20. Kind Of Just Stuck
KIND OF JUST STUCK
WILL
Several hours and one rather dramatic bedtime later, Kylie takes a seat across from me on our parent’s back deck with a cup of tea in her hand.
Seth has already headed to bed, as it’s only been a few days since the season wrapped up for him.
That combined with jet lag, and the quiet giant of a man was dead on his feet throughout dinner.
Kylie has always been like the energiser bunny though, and could probably crack on all night if anyone else was up for it.
“So, how are you really? How’s work going?” She blows on the steaming liquid in her cup while eyeing me over the rim.
“It’s fine. We’ve been really busy. Picked up a few more contracts, and I’ve needed to bring on a few new guys.”
She raises an eyebrow. “That’s great. Why don’t you seem excited about it?”
I shrug. “I dunno. I’ve just been feeling a bit deflated lately, I guess. Watching everyone settle down makes it very obvious that I’m kind of just stuck. ”
Alfie wanders out of the house and comes to my side, placing his head on my knee so that I can scratch behind his ear.
She cocks her head to the side while she considers my words. “Maybe you need to move to Canada, too. It worked out for me when you suggested it.”
I shake my head. “I don’t think that’s the answer for me. We can’t all meet tall, dark and handsome NHL players, after all,” I add with a smirk.
Her laughter fills the night air. “I’m sure I can find you one, if you’ve decided to bat for the other team.”
I shake my head. “Unfortunately, I’m cursed to deal with woman troubles. But thanks for thinking of me.”
Her expression sobers. “Speaking of woman troubles… Have you seen Annelisa again?”
I sigh and put my beer down on the table. “Yeah, last night actually.”
She glowers at me. “Why?”
“It was a whole thing, but I needed to help her look after Lucy and Caidin for a few hours because Dale ended up in the emergency department.” Kylie’s eyebrows go up, and I shake my head.
“He’s fine now. But Morgan was having dinner with Annie when it happened so she left her with the girls, and then Chris called and asked me to help. ”
Kylie sighs, shaking her head. “Why did she need your help? Is she that useless she can’t take care of two kids for a couple of hours? Or was Chris worried she’d abandon them, too?”
I grit my teeth. “That’s bitchy, Kyles. She was handling it fine. Chris was just worried that they might not go to sleep if they were with someone they didn’t know that well.”
She blinks a few times, her expression incredulous. “Why are you defending her? Seriously, if Seth did to me what she did to you, I would go all scorched Earth on his ass.”
“You know relationships can be complicated, Bug. Not everything is black and white. I never hated Annie. I was hurt, yes, but she had her reasons for doing what she did.”
She’s quiet for a moment while she continues to study me. “You’re not still in love with her, are you?” she asks hesitantly.
I sigh. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”
She sits back in her chair and takes another sip of her tea. “That wasn’t the no I was hoping to hear, William.”
I groan, lifting my gaze to stare up at the ceiling above us. “I don’t fucking know, Kylie. A part of me is always going to be in love with her. But seven years is a long time and we’re both different people now. It’s complicated. So please, can we just change the subject?”
“Fine,” Kylie snaps, and I can’t help but smirk when she pouts as Mum comes outside to join us.
Despite how much she’s infuriating me right now, I have missed having my sister around.
“What are you two bickering about out here?” she asks, taking a seat next to Kylie.
“Nothing,” I say, at the same time that my traitorous sister replies “Annelisa.”
“Ah. Okay.” Mum pulls her cardigan tighter around her body and brings her legs up to her chest. “I saw her today, actually. We had a lovely chat at the grocery store.”
I freeze in the process of bringing my beer back to my mouth.
Kylie’s mouth falls open. “A lovely chat?! Seriously, what is wrong with the pair of you?” She waves her hand between Mum and me. “Am I the only one who understands that we don’t fraternise with the enemy?”
Mum sighs. “Oh stop it, Kylie. Annelisa isn’t the enemy. She’s family.”
“She lost her family privileges when she abandoned my big brother,” Kylie retorts.
I let my head fall back again, suddenly very, very tired.
“Kyles, if I can handle her being around, then you need to just get over it.” I hear her gasp but don’t have it in me to continue talking about it.
Sitting up, I clap my hands on my thighs and get to my feet.
“I’m gonna head home. I’ll see you in the morning. ”
“Will, I’m sorry. Don’t go,” Kylie says, putting her cup down and getting to her feet.
“It’s fine, Bug. I’m tired and you should probably get to bed as well.”
She comes around the table and throws her arms around me. “I promise to stop being a pain in the ass.”
I laugh and hug her back. “The day that happens, hell will have frozen over. But I love you, and never change. Except on this subject. Change on this subject.”
She snorts and releases me. “Asshole.”
“Ah, I just love how my children talk to each other. Warms my heart,” Mum says, placing a hand to her chest.
“Goodbye, family,” I say, giving them both a wave.
After saying goodbye to my father, Alfie and I head home.
Once I let him out for the night, he curls up on the floor beside my bed while I get ready to take a shower.
The entire time, my brain is going over the events of the day.
Everywhere I turn, someone is reminding me about Annie, and I don’t know what the next move is.
When I climb into bed, I stare at my phone before turning it over and over in my hands while I think.
Finally, I give in to the thoughts in my head.
Will
Hey. So your name has come up about a thousand times today.
Annie
Um… Sorry, I guess?
Will
Mum told me she saw you today. How’d that go?
Annie
It was fine. She hugged me. I was not expecting that.
Will
She always loved you.
Also, Morgan mentioned that she’d asked you to come on the camping trip we’re all going on.
Annie
Yeah. Don’t worry though, I’m not going.
Don’t want to get in the way.
Will
You wouldn’t be in the way.
Annie
Are you saying you want me to come?
My thumbs hover over my phone screen while I contemplate my response. Do I want her there? Ever since Morgan brought it up, it’s all I can think about.
Will
I mean, it’s not like we’d have to spend time together. Morgan really wants you there… Maybe it’ll be good for you to spend time with everyone again?
A little bubble appears and disappears on the left side of my phone screen several times while I wait for her answer. I have become that guy, staring at his phone waiting impatiently for a message, and I fucking hate it. But I can’t seem to put the phone down.
Annie
OK… Well, I guess if you’re fine with it…
Will
Yep, completely fine with it.
Annie
Guess I better get a tent then.
Will
Guess you’d better.
Annie
Good night, Will.
Will
Good night, Annie.