A Life More Complete (21 page)

“No. I don’t really care to, but I’ll
have to eventually,” he says casually.

“She’s not what you think. You’ll
like her, trust me.”

“Oh, I believe you, it’s just that I
don’t care. I don’t become friends with my clients, nice or not, it doesn’t
matter.”

As much of a pain in the ass that she
is I can’t seem to shake the feeling that Tyler’s who-gives-a-shit attitude
bothers me. I want him to like her. She’s been a huge part of my life and I
really hate to see her struggle so tragically. My relationship with Trini has
always been like mother and daughter, or like sisters, and it follows the path
that makes it okay for me to criticize her, but I’m the first to defend her if
anyone else dares to speak ill of her.

“Will you be nice to her? Please? For
me?” I beg, pouting just slightly. I push my bottom lip out and glance at him
sideways. “She and I have been through a lot together. I’ve been her publicist
since she was twelve.”

“Which “nice” would you like?” He
pulls me against him and he begins to kiss his way down my neck to my breasts.
He pulls the cup of my bra down just slightly as he kisses me softly in just
the right spot. My lips part and I moan just a bit. “There’s this kind of nice,”
he mumbles into my breasts, then he suddenly steps back. “Or there’s this nice.”
He extends a hand to me and smiles sharply.

“Tyler, you are such a tease. I want
you to be the appropriate nice.” I glare at him and wrinkle my nose. I pull him
back to me and kiss him. “I have to get dressed and now
you’re
distracting me. Don’t you have a flight to catch?” He laughs
at me and walks into the other room.

I step into the living room as Tyler
is packing up his laptop. He stops dead and stares at me.

“Baby, you look amazing, but there is
no way in hell you are leaving the house wearing that, especially without me.” He
shakes his head and walks over to me. “I don’t think you realize this but that,”
he pauses and looks me up and down, “is not a dress. It’s a top and you’re
missing your pants.”

“Funny, Ty, but I’m wearing it. Bossy
boyfriends are not cool, just so you know. Enjoy the view while it last,
because it’s walking out the door in two minutes.” I know the dress is short,
but it’s not that short. Plus I look good. It’s a black, sequin embellished
minidress that I borrowed from Melinda. If he thinks it’s short on me he should
see it on her. She’s got at least two inches on my five foot six frame.

“I’m not being bossy. I’m just not
sure I want my girlfriend parading around in a dress that’s fit for a hooker. Albeit
a high priced one, but still.”

I’m sure the look on my face tells
him exactly what I’m thinking, but I still say it. “Wrong choice of words,
sweetie.” I purse my lips and head to the garage door. “I gotta go. Have a good
flight. See you tomorrow.” I leave without kissing him good-bye because right
now, I’m mad. I’m not used to being told what to do, let alone what to wear. I
look down at the enormous ring on my finger and just as I’m about to slip it
off Tyler appears next to my car. I step out into his arms. He pulls me tightly
against him and any thought of being angry with him disperses.

With his head buried in my hair, he
tells me I look amazing. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to feeling this way about
someone. Jealously doesn’t suit me.”

“Ty, I’m yours. No worries. They may
look, but no one will touch. Ever. Have a safe flight. Text me as soon as you
land. I love you.”

“I love you, too. I’m sorry,” he
whispers, almost embarrassed by his behavior. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.” He
says he loves me again as I climb into the car. I can’t help but have a stupid
grin on my face. Just when I’m beginning to think I’ve made a huge mistake he
pulls me back.

When I arrive at the event I’m just
glad to see Melinda and Bob waiting for me near the entrance to the country
club. Any event is better with the two of them nearby. We do what we do best
and sell the shit out of our client to every media outlet that is there. Champagne
in hand, project the image of having a good time, yet not too drunk, and make
our client look stunning in the process. It’s a boring night, so Melinda
suggests we hit the bars for old time’s sake. Bob says he’ll join us for one,
but he has to get home to Jon. Melinda mocks him with an
“Awe, it’s so cute.”

We sit down at a bar table and Bob
grabs drinks for us. I avoid anything with tequila...just for tonight though. I
know we’ll be best friends again by tomorrow.

“Eww, I had the worst hangover this
morning,” I tell Melinda. “I woke up feeling like I sucked on a cotton ball and
my headache was awful.”

