The Keys to Jericho (66 page)

“Jericho. You’re not telling me something, and neither is she.”

Finding a pair of wire cutters in Tony’s toolbox, I look away from Dash’s scrutiny as I make the cut. “Uh, will you take her driving today and then to class tonight? I’m not feeling that great. I’m going home.”

“Jericho. What the hell is going on with you and Kat?”

“Nothing.”

“You two are always joined at the hip. Now, you can’t mention her name without a strange look on your face.”

“I’m fine.” I wrap the cut cord in a rush, and shove it into his arms. “Here. Take this to Tony. I’m out.”

“Jericho!” I keep walking, and when I get behind the Nissan’s wheel, I have to hold my breath so her perfume doesn’t hit me like a frying pan to the face. Small breaths. Yet, it could be worse. I don’t know how I’ll ever drive
my
goddamned car again.

Wednesday, I take a deep breath as I exit the Nissan. I need to get my shit together. I promised I’d help her get her driver’s license. I always keep my word. I’m seriously trying to.

Walking through the front door of the house, I go past the living room, briefly looking in there, but then stopping when I see her standing at the front window.

Going in, but not too far, I wait for her to turn around, but she doesn’t. I finally say, “You need to drive.”

She nods, and I again wait for her to turn, but she still looks out the window. I clear my throat, “Are we going now?”

Another nod, but this time, she turns away from the window, but doesn’t look at me as she walks past. Christ. This’ll be fun.

When she’s behind the wheel, she puts out her hand, and I drop the keys into it. Before she starts the car, she sighs at the wheel, asking, “Are you talking to me now?”

“Seems so.”

She glowers at me. “Where’ve you been the last two days?”

I tug down on my bill before crossing my arms, and glaring at the dashboard. “I needed a…break.”

“Why?”

“Why not?”

Turning, I stealthily glance at her as she shakes her head at the wheel, and starts the car. “Where to?”

“Wherever.”

“You’re not going to help me?”

“I’m here. Drive.”

“You’re here and you’re talking, but you may as well be ignoring me again or not here at all.”

I roll my eyes at the windshield, but remain quiet.

The drive is the same, with her picking odd roads to drive, but she does well, so I don’t feel the need to comment.

When she pulls in front of her mother’s house, she puts the car in park, turns it off, and says, “I won’t be here tomorrow or Friday.”

I sit, waiting for her to go on, but she doesn’t. Looking over at her, she stares out the windshield. Ultimately, I lose and ask, “Why?”

“I’m going to Virginia with Liberty. She’s apartment hunting and I said I’d go with her.”

“Oh.” My sympathies.

“I’ll be back Saturday.”

“Why can’t you do it during the weekend so you don’t have to miss class?”

She mutters, “Liberty is going during the week.”

I grumble with an eye roll, “Figures.”

“It’s not her fault and I said I’d go.”

“You shouldn’t be missing class. You won’t be done before school starts.”

“So? I won’t have a car before then, either. I’ll just have to go with it.”

“I won’t be here.”

“I know that.” Ouch.

I try, “You’ll have to have someone else take you to class and finish your hours.”

She scoffs, “Yes, and we’ve established that may be a possibility. So whatever way works, I’ll deal with it.”

“Fine.”

“Fine. I guess I’ll see you sometime Saturday.” Without giving me a courteous glance, Kat gets out of the car and marches up the walkway, her streaked ponytail swinging riotously as she goes.

I’d stay in the car, smelling her perfume, but the fucking shit makes my damn eyes water anymore, so I get out and decide I need to cut shit with the circular saw.

Starting with Calder’s throat should clear my head.

Checking my watch, I impatiently walk to the end of the porch, looking to the end of the parking lot, and then walk to the other end, peering around the restaurant to the other end of the lot. No Duquesne. You’d figure with his bitch out of town, he’d have a better grasp on time, though Diet Dr. Pussy isn’t used to freedom.

Thursday, I spent the day at Brenda’s and then at the park. If it’s not Wednesday night at the races during the summer, there’s nothing else to do in this fucking town, except to drink or sit at a park. And I did the drinking and the races Wednesday night, so Thursday night, I sat on a bench, overlooking the river, wishing I had a drink with me.

Duquesne’s truck pulls up, and I roll my eyes at his rueful smile as he walks over to me. “You run on your own time zone, Duquesne?”

His smile widens. “Sorry, Jare. Work ran over.”

“I don’t even want to know.”

“Not what you think.” He shakes his head and looks to the side of the building, nodding. “Let’s go over here before we eat.”

