Thursday Nights (The Charistown Series) (17 page)

The pain of his words were etched on her face like the names carved in the tabletop.

“We
were
friends, Max.” He flinched at her words, but she continued. “And yes, we had sex…which has now become my
biggest
regret. So, thanks for that! And now that we’ve ‘fucked,’” Janie said with air quotes, “you can go fuck yourself.”

Max bolted to a stand, knocking over his drink, and reached out for her. Janie glared at him, her normally sparkling teal-blue eyes flaring with anger and betrayal, and pulled her arm out of range.

“Don’t you
ever
touch me again. Do you hear me? Don’t check on me, don’t sit outside my apartment waiting for me to come home, and
don’t
talk to me. You’re right, Max. It
was
fun…and now it’s over.”

Janie turned around and stormed out of the bar.

“Fuck!” Max shouted, slamming his fist on the table his roar silencing the once lively bar. Oblivious to the prying eyes, he stared after her, his expression shocked and appalled.

“I think that went well, no?” Gage said sheepishly.

Janie had planned to meet some of her co-workers at Choppers to play pool when she saw Max and his friend—who she recognized as the only man in the world Lyla couldn’t approach. Janie hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but when she heard them talking about her she couldn’t help but listen. Head pressed against the steering wheel, she allowed the tears to flow. She had known her relationship with Max was going to be different after their two nights together.

“What did I think was going to happen?” she asked her empty car, before banging a fist on the wheel. “I thought I might be enough for him…”

Sobs wracked her body as she replayed Max’s words.
We had our time together, and it was great, but when it was done, I left. If she can’t deal, that’s her problem. I haven’t called her, and I haven’t seen her. It was fun, and now it’s over. Case closed.

His voice had been hard, his words cold. They felt like a bucket of ice water in her face.

“
I am so pathetic,” she said aloud. The need to call Lyla was unbearable, but she restrained. Lyla was trying to meet a deadline, on top of everything else, and the days before her books were due were always the most stressful already. The girls considered them the High Holy Days. Lyla would basically put herself in lockdown—otherwise known as her “Ho-House”—coming out only for the meals that Janie would bring. When she was in the Ho-House the only interruptions allowed were those of the life and death variety. Knowing that this was just an extreme case of bruised ego, she needed to let Lyla work. She could wait until tomorrow or the next day for Lyla, but she needed to talk to
someone
. Palming her cell phone, she started to dial.

“Christ, Ryan, can you lower the TV?” Ashley shouted as she lifted the phone receiver. “I like to hear myself come when I’m masturbating…Oh, hey, girl!”

“Yuck! Ashley, can’t you have those conversations
before
you pick up the phone?” It didn’t matter how many boundaries Ashley crossed, Janie found herself loving her new friend more and more. While Lyla would always be her best friend and her sister, Janie was realizing that there were other people out there who she could depend on, as well. Ashley and Julie were two of them.

“Whatever,” Ashley yelled back to who Janie could only assume was Ryan. “You’re not so quiet yourself, Mr. Moan.”

Janie laughed out loud. Yep, this was exactly the person she needed right then.

“Ash, can you focus on me for a second?” Janie giggled again, already feeling a little better.

“Sure thing, love. What’s up? No, Ryan,” she called, “I am not talking about you.” Ashley groaned. “Jesus...self-centered much?”

“Ash, I really need to get out. I need a friend…preferably someone who will help me man-bash. And preferably with the help of alcohol.” Janie was convinced that Ashley could hear the palpable need in her voice when she told her she would meet her in twenty minutes at Chopper’s.

“No!” Janie practically shrieked.

“Okay, not Chopper’s,” Ashley said confused. “Is the Sombrero safe, or is that suddenly creepy too?”

“Chopper’s isn’t creepy. It’s the person drinking there tonight that I find unfavorable. Sombrero it is—see you in twenty.”

“That motherfucker!” Ashley shouted over the blaring music being played at the bar. Janie sucked down her margarita sans salt. “That’s it. He’s getting the nut cracker!”

Ashley swallowed her tequila shot angrily, and Janie laughed at the pinched expression Ashley made when she sucked on the lime. Ashley was no lightweight when it came to drinking; the girl could drink most men under the table, a fact she boasted about frequently, especially when she was already drunk. “What is his problem?”

