repetitive

four

Wow, Maxine looks... hot.

I spot her first, but I don't wave her over, because just the look of her distracts me. Too bad I like a little uumph in the pants, but that doesn't mean I can't admire her. Finally, she sees me and waves, running over. I stand from my chair and open my arms, already knowing she's going to launch herself at me.

Which she does. She squeals, squeezing me tightly, and I just chuckle. "Hey there, Maxie."

"Gosh, Alex! Hi! It's been years!"

"Yeah, no kidding. You look amazing, by the way."

"Pft! Thanks, but you're looking pretty hot too, no worries."

We're talking just like we used to in high school, and I love it. I offer her to sit down, and we both order a drink from the café she decided we'd meet at. Once relaxed, she sets her jacket on the back of the chair, then just grins at me. "Well, hey."

"Hey," I reply, cracking a small smile.

"So? Come on, give me the deets, what're you doing back home? Thought you'd be living all high and mighty in the Big Apple by now."

I explain the situation about how I came back for teaching, and for the art studio I now own for such a nice price. But she starts laughing at the fact I'm teaching second graders, so I roll my eyes behind my shades. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, laugh it up."

"It's almost impossible to imagine," she giggles. "But at the same time, I can easily see it! Bet you give those kids a real lesson, huh?"

"Yeah. They fear my shoe."

"What?"

"Nothing. What are you up to these days? Still a Vaughan? No lucky guy yet?"

"Not exactly yet," she replies with a shrug. "Been loving my job too much. But I think I'll start looking into a bit of romance soon. As for what I've been doing, I own a shooting range. I run events and teach classes there and just play with some good ol' firearms."

"Why am I not surprised?"

She laughs, hitting my shoulder. "Sure, sure. So, have you called to meet up with Jackson at all yet?"

"Actually, I have his daughter in my class. So I've seen him a few times now."

"Oh, you've met Lily! Isn't she just the most adorable thing?"

"She really is," I chuckle. "Very excitable. Very smart, too. It's like she knows everything about everyone already."

"Gets that from her mother," Maxine says with a grin.

"Yeah, that reminds me. I asked Jackson about Lily's mom, but he kinda ran away."

"Well, how did you ask? He's usually open about it with me."

"I don't know. Just asked what chick he knocked up."

She punches my shoulder, quite hard. Damn, she's strong. I blame all the rifles she uses. Never mind that, my shoulder hurts now, and I clutch it, looking back at her. "What the hell, Maxie?"

"You're so insensitive!"

"I was just curious."

"Jackson married Rose."

"What?" I laugh a bit, forgetting about my shoulder. "He's embarrassed about that? Wow. I can't believe he fell for Rosey. Just wow."

"Alex! Listen, jeez. You're still such an ass. Rose died."

My throat catches now. I haven't seen Rose in eight years, but still. The four of us, we were inseparable, so it's natural that this news is really hurting me. I look down, now thinking about the way I asked Jackson about Lily's mom the other day, and my gut hurts. God, I am an ass. Wow.