41. Chapter 41
Chapter 41
First thing in the morning, David rented a small U-Haul truck and when he returned to the house, it was to find Evan just arriving. Along with bringing the boxes, he’d gone the extra mile and also had tape and moving blankets, cementing his best friend status.
They worked for several hours, boxing up all of David’s things, and with the exception of asking where Ashley was, Evan didn’t ask any other questions.
“She spent the night at Carrie’s place,” David told him.
At noon, Ashley came home looking hungover and for the next several hours, she and David exchanged only a few words as they divided up the household goods and furniture. Since she didn’t know how much space she’d have in her new place, she only ended up with Jacob’s furniture, the couch, the TV, and some kitchen items. Everything she didn’t want, including the master bedroom furniture, got loaded into the truck.
It didn’t thrill Evan, but David was pretty happy, since he wouldn’t be sleeping on the floor that night. Or have to buy a new bed.
When David and Evan were finally done packing and loading, it was almost dinnertime and David did one last sweep of the house before leaving.
Ashley was sitting on the couch in the now almost bare living room. She actually looked a little upset at his imminent departure, but he figured she was more upset at being on her own than anything else. As for him, he felt oddly at peace and content, considering he was ending a lengthy relationship. It struck him that it was a far cry from when he’d left Paige and he’d been decimated.
“As soon as Everett gets our agreement drawn up,” he told her, “I’ll let you know so we can go over it together and then sign it.”
She didn’t even look at him. “Fine.”
“I’ll see you Monday morning when you come to clean out your desk. Oh, and Ash?”
“What?”
“Along with your final paycheck, I’m going to give you a month’s severance pay.”
“Thanks,” she said and even though it came out only mildly sincerely, he was okay with that.
“I’ll be in touch.”
She nodded, still not looking at him, then grabbed the remote to turn on the TV.
“I’m so glad that’s over,” Evan commented a few minutes later as he and David walked down to the packed truck.
“Me, too.”
Evan followed David to his photography studio, where they unloaded everything, making multiple trips upstairs to the second floor loft. They put a few things away, like the bedroom set, but everything else was left in the living room for David to deal with later.
Exhausted and hungry, they went to get dinner and a few beers at a restaurant down the street.
“You said you’d explain everything when we were done, so, now that we’re done … what’s the story?” Evan asked.
David told him what had happened with his phone and emails.
“I’m kind of shocked,” Evan said, looking thoughtful.
“That she did all that?”
“No, that you kicked her to the curb for it.”
“I know I said what I had with her was fine,” David said. “But living without love is one thing. Living without trust is another.”
Evan tilted his head. “I’m sorry, man. Not that it ended,” he quickly added, “but I’m sorry how it ended.”
“I am, too. That part really sucked.”
“I can’t wait to tell Evelyn. She’s going to be thrilled. Again, not because of how it ended but because it did.”
Evan held up his glass and David did the same.
When Evan didn’t say anything right away, David asked, “Are we toasting to something, or not?”
Evan blinked owlishly. “Shit. I’m so tired, I don’t think I can come up with anything.”
“Then why did you raise your glass?”
“Habit.”
David laughed and tapped his glass to Evan’s. “To you. For helping me move. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. What can I say? I’m a good friend.”
“That you are, Dick. That you are.”