Thin Air (Complete EDITING)

15- Andrew

15 Andrew May 20, 2020

I have a little time before I'm going to take Shannon's spot in the hospital, so I heat up some pizza. Nicole ordered it the night of dad's stroke. Five days isn't that long. It's probably still good. Besides, if I get botulism, maybe I could pull the sympathy card and get Jamie to nurse me back to health. I am watching the paper plate spin in lazy circles, wondering how my life got here.

This whole situation with Nicole has put me through the wringer. I know what it looked like when Jamie came over the other night, but it was completely innocent. It always is. I don't want Nicole that way, never have, but I don't have the heart to be cold to her with everything she has gone through. She's had a hard enough life.

Thursday was a misunderstanding, just like the pants incident.

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It was Brandon's birthday. I rounded up a few of the guys we had grown up with, and a couple more I knew he was friendly with through work.

"Come on, Bro, you never do anything. You're always moping about. You are not celebrating your birthday alone!"

"You know I don't like loud crowds. Just come over here. I have cold beer in the fridge, and it's free."

"One-it's not free. You paid for it at the store. Two- I'm hungry, and you can't cook for shit. Three- I have a table reserved at that new sports bar already." I lay on the horn. "I'm out front, get your ass in the truck!"

I hear him mutter a curse before he hangs up.

"I can cook. I choose not to." Brandon flips me off as he climbs up into my truck.

"Sure, Jan." I roll my eyes.

We ended up having a great time and shutting the place down. Brandon let loose and was feeling pretty good by the time his buddy and I hoisted him up into the back seat at the end of the night, where he promptly passed out.

I thanked the guy and was walking around to the driver's side when I saw her.

"Well, hello, Officer."

"Hey Nic, have a good night?"

"Sure did." She hiccuped.

"That's good. Glad to see you out and about. Parenting is a hard business. You gotta take a break here and there. I can't imagine doing it on my own. I'm so lucky Jamie is such a good mother."

"I think Jamie is the one who should be counting her blessings," she slurred as she stumbled a little closer to me.

I stepped forward and caught her by the elbows. "You're not driving home, are you?"

"I planned on it. That is unless you want to give me a ride?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"How about I call you a cab?"

"By the time they get here, it'll be 3 am." She pouted.

Shit. Nicole was right. I can't leave her out here by herself. Something could happen to her. We never did find Erin. I don't want to go through that again. "Alright, hop in."

She smiles victoriously.

We get in the truck, and I tell her to buckle up.

I hear her shuffling around and complaining that it's hot while I wait my turn to exit the parking lot. I pull out on the street and tell her the AC is broken.