Endless: REWRITTEN

13. Peridot

Robin

Here's something that will shock you: a couple days after Mordecai and I's falling out, I get a text message. I'm thinking it's a co-worker or Natalie or even Mordecai offering a half-assed apology. But no; the message is from his pixie sprite girlfriend, asking me to lunch tomorrow. I accepted, of course, because who would pass up the opportunity to get a chastising from a kitten? It's adorable.

The next day at noon, I meet up with her at an Applebee's, and I see her already sat near the window, looking out of it absentmindedly. I slid in across from her and her eyes land on me. She offers a polite smile. "Hi, Robin."

"Hey," I lean back. "So, let's just cut to the chase. I guess I'm sorry that I knocked the shit out of your boyfriend who conveniently happens to be my brother. It won't happen again, I was being an asshole, and try not to let me get too many margaritas because I have work after this—"

"He was being an asshole."

"I'm sorry, what?"

She sighs, glancing away and then back at me. "He told me what happened and what he said. He is sorry, and we both mutually agree that he was in the wrong."

"Well... that is comforting, but I wish I heard this from his mouth."

"He has a pride out of this world. And... my guess is that he just doesn't quite know what to say yet."

"No..." I snort. "No way. Edgar Allen Harper doesn't know what to say? Why, that's just ridiculous! He always has some sort of soliloquy to pull out of his back pocket for every situation!"

"You're both assholes," she shakes her head. "Assholes with a severe miscommunication issue."

"Look, Cheyenne," I chuckle bitterly. "As much fun it would be for you to pick apart my brain, I already have a therapist who does that. I appreciate you trying to help, but Mordecai isn't as forgiving as you. You may be able to forget what I've done, but he can't. And that's okay; if it was me, I wouldn't either. We tried to make a brotherly relationship work, but he's still upset and I get that. So the best thing for us to do is just not talk to each other until he's ready."

"He's not upset—"

"And to be honest, it's a little insulting that you're in the middle of all this." I didn't mean for that to slip out, but since it's the truth, I don't mind too much. Mordecai—and Cheyenne, for that matter—don't like addressing the elephant in the room regarding their relationship. The fact that Mordecai has made her such a high priority on his list. Or the only priority if we're not counting his job.

"What does that mean?" she frowns.

Then I'm reminded why I don't bring it up. Because they're both so in denial about it, it's another separate feud on its own. I know I shouldn't be the one to talk because of my relationship with Vanessa, but I acknowledge that the pedestal I put Vanessa on was unjustified and unreasonable. Nothing about our relationship was logical, and I'm not a very logical person when I love someone. Vanessa, on the other hand, had to think reasonably for both of us, and I guess she got tired of it eventually. Cheyenne and Mordecai have a wonderful relationship, but sometimes I feel like his excuse for not trying to mend our relationship is because he always has a good thing going with her, so why bother?

I just settle for, "Nothing. I shouldn't have said that."

"I can handle a little honesty, Robin. I know what you think about me, and it's not true. So what's going on?"