Ty took the phone from me. “You never saw that, okay? And we never had this conversation, either. It’s just…when I found out you were moving, I knew I really needed to say something to you. I love my brother more than anything. I don’t like going behind his back like this, but ultimately, I feel it’s for his own good.”
“What do you suggest I do?”
“I think you should continue with your plans. If I know Damien, he’ll come to realize the mistake he’s made some time after you’re gone. Just continue to be his friend. I can’t guarantee he’ll come to his senses, but I suspect it will really hit him once you’re not around anymore.”
“I can’t say I necessarily agree that he’ll come around if he hasn’t already, but I won’t stop being his friend. Ever. I never planned to. Living practically on top of each other, though, is just too much for me under the circumstances. So, that’s why I’m moving.”
“I get that. You know, even though we’re a lot alike…deep down, Damien is more like our mother—complex and emotional, like how he expresses himself through his art. Those images. What do they even all mean, you know? I guarantee you there is meaning to each and every one of them. I’m more like our dad was, laid back and easier to read.” He looked down to check the time on his phone. “I’d better go before he hears me. Remember, this visit never happened.”
“What visit?” I joked.
It was difficult to get to sleep after Tyler left. Even though his revelation filled me with newfound hope, it wasn’t enough to totally convince me that things with Damien would ever change.
I had no choice but to trust Ty’s word that whatever was going on with Damien was nothing to be afraid of and to trust that fate would work things out.***The two weeks flew by, and before I knew it, I found myself sitting in my emptied out apartment, looking at dozens of boxes and once again second-guessing my decision to leave.
My parents were scheduled to be here in the morning, and the plan was still for Damien to help us move. Even though Tyler also offered, Damien had told him not to bother, that he wanted to handle it himself.
It was Saturday night, and I wasn’t sure what Damien was up to. The dogs were with him this weekend, and all I knew was that I wanted to spend my last night here with the three of them.
I picked up my phone and dialed him.
He answered facetiously, “Damien’s Moving Service and Dog Grooming.”
Laughing, I said, “Dog grooming, too, huh?”
“We’re a full service establishment.”
“What other services do you provide?”
God, that sounded suggestive.
“For you? I can negotiate.”
I cleared my throat. “How are the Double Ds?”
“They’re good. I actually just gave them a bath, thus the dog grooming. I swear these dogs have the cleanest asses on the face of the Earth.”
“I have no doubt.”
“How are you?”
“I’m okay…kind of sad, looking around at all of these boxes. The place is so empty, I can hear an echo.”
“You should shout out a bunch of obscenities. I bet that would feel good. Just don’t gear them toward me.”
“My landlord doesn’t like it when I disturb the peace.”
“I don’t think he’d care today. He’s a little down that he’s losing his favorite tenant.”
“Well, he’s raising the rent on me. I have to leave.”
“He fucking wishes that were the reason you were leaving.”
Several seconds of awkward silence ensued before I spoke up again.
“You think the landlord would want to hang out with me on my last night? Unless you have other plans?”
“If I did, I’d break them.”
That gave me butterflies.
“Okay. That’s a good thing, because everything is packed away, so if you didn’t take me in, I’d just be starving and staring at the wall.”
“Ironic. Isn’t that how our friendship started? Because of a wall?”
“Yes, sort of. Technically, it started with you eavesdropping on me.”
“You’re right. It did.”
“Oh, you’re admitting to that now?”
“It was accidental eavesdropping, maybe. I sure as hell learned a lot about you really fast.”
“Tell me again what you learned?”
“That you were a lot more than the bitchy dog complainer next door. I figured out that you were a sensitive, caring person who’d had her heart broken, a person who loves and trusts with her whole heart…a person who needs to be handled with care, even though you’d deny that. Basically, I knew you were amazing long before we ever became friends.”
I closed my eyes to stop myself from crying. Taking a deep breath, I let his words sink in.
This was really happening. I was really moving.
“Well…friend…how about you make me a pizza tonight. I’ll bring a movie. Should I come by around six?”
“Alright. We’ll be waiting.”
With a heavy heart, I killed some time cleaning the empty living space before it was time to head to Damien’s. The Lysol smell was giving me a headache.