5. Connor
Chris
Work’s ??, Scott’s closing it down early for the wknd.
Heading 2 dadz 2nite, ill c u 2morrow?
Connor:
Seriously, it has to take more energy for you to type shorthand like that then it would just to spell out the full words.
Chris:
Yeah but knowing it pisses you off makes it worth it.
U’ll b there 2morw b4 dinner?
Istare at my phone and glance at my now very open Outlook calendar. I don’t usually make the drive to Dad’s until Thanksgiving Day, and then I stay for a couple of hours before heading back home. It’s only about a 37 minute commute. But with this new…turn of events…maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing to stay there over the weekend like Chris does. A good distraction.
Connor:
You know what? I’ll do you one better. I have a call at 2:00 and then I’m done for the day. I can just head home to pack a bag and pick you up at your place. We’ll head over together.
Chris:
Holy shit, dude, are you okay? Are you dying?
Seriously, I’m legitimately concerned.
Connor:
No, moron, I’m fine. At least you’re texting like a grown up again. I’m taking a vacation, I’ll explain later.
Chris:
*Party GIF*
All I heard was “we’re going out drinking tonight.”
I’ll tell Scotty, he’ll buy the first round.
And maybe I’ll get Jess to join us so I can flirt with her, it drives him nuts. ??
Scott Berringer is my brother’s best friend and he was also our neighbor growing up. He owns the small insurance agency where Chris works…they spend more time together than an old married couple.
Scott himself is already married, though, with a couple of kids, if I’m not mistaken. How he and my vocationally single brother have remained close after all these years is a mystery to me. Especially when Chris does shit like flirt with his little sister for fun.
Not that I can blame anyone for flirting with Jess; she’s generous, kind, beautiful…but she’s off-limits. For multiple reasons.
Connor:
How has he not kicked your teeth in yet? And isn’t flirting with a married woman too much, even for you?
Chris:
Jess got divorced like three years ago, WTF is wrong with you?
Jess is divorced? It’s been so long since I’ve even talked to her, but somehow the thought of her being single kicks my pulse up a notch.
I’m blaming my current existential crisis. That’s why I’m suddenly reliving all the fantasies I used to have. Ever since the day our family moved in next door to hers.
I was 8, Chris was 9…and we were both giving Mom and Dad hell for making us leave Atlanta. Enter the Berringers: the brood with the biggest personality this side of the Rockies. They all came barreling over to welcome us to the neighborhood; Chuck and Celeste bringing wine and croissants to my parents, Scott and Jess bringing Broncos footballs to me and Chris. Jess, in particular, zeroed in on me with her big green eyes and proclaimed, “I like you, we’re gonna be friends forever.” She then informed her brother that she was taking his bike and giving it to me.
I fell instantly in love with her.
I’m not sure that feeling ever went away, to be honest.
I vaguely recall her ex-husband from one of our families’ holiday get-togethers, but I thought he was a phony asshole, so I did my best to ignore him.
Connor:
Sorry I don’t keep up on my brother’s friend’s sister’s love life. Still feels like a death wish flirting with her. And I’m not going out tonight, that sounds terrible.
Chris:
You spelled “sounds awesome” wrong but whatever. Jess and I are cool, we have an agreement. Go ahead and text me when you’re on your way over.
C U L8R QTPIE.
I’m not even going to dignify that with a response, and I don’t want to know what he means when he says they have an “agreement.” The thought of Chris dating Jess stirs up some unwelcome feelings of jealousy. Instead, I decide to get back to work before I have to leave this beautiful desk for six weeks. And before having to deal with the fallout of telling my dad and brother why I’m suddenly so available.