“Me, too. No more margaritas. Well,
unless they have them on special. Who can pass up a deal?”

“Speaking of waking up...whose bed
did you wake up in this morning?” I ask, teasingly.

“My own, for your information. But I’m
going on a date with him tomorrow. A real date, not a fake one where we eat
Taco Bell after we have sex.”

Bob walks up and asks, “Who’s eating
Taco Bell after sex? You Mel?”

“She’s not. She has a real date, with
a bartender. Can you believe it?” I say.

“No way. Oh, Mel you’re finally
growing up.” Bob continues to tease her until she finally gets pissed and he
gives up. We talk about work and that’s when Bob drops the bomb that neither of
us saw coming.

“I want to tell you guys something
and please don’t be mad.” He stops for a minute and looks down at the table. “Today
is my last event with Ellie Regan. I quit.” He stops again and neither Melinda
nor I say anything. “I took a job working for Jon. It’s serious, not the job,
but the relationship. I want it to work and I know if I stay it’ll ruin
everything.”

I look at Melinda and her eyes mirror
mine, both filled with tears. I notice I’m more hesitant to cry over this than
Melinda. The tears begin to fall quickly down her cheeks. I recognize that I’ve
become almost immune to leaving. It’s easy for me to separate feelings when I
watch something disband. This scenario has played out in my life so many times
that watching someone walk away is a known fact. Bob and Melinda are my family and
now I’m losing that, too. As much as I want to feel something more, I can only
feel happiness for Bob. He’s getting out and will hopefully see what it’s like
to have a normal, healthy relationship that isn’t dominated by an overpowering
job and countless hours of thankless work.

“I’m glad,” I say with a huge smile
on my face. The remnants of tears drying in my eyes as I stand up and hug him. “I
want you to be happy, so do what you need to do. Of course, professionally I
want you to stay, but for you personally, go, get as far away from here as you
can. Be normal, love Jon and be happy.”

When I look at Melinda she is still
sniffling into her beer, wiping her eyes with a cocktail napkin as she stands
to hug Bob, too. He whispers something in her ear and she giggles a little. I
knew Melinda would take this harder than me. She’s always been far needier of
Bob’s attention and I’ve always let her seek what she felt was hers. Given my
history, I’ve always had a harder time letting people in, so Mel bonded with
Bob instantly. I think she viewed him as neutral, someone she wouldn’t ever be
able to sleep with, someone who would love her no matter what. She’ll struggle
with losing him, but she’ll be okay. We both will. Bob likes Melinda, but he
loves me. There’s a difference and eventually their friendship may fade, I can’t
say for certain, but I do know that Melinda is far more fickle and
self-absorbed. I’ve watched many of her friendships fade. I, on the other hand
will always have Bob. It takes far too long for me to develop close lasting
relationships, so when I do they remain intact.

I grab my beer and take the last
drink in one big gulp. Bob gets another round and we sit and talk for over an
hour. He tells us that he is moving in with Jon and feels it’s the right move. They’re
buying a house in Newport Beach to be closer to Jon’s office, which will now be
Bob’s, too. This statement makes Melinda cry again. She says that it’s too far
and she’ll never see him again. I reach across the small bar table and cover
her hand with mine. She swings her head around and grabs my hand.

“Holy shit! You’re engaged?” That
better be fake,” she screams in a shrill voice. She shoves my hand in Bob’s
face. “Can you believe this shit?” she says staring down at the diamond on my
finger.

“Yeah, I guess I am.” I’m really not
sure what to say. As much as I love Tyler, I don’t want the judgment that my
choice will bring. All my life, I’ve never felt the need to explain my actions,
but right now I do. “Tyler asked last night, after we got back from dinner and
I said yes. It’s really soon, I know, but it really isn’t. We’ve been together...”
Melinda cuts me off abruptly.

“You don’t have to defend your choice
to me,” Melinda says. “I saw you two together. It was so perfectly adorable.” She
turns to Bob. “They are so cute. And oh my God, Bob, he’s totally gorgeous.” Melinda
carries on for several more minutes filling Bob in on Tyler and how we met, she
makes it sound like a movie. She leaves out all the bad parts, fails to mention
what an asshole he used to be and I guess when displayed in her light of
perfectionism, it does sound quite amazing. “Soon, yep, but who cares. Do what
makes you happy. Yours and Tyler’s story is so perfectly cute that it can’t end
any other way but with you two getting married. Why put off the inevitable?”

