It was a few days later and I hadn’t heard from Jimmy. I had given him ten grand to do whatever he needed to do, but I thought he would have gotten back to me a lot quicker. I didn’t know where the fuck he was, or what the fuck he was doing.
It was late morning. I had finished my workout, showered, and was now eating some breakfast. I was on edge, though. I was on edge every day, waiting to hear something. It was about five minutes after eating when I got a phone call. I rushed to the phone and picked it up. “Yeah?” I huffed.
“Well, that’s no way to greet someone on the phone.”
I would recognize that voice anywhere. “Jimmy! Where the fuck have you been?”
“Just shut the fuck up and listen. You got to get out here, Dean.”
I sighed. “Where? Where the fuck are you?”
“Virginia, of course.” Jimmy sighed a little. “Listen, I know she’s fucking missing you. She’s got a face like a slapped—”
“Hey, you watch what you fucking say about her.”
Jimmy laughed. “Sorry, man. Anyway, you need to come and see for yourself. But there’s another reason you really need to be here.”
I was trying to figure out where this was going. “She’s not back with that fucking chump, is she?”
Jimmy chucked. “No. It’s nothing to do with that—”
“Then what the fuck is it?” I interrupted.
“I can’t tell you something like this over the phone, Dean. This is something you really need to see for yourself.”
I fucking hated it when Jimmy did this cryptic shit. “Fine! I’m going to book the next flight over.”
“Good. Text me the details and I’ll come pick you up at the airport.”
“Sure thing. Thanks, Jimmy.”
“No sweat.”
I hung up and got online to book a flight. As soon as that was done, I texted Jimmy the details and packed a suitcase. I didn’t know how long I would be gone, but I packed enough for a long stretch. This time, I wasn’t leaving without her. It was all or nothing now.
Once I was checked in at the airport, I sat down in the first class lounge and had time to dwell on whatever the hell Jimmy was talking about. Everything I thought of ended badly, so I thought it best to not think about it at all. It might be something, or it might be nothing. No point stewing on something I had no fucking idea about.
On the flight, I tried to sleep, but it was no fucking good. I wanted to try and be alert to adjust to Eastern Daylight Time as quickly as possible. I needed to focus, but my mind had other ideas. I was too pumped to even think about trying to rest.
Once we landed and the long, arduous process of getting through visa control and customs was over, my suitcase and I made the trip outside to freedom. Jimmy was there and holding up a fucking sign that had Dean Fellatio written on it.
“Not fucking funny, dickwad.”
Jimmy smiled. “And it’s so fucking nice to see you, too.”
I shook my head and Jimmy threw the sign in the bin. “So, where are you taking me?”
“Well, first off, I rented a house about twenty minutes away from Tyler.”
I nodded. “Nice thinking.”
Jimmy smiled. “Thanks. The only problem is, I now have to fucking share the place with a pain in the arse.”
I closed my eyes and sighed my frustration. “You know, you’re taking this friendship of ours to a whole fucking other level. You really should know your place, Jimmy. You do still work for me, you know.” I looked at him with a smile as he grabbed my suitcase and hauled it into a Ford Focus. “Please tell me you’re not driving me in this piece of shit?”
Jimmy shrugged. “They’re reliable cars, Dean.”
I shook my head. “I don’t fucking care if it runs until I’m eighty. I’m not driving in this.”
Jimmy shook his head. “You take your cars a little too seriously.” He opened the door and motioned for me to get in. “Come on. I’ll take you around to the car hire companies. I’m sure you’ll be able to pick up something more to your liking.”
I smiled. “Now, that’s what I’m talking about.”
We drove the five minutes around to the car hire place where I asked for the best they got. They offered a Ford Mustang, but I turned that down for a Cadillac CTS. It had tinted windows, which was always good for spying on people. I should know. I was a fucking expert at it by now.
I ordered Sat Nav so I knew where the hell I was going, signed a couple of forms, paid the gentleman, and I was handed the keys. I didn’t know how long I would need it for, so I ordered it for two weeks. I didn’t need to be worrying about bringing the car back in the next couple of days. I had more important things to place all my energy into.