Trust Me .(56)

Brooklyn perks up from drawing with a crayon on the paper placemat at the sound of her name. “I go shopping!”

“Yes, you are going shopping too, sweetie. What about you? You’re working twelve’s this weekend right?” referring to twelve hour shifts both Saturday and Sunday.

“Yeah. I think I’m heading up to Jack’s on Saturday night with Jake. We work all weekend so we won’t have more than a beer or two, but he’s been in a mood lately and he just wants to go hang out there for a bit and maybe shoot some pool.”

“What’s wrong with Jake? He hasn’t said anything.”

I chuckle a little before I answer. “Actually, I think it’s about a girl. I think he likes someone who wants nothing to do with him and it’s bugging him.”

“Seriously? Jake’s worked up over a girl? I never thought I’d see the day,” she says as she takes a drink of the Coke that Megan had just delivered to our table.

“I guess. He won’t talk too much about it. Maybe I’m way off base, but I know something’s up, and it’s the only thing I can put my finger on.”

“Huh. Good for him. He needs to find someone who will settle his butt down a little,” she says with a grin.

I squeeze her hand and lock eyes with her before I reply. “Yeah, there’s something about finding a great woman to make you rethink your views on life.” I give her my best thousand-watt smile.

“You have new views?” she asks, the nervousness evident in her question.

“Yep. I have this girl that I can’t stop thinking about. A girl who invades my thoughts day and night. A girl who I can’t get enough of talking to, seeing, or spending all my free time with.” I lean in and drop my voice so that only she can hear me. “On top of that, she’s smoking hot and the sex is fucking awesome.”

She laughs her wonderful laugh, eyes sparkling with delight. “Sounds like a very lucky girl.”

“See, that’s the thing. I’m the lucky one.” I bring our laced fingers up to my mouth and gently place a kiss on her knuckles; all while keeping my eyes locked on hers.

Megan arrives minutes later with our pizza. Avery places a slice on a plate for Brooklyn, cutting it up into bite sized pieces. Brooklyn dives into her pizza with delight and happily chats with me about dolls and cartoons. I catch Avery gazing at me a few times during dinner, watching us with a look of longing. I know what she ultimately wants out of life. Marriage. More kids. Unbreakable love. I’m not sure if I’m that man to give her all those things that she wants, but I might want to try. I do want to try.

When Avery takes Brooklyn to the bathroom to wash up her hands and face, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I glance down at it. Vanessa. Again. Why does she keep calling me? I already told her there was nothing between us. I send the call to my voicemail, not wanting to deal with her brand of drama this evening. As I start to slide it back in my pocket, it rings again.

I exhale and hit the answer button. There’s only one way to figure out what she wants. “Yeah,” I say with a short, snippy tone to my voice.

“Hi, Maddox. How are you?”

“Vanessa, I’m busy right now. What do you want?” I glance towards the bathroom to see if Avery is coming back yet.

“I haven’t talked to you in a while. I miss you.”

“Vanessa, there is no reason for this phone call. I’ve already told you that I’m not interested in seeing you anymore.”

“Well, I thought we were friends, Maddox. Isn’t that what you said? You want to be friends?”

“Vanessa, I don’t want to be mean and I don’t want to be rude, but we are not friends. You need to move on.”

“Move on?” Her voice raises a couple of octaves as she becomes slightly unhinged. “You expect me to just move on? I love you, Maddox!” she shouts into the phone. And this is exactly what I was trying to avoid. I look up and see Avery and Brooklyn making their way towards our booth.

I lower my voice to a harsh whisper to avoid being overheard. “Listen to me. There is nothing between us. I’m sorry if this hurts you, but I don’t want you.”

I hear her soft cries coming through the receiver. “Is there someone else?”

“No. I’ve gotta go. Don’t call me again,” I say as I hang up the phone.

“Everything okay?” Avery asks as they slide back in the booth.

“Yeah.” I put my phone back in my pocket, avoiding eye contact with her.

“It didn’t sound like it. You sounded upset.”

“Everything’s fine. Don’t worry about it, okay?” I reach over and take her hand again. I love how soft and silky her hands are. When I look up into her eyes, my anger immediately subsides and I feel myself relaxing. She searches my eyes, my face, for a moment and finally replies with a soft, “Okay.”