Bob is quiet and I know that his
reaction isn’t going to be as stellar as Melinda’s. He is far more controlled
than Melinda and I can tell by the look on his face that he isn’t as thrilled
with my spontaneous decision. When he eyes me, I look away quickly. I feel like
he can sense my uncertainty, but he won’t say it with Melinda around. “If this is
what you want then go for it.” He shrugs his shoulders and pulls me into a hug,
quietly whispering in my ear before he pulling away, “I love you, but are you
sure?” I nod slightly and smile, but his words replay in my head over and over.

After multiple hugs from Melinda,
they ooh and ahh over my insane ring as we finish our drinks and go our
separate ways. As I’m driving home my phone rings. It’s Tyler.

“Hi baby,” I say.

“Hey kid. How was your night? Any
comments about your dress?” he asks casually.

“Uneventful,” I say and tell him no
one cared to notice the dress and if they did they didn’t comment. “I miss you.
I wish I wasn’t going home to an empty bed.” My voice has a sad quality to it
that is rarely present.

“I miss you terribly. I really need
this to be over so I can get home to you. Where are you?” he asks.

“I’m about five minutes from home. Why?”

“Stay on the phone with me until you
get home. I need to know you’re safe. You going home alone makes me uneasy.”

“Tyler, I’ve lived by myself...” I
trail off stopping short of completing that sentence. “It’s sweet that you worry
about me.”

“How can I not? You’re the most
important person in my world. I don’t know how I spent so long without you.” His
words make me smile and feel lonely all at the same time. I want him next to
me, holding me, making me feel safe and comforted, but I will come home to an
empty house. Something that never bothered me until this moment, but here I am
dwelling on the fact that my house will be empty.

“I’m home,” I say walking up the
stairs from the garage. My feet ache and my whole body is exhausted. My bed is
calling my name and I hope sleep doesn’t elude me. Sleeping alone now has
become hard. First Ben left my bed empty and now Tyler.

“I left you a surprise on your bed,”
Tyler says. I know his smile is massive. The one thing Tyler loved was to
shower me with gifts. Some things never change.

“You didn’t have to get me anything. Although
if the surprise is you in my bed, then I retract my original statement.”

“Sorry, it’s not me. And I didn’t buy
you anything, either. I have to go, ‘cause it’s really late here and I have to
be up early. I’ll see you tomorrow night. I love you. Enjoy your present.”

“I love you, too, but I feel like you’re
rushing me off the phone.” I toss my purse on the counter and pull off my shoes
as I make my way to my bedroom.

“I am. I want you to find your
present while you’re not on the phone with me. Now hang up. I love you.”

“Good night, Tyler. Dream about me.”

“Always,” he says as he hangs up.

Excited, I happily run into my
bedroom and find a large rectangular box on my bed. It’s wrapped in silver
paper and has a red satin ribbon tied around it. A small card slipped neatly
under the ribbon bears my name and I rip it open.

Krissy,

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

I didn’t think they’d arrive in time,
but I lucked out

just like I did when I met you.

I love you,

Tyler

I rip the bow off and toss it on my
bed and quickly to peel the paper away. My mind is racing as to what could
possibly be in the box. I can’t even begin to speculate so I remove the lid
quickly. The box is filled with what looks to be about fifty sheets of paper
stacked on top of each other, but as I reach in to pull them out I recognize
something I haven’t seen in years. The logo embossed on the back of the first
sheet that bears the brand name Kodak. My fingers trail across it and I pull
the stack out. I lay each sheet out on the bed and turn them over one by one
and the tears begin to fall from my eyes, silently and rapidly. My mind races
to Tyler and then to his best friend and our old roommate, Micah. The black and
white pictures are amazing and beautiful and they tell a story of best friends
and family and lovers in a way that only a person who truly understood could. I
remember all those times Micah spent in the bathroom of our tiny beach cottage
developing film and all those nights he spent in silence as he focused his lens
and took pictures of us. Somehow he managed to capture all the love Tyler felt
for me but could never express.