Janie shrugged her shoulders at what she presumed was a rhetorical question. “We’ll have another round, please,” she said, gesturing to the bartender.

“I mean, I know what his fucking problem is.” Ashley’s speech was slightly slurred. “We all do.” Her gaze went from her shot glass to Janie’s inquisitive eyes when her words penetrated her inebriated brain. “No, Janie, don’t ask. I’m buzzed, and if you ask right now, I’ll talk, and it’s not my story to tell.” Ashley slung back her next shot and excused herself to the ladies’ room.

With Ashley away from the table, Janie used the opportunity to call Ryan. No way could Ashley get herself home safe in her drunken state.

“I’m sorry, Ryan. This was my fault, and I hate to call you, but you know Ashley, and if I suggest a cab she’ll just try and drive herself home.” Ryan thanked Janie and said to keep Ashley distracted until he got there to pick her up.

Why can’t all men be like Ryan
? Janie thought.
That man is protective and wonderful, and they aren’t even a couple.

“Listen, Jane, honey.” Janie startled, not realizing Ashley had come back from the restroom. “Max has been through emotional hell, but he hasn’t coined it. You know what I mean?” Janie nodded, not really sure she was understanding but wanting Ashley to finish her train of thought before Ryan arrived.

“What I’m saying is, you have also been through a lot of shit, and here you are willing to try again. If Max isn’t ready, willing, or able that is
his
problem, not yours.”

God
, Janie thought,
no wonder I love this woman so much—she sounds a whole lot like Lyla.

“My advice, which is why you called me in the first place I’m assuming, is that you listen to the words Max is saying, not what you want them to mean. He said, ‘It was fun…now it’s done.’ So let it be done.”

“But you didn’t feel what it was like when we were together… It’s hard to believe that I was the only one who felt something.”

“That boy has been closed up like a beach house longer than I’ve been around,” Ashley said thoughtfully. “I think it’s been something like a decade. You can’t fix him, Janie. You just can’t. He needs to want to open himself back up, take the dust covers off the furniture and open the windows. If at some point, he finally decides to do that, and you are still interested…well, then good for him. Otherwise, it was his opportunity to lose. Do you understand?” Janie stared at Ashley, mute with shock at how reasonable Ashley was being when so inebriated. “Words, Janie. Or at least nod your head.” Ashley winked, and the smile Janie let out radiated warmth through her body.

“Seriously, Ash, that was the most profound thing I have ever heard you say. You are so not as twisted as you seem.”

“Shh, don’t tell anyone,” Ashley whispered. “I prefer when people fear me.”

Just then, Janie saw Ryan making his way into the Sombrero, an amused look on his handsome face. Ashley looked over her shoulder to follow Janie’s gaze.

“Really, Janie?” Ashley asked. “There was no need to call Romeo, here. I am totally capable of getting myself home.” As if trying to prove her point, Ashley stood up—and promptly lost her balance. A pair of strong, muscled arms wrapped around her waist. Large hands subtly grazed her breasts, steadying her just before her ass hit the terracotta floor.

“Yeah, Ash, you seem perfectly fine to drive.” Ryan winked his thanks to Janie and led a partially embarrassed, partially annoyed Ashley out of the Sombrero. Ashley mumbled something about this being the thanks she gets for helping a friend in need, but Janie noticed that at no point she did Ashley ever try to disengage from Ryan’s embrace.

Janie lay in her bed replaying the night’s events. So much had happened and not all of it was horrible. With heavy lids, Janie thought about what Ashley said. She just may have a point after all. It was time to start living her life, not waiting for some guy to get his shit together. She was twenty-eight years old; she had a great job, a nice apartment, Lyla, and some wonderful new friends. It was time to start enjoying what she had instead of wishing for the things she didn’t have.

That night, Janie fell asleep for the first time in her life with a calm, quiet mind.

Stoopid Girls

The next day, Janie arrived at school early. She had gotten up before her alarm went off and spent a few extra minutes on her hair and makeup. Lyla always said to “fake it till you make it,” so that is exactly what Janie intended to do. The first half of the day flew by, and finally she was sitting in the teacher’s lounge with her lunch tray and her e-reader.