23
Chris
“Thank you so much for tonight, dinner was great.”
“You’re welcome anytime, dear. I’ve put some leftovers into a Tupperware for you – you just have to pop them in the microwave.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to…”
“Thank you so much, that would be great,” Evan jumps in, shamelessly grabbing the tub from her hands. “It’s not like we cook every day at home.”
Jesus, this is embarrassing.
Thankfully, Karen laughs.
“Come back whenever you want, son. I’ll be here,” her husband says to Evan.
“Sure,” he responds, just as he always does when he tells me he’s going to do something that will never happen.
“Are you okay to drive? Ryan would be happy to take you home,” Karen continues.
“Oh, I’m absolutely fine. I didn’t drink that much.”
Evan lets a few coughs slip. He’ll pay for those at home.
“Ryan, walk Chris out to her car.”
“But it’s two steps away, out in the driveway!” He complains.
“I didn’t bring you up to be so rude.”
Ryan scoffs, but opens the front door, gesturing us outside. I wave goodbye to the O’Connors and step outside. The cool night air immediately makes me shiver.
“I’ll wait for you in the car,” Evan says, leaving us alone.
Shit.
“Well, thanks for tonight.”
“I didn’t even invite you.”
“Sure,” I respond, exasperated.
Why does he always have to be such a dick?
“You don’t need to accompany me over to my car, I know how to walk by myself.”
“Haven’t you drunk a bit too much, like the other night?”
“I’m fine, Ryan. Anyway – it’s none of your business.”
“You have your son with you.”
“I’m perfectly capable of looking after my own son.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“Goodnight, Ryan.”