“Why? I’m hungry. Can’t you spout off about your pussy assembly line in there?”

“It’s not about that, Jare.”

I sigh.
Her
. I know it. Whining about his bitch’s new job, and he doesn’t want to cry in front of people. Why is he willing to cry like a girl in front of me, though? I don’t want to see that shit.

Following him to the side where he lectured me last time we were here, I take a seat on the wooden bench, leaning forward, hanging my hands between my legs, as I look up at him expectantly. “What is it?” I refrain from rolling my eyes because of the subject matter, trying to focus on being a better friend. Somewhat.

Rio doesn’t sit. Instead, he leans his back onto one of the wooden pillars, holding up the roof overhang, with his foot planted behind him on it. He shoves his hands into his jeans pockets. “You know you’re my best friend, right?”

“Uh… I guess,” I say, confused about where he’s going with this.

He nods. “You are. You might think you’re a shitty friend or whatever, but you’re not. You always listen to my problems, take my advice on some things, and you always have my back, while making me laugh. You may be the most stubborn guy I know, and we may argue, but you’re like my brother. I can’t get rid of you.”

Smiling, I nod. “Asshole.”

“Anyway, there’s also the issue of my girlfriend. You two don’t get along. Everyone knows that.” I again nod, but with a frown this time. He says, “However, you both are the most important people in my life. You’ll be living in Philadelphia. She’ll be living in Virginia.”

I stiffly say, “Yeah…”

Shit. No.

Recognizing that I’m onto him, he appears uneasy. “Jare…”

Sitting back against the wall, I cross my arms, gritting my teeth. “Don’t fucking say it.”

“
You
moved. You’re starting another chapter in your life. Why can’t I?”

I shake my head with a furious laugh before glaring at him. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“I’m not abandoning you. Don’t ever think that. I’ll be in Baltimore until I can get a job near hers. It could take months to find something, so I’ll be there for a while, still, even though
you
aren’t anymore.”

“You’re fucking leaving,” I state, saying it out loud to grasp the concept.

“So
you
can only do the leaving? How is that fair?”

“I’ll only be in Philly!”

“How can you be so narrow-minded with this?”

“Me? You’re moving to fucking Virginia to be with a girl you’ve been dating for a few months?”

“Jare, we were friends for two years before we started dating. I know Liberty, and I plan on marrying her. I want to ask her New Year’s Eve. She likes fall so as long as I can get a job and move down there, we’ll probably be married around then.”

“Jesus Christ! Why in the hell would you want to get fucking married? And to
her
?”

He drops his foot and yells, “I love her, Jared! Why is that so hard for you to understand or accept?”

I roll my eyes. “It’s your life. Ruin it however you want.”

“
You
want to talk about ruin? What are
you
doing with Kat?”

“It was a joint agreement. Nobody was supposed to find out, but that was my fucking fault.”

“I’m not only talking about you sleeping with her. We all know what’s really going on with you.”

“There’s nothing more to tell! We weren’t broadcasting it for all to commentate on. It was
our
business.”

He runs a hand through his hair, looking flustered, which is not a Duquesne trait. “You are so fucking unconscious. I feel like I need to enlighten you because you’re now in a tailspin, but I’m positive it’ll only send you spinning into a goddamned wall at top speed.”

I resentfully grin. “Come on, Rio. Don’t hold out on me. Please. Please, shed your pussy wisdom onto my fucked-up life. It can only make it better.”

“You asked Kat why she couldn’t be a rational adult. Why can’t
you
? Sometimes it’s like talking to a toddler with you!”

“Fuck you, Duquesne! And by the way, why did your girlfriend take Kat with her? Is it some kind of Thelma and Louise road trip?”

“They’re friends. Or is that something unheard of for you?”

“Nice choice in friends.”

“You know what, Jared? If you can’t get along with Liberty or accept me moving down there, then fuck you. I’ve been patient with you and your attitude for years. This is it.”

“Me or her? Really?”

“I don’t want to do that, but Jesus! I’m building a life with her, but all you can focus on is trying to tear it down! Get over your damn self and look at your own life! Why can’t
you
just tell Kat how you feel?”

“How I feel?” I laugh. “Wrong advice to give, doc.”

“Then you know what? You don’t fucking deserve her
or
my friendship, either. If that’s the way you’re going to be, then I’m done.”

“I’ve
been
done,
River
.”

Rio shakes his head and pushes off the pillar, storming off to his truck.

I can’t move from the bench. I can’t even move my glare from the green car parked in front of me as I hear Rio peel out of the lot.