Missing You Again

A Three Hour Tour

I burst out into the side path to the street as though I was being pursued by demons. Or maybe it was like that cartoon skunk Pepe Le Pew was after me and I was a poor little white paint striped black cartoon kitty because I flung myself panting against the side of the house.

It wasn't until I heard a throat clearing that I realised I wasn't alone and I was behaving as though an anthropomorphised skunk wanted to have his way with me.

Fuck. Shit. Bollocks.

"Hey Kelly. Fucking awesome party." Johnny clutched a cocktail in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

"Oh hey Johnny," I said trying not to pant. I was such an idiot. What the hell did I think was going to happen if I invited the majority of my work colleagues as well as everyone else that I knew? Of course there was a chance they were going to discuss how they knew me if they fell into conversation. "What are you doing out here?"

Johnny gave a sheepish laugh, "Hiding from my wife."

"I've met your wife dude and she doesn't strike me as a scary woman." My lips curled up in a smile as I pictured them together. It was hard not to get hearts in my eyes around them; they were so sweet together. They almost made me want to find a person of my own or at the very least drink a cup of concrete to harden up and get over the friend I was crushing on so I'd be open to finding someone else.

Johnny took a long, slow drag on his cigarette and then as he slowly blew out a curling plume of smoke shook the cigarette between his fingers as he said, "She doesn't approve."

"I'm kind of with her on that," I gasped and took a step backwards as the scent of tobacco wafting toward me had my stomach churning. "Why don't you give up like Brian? Steph said that he pretty much never smokes now."

"Ah but you see Kelly I'm not like Syn with his public displays of affection for Marlboro. I hate cigarettes, that's why I burn them." His lips quirked up in a smile at his own joke.

"Smartarse," I grinned at him.

Johnny's answering smile was wide and he took a swig of his drink before he said, "Thanks for looking out for my boy Zacky."

I felt a trickle of sweat run down my spine. The night was warm and the crowd of people inside had left me feeling profoundly over heated but it was the sudden rush of adrenaline that had perspiration beading across my forehead.

"What do you mean? I asked cautiously.

"You know, being there for him through all the shit he's got going on. You guys have been friends for years right?" The tip of his cigarette flared brightly as he took another drag.

"Actually we have." It was a relief to get the first admission out of the way. I mean Cathy knew and I was pretty sure Jeff had guessed but admitting it to Johnny who'd always been there in the background of our conversations was another thing entirely. "How'd you know?"

Johnny snorted. "Zacky's a dickhead who doesn't lock his phone. I couldn't even count the number of times that I've stolen it to call my wife when I've lost mine. You guys message a lot."

"Huh." Wow, Johnny had never been fooled by us. I'd never have imagined how discreet he could be, as adorable as he and Lacey were together I imagined that she must have had a permanent case of eye strain as often as he got drunk and said dumb shit without thinking.

"Thanks for not saying anything." I swallowed against the lump that had suddenly filled my throat.

"Figured it wasn't any of my business if he didn't mention it," he shrugged and took another sip of his cocktail, "Plus he has a really bad habit of dating and then marrying chicks who get jealous if he even looks at my wife or any other woman. Don't get me wrong, Lacey's a stone cold fox but why the fuck would she even look at his sorry ass when she has all of this?" He spread his arms wide and flashed a cocky grin. "It's a relief that Meaghan's gone, her screeching about every chick that Zacky ever comes in to contact with was getting tired."