The Unexpected Neighbor

So Hard to Say Sorry

"Cadhla, you can't just not leave your house! Its been two weeks since you kissed Lars. It wasn't like you just went up to him and kissed him. It was an accident. You were in a situation that caused extreme distress, and it just happened!" Emily said.

We were talking on the phone because I hadn't left the house. I'd been calling off work, and I only went to school and home. I was so embarrassed and ashamed. I had kissed Lars, right in front of his boyfriend, for crying out loud! Then, I had that wet dream about him, which I hadn't told anyone about. It was just too much. What was going on with my hormones!

"I guess you're right, Emily. I just am ashamed of myself. Plus, I didn't tell you that I had a wet dream about him that night too." I said, covering my face from the blush that nobody could see.

"What?" Emily said, laughing. "You can't exactly control what happens in your dreams. If you could, I wouldn't ever have that dream about my mom buying me a miniature version of the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile for a graduation present."

"I thought you liked that dream?" I said.

"Yeah, but I get so disappointed when I wake up, and I don't have that fantastic car to drive. Sometimes dreams are just better than reality! Speaking of better than reality, how was it to lose your virginity to the steaming hot gay man next door?" Emily said, laughing again.

"Why am I best friends with you again?" I say, laughing with her. "I am running out of excuses not to leave the house. I might have to come to stay at your place for a while, so I can not leave your house for a while too."

"Oh no! You come here, and I'm locking you out, forcing you to go over, and knock on his door!" Emily says.

"Shit, Em, it looks like Millie is calling me. I have to go. I'll call you back later." I didn't give her time to answer and clicked over to answer Millies' call. "Hey, Millie. How are you?"

"Do you know when you're coming back to work?" She asks.

"Look, Millie, I had a situation with the guy next door. After Dave tried to basically rape me in front of my house a couple of weeks ago, I kissed him, and I'm embarrassed. I can't face him. I don't want to chance him coming to the diner." I say, dejectedly.

"Well, I guess I'll tell him that the next time he comes in and asks for you."

"What?" I say, shocked.

"Yeah. He and Peter have been in here almost every day. They ask for you, and when I tell them that you're not here, they always ask when your next shift is. Since you work almost every day, I always tell them 'tomorrow,' but you've been calling out. So, I just thought that I would ask you, so I know what to tell them next time. So, when are ya comin back? I don't want them to think I'm lyin' to them or somethin'."

"Millie, I'm so sorry that I've put you in that situation. I guess I'm going to have to bite the bullet and just talk to them. Maybe I'll apologize to Peter first. I just cannot believe I kissed Lars right in front of him."

"Honey, lots of things happen in situations like that. Extreme stress like that would make anyone act a little differently. By the way, Brian cut Dave off, said he wouldn't serve him anymore because of it. Since The Park is the only bar in town, he now has to drive to Wellsprings to drink."

"Seriously?" I say, laughing. "Serves him right, the bastard. How are you and Brian doing?" I ask.

"Oh, were doing amazing! I helped him burn all the stuff that Kelly left at his house. Did you know that she bought $15,000 worth of ceramic eggs on eBay? Who buys shit like that? They're ugly as hell, Cadhla! They have like these ugly little painted babies on them and shit." Millie says, laughing.