl of maybe seven or eight, with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
“Everything’s fine. Go back in my room okay,” Lisa says trying to pull herself together.
“Who are you?” the little girl asks me.
“I’m Chris, Lisa’s friend,” I tell her, looking back over at Lisa.
“What’s your name?” I ask, kneeling down so we’re at eye level. She gives me a shy smile.
“I’m Willa,” she tells me.
“Please go back in my room sweetie,” Lisa says, ushering her half way. When the little girl leaves I look at Lisa for an explanation.
“Is that one of your students? You didn’t kidnap someone's kid did you?” I say half-jokingly. Lisa has a big heart and I wouldn’t be surprised what she’d do to help a kid, even if it wasn’t exactly legal. She sighs, it seems like it lasts forever and then wipes her face.
“No. She was staying with my aunt. But now my aunt’s really sick and she can’t take care of her anymore,” she says quietly.
“You’re adopting your cousin?” I ask her, sitting back down her couch. I’m not surprised, Lisa loves kids, but to actually take care of one, to be a parent, I don’t know if she’s ready for that yet. She shakes her head.
“She isn’t my cousin. She’s my daughter,” she says quickly. So quickly I know I haven’t heard her right.
“Wait. What?” I ask her in disbelief.
“I had her when I was nineteen,” she says, tears coming back to her eyes. I feel like I should say something, but I’m at a loss for words. Lisa has a kid, and she never told me. How could I not know this?
“I-I don’t know what to say,” I say, letting out a deep breath. “Wow, Lisa,” is all I can come up with. We both sit in silence and then my heart starts to beat faster and I remember why I’m here.