Ыоуве Been Warned   ::   Patterson James

“I think you’re reaching,” he says.

Now I’m a little pissed. And yes, I am stressed, okay?

“You’re right, Michael, I am reaching. I’m reaching out to you now, and you’re not there for me.”

“C’mon, don’t be so melodramatic, Kris. Take it all down a notch.”

I press him. “What about later? Are you free after the zoo?”

The silence again says it all. “I can’t,” he responds. “I would if I possibly could. Penley made plans tonight with another couple.”

I’m about to vent the mother lode of frustration and a whole lot worse on him when he abruptly clears his throat.

“I’ll check on those figures for you, Carter. I’m on it,” he says in his best business voice.

Shit.

“Penley just walked in, didn’t she?” I say.

“Yes, Carter, that’s correct. You have such a good feel for these things.”

I listen to Michael babble on about debt ratios and the nonfarm payroll report. Give him credit, the switch over was seamless.

“Okay, she’s gone,” he says seconds later.

“What did she want?”

“The kids are waiting on me, so she was pointing at her watch and making an incredibly bitchy face – then again, what else is new?”

I can’t help a slight smile. I am calmer now, and I love it when he dumps on Penley. All the better for my Dump Penley campaign.

“So where were we?” he asks.

“Your not being there for me,” I answer.

Michael sighs. “I’m so sorry, honey,” he says. “Tell you what. How’s this? We’re supposed to drive out to Connecticut tomorrow to see my in-laws. I’ll do like I did last time and tell Penley that something came up with work. Better yet, I’ll blame it on you, Carter. ”

“Can you really do that? ”

“Sure. We can spend the whole day together, maybe drive upstate and have a picnic somewhere, and you can tell me whatever it is you want to talk about.”

The thing is, I want to tell him now -right now. At least I think I do. Which raises an interesting question. How much do I really trust him? This much?

“Michael, I – ”

“Oh, shit,” he interrupts, sounding rushed. “Penley’s heading back this way. I’ll call you tomorrow morning, okay?”

There’s no time to respond.

He’s gone.

I hang up as if in slow-motion. It’s hard to put the feeling into words. Empty? Numb?

Still alone?

Usually, just the thought of being with Michael makes everything better. No longer.