Part 19 (1/2)
”Then I dump the d.i.c.k,” I shrugged.
”You love the d.i.c.k,” she said doubtfully.
”I love Luke.”
”I feel you're in for some s.h.i.+t.”
”Maybe so.”
”Well...good luck with your s.h.i.+t.”
”Thanks.”
Donya had no idea how right she was. I was in for some s.h.i.+t.
The first thing I noted when I got to Luke's was that his car was in the driveway. I thought it was strange, but then I a.s.sumed he caught a ride with a coworker or took the train or something. The second thing I noticed was the rental car parked on the street in front of house. Curious, yes, but not suspicious. There were a lot of houses on the street, and sometimes parking was tight.
I started up the sidewalk to the front door, but realized I had mud on my sneakers. It had been raining a little earlier and I had stepped right into a puddle of mud when I went into my back yard to talk to my dad before leaving. I turned around and walked around the house. The plan was to leave my sneakers on the back steps and wash them down with the hose later.
After kicking my sneaks off, I used my key to let myself in the back door. The television was on, I could hear it. Okay, no big deal. It deters would-be robbers. However, the low girly giggle and the chuckle that was unmistakably Luke's was not on the television!
Thanks to my socks, I moved quietly through the kitchen without being heard. What I found in the living room on the couch was Luke and a blonde haired woman about my age. They were sitting very, very close. Too close.
”h.e.l.lo.” I said, making both of them look up in surprise.
Luke quickly got to his feet.
”Babe, I thought you would be on your way to Florida by now.”
”Yeah and I thought you were in D.C.”
”The meeting was postponed late last night.”
”Why didn't you tell me?” My eyes flickered to the woman. Her hair was ugly ugly.
”I didn't want you to change your plans for me. You don't spend a lot of time with D.”
I raised an eyebrow and again looked at the hoe on the couch. She looked nervous.
”This is Claire,” Luke waved her over. ”She's one of my Chicago friends. Claire this is Emmy.”
I shook her hand, but couldn't match her smile.
”I thought I met all of your Chicago friends,” I said to Luke.
”Not all of them.”
”I'm out here with some friends,” Claire explained. ”Doing the Jersey sh.o.r.e thing. It was dumb luck that Luke became free while we're here.”
”Ohhhh,” I said, not really sure what to say.
”Where's your shoes?” Luke asked, looking at my feet.
”So...can I talk to you in the bedroom?” I walked away before he could answer.
”Where are your shoes?” Luke asked me again, closing the door behind him.
”What's going on here?” I asked, crossing my arms.
”Claire is visiting the Jersey sh.o.r.e from Chicago.”
”This isn't the sh.o.r.e!”
”No, it's not. When my schedule opened up, I asked her if she wanted to catch up.”
”So you're catching up on your couch? Two inches apart?”
Luke crossed his arms and his eyes darkened.
”What is it you want to know, Emmy?”
”I want to know what the h.e.l.l is going on between you and Claire!”
”Is that what you want to know?”
”Yes!”
”No big deal right? Just a straight answer?” He was patronizing me, but I was too blind with anger to see where it was going.
”Right,” I said, standing my ground.
”Okay. I will tell you what's going on between me and Claire.”
”Okay!”
”Right after you tell me what's going on between you and Kyle.”
Well...I wanted to come clean. Here's my chance. Maybe not this way, though.
I deflated, my anger floated away.
”N-n-nothing,” I stammered. I was on the verge of wailing, but bit my lip to keep it back. ”Sorry I jumped on you like that. I'm....” I started towards the door. ”I'm going to go.”