“No, of course not. Don’t change the subject. When did you spark up a conversation with the bartender about them closing? We were with you the whole time.”
“I ran into Olive the next day. It was insane, man.” I run a hand through my hair. “It feels like something special.”
“Awwwwww,Olive,” Eddie teases me. “Hunty is in love.”
“Oh, shut up, don’t make it weird, Eddie,” I say.
“Okay fine, but I’m going to still make jokes about it occasionally. I have no self-control.”
“Yeah, I know that.” I snort.
“This is so exciting!” Wes yells out.
I look down at my phone to check that this wasn't a three way call this whole time. Only Eddie’s name is on the screen. I should have known they would be together.
“Hey, Wes, what are you guys up to?”
“On the way to Basil Tattoo. I’m adding to my left sleeve,” Wes responds.
“What are you getting?”
“A duck wearing a suit.”
“I’m glad to hear that your tattoos always have meaning.”
“Yeah, the meaning is I like a classy duck.”
I laugh.
“Hey, we just pulled up to the shop,” Eddie says.
“Alright, I'll let you guys go. Text me later.”
I hang up the call and chuckle to myself. I can always count on the two of them to act like my brothers, reliable but usually busting my chops.
Today really has been the best day.
First, I got to see Olive and look into her mesmerizing doe eyes this morning.
Second, my house is Dennis-free right now.
Third, I have friends that support me and get me.
I throw away my empty yogurt and head upstairs to my room. I set down my phone and keys on my bed and then I walk to my master bathroom so I can relieve myself. Standing over the toilet, I begin to unzip my pants when I look down and see a fucking “floater” in my toilet.
That’s it. Dennis is out tomorrow.
Chapter 19
Olive
Early the next morning, Ivy looks at me across the table at our favorite cafe, Violet’s Cup, utterly confused.
“So, you're now going to make YouTube videos with the guy who dropped the barstool on you? The weirdo that you don’t know?” she asks for the tenth time, bouncing around on her side of the booth. She has way too much energy for it being seven in the morning right now.
“Oh my god, you make it sound so bad.” I roll my eyes at her. “He is going to try and help me raise money for the bar. That’s it. You know what that place means to me.”
She nods and sighs dramatically. “Yes. We both agree that Tripp is a huge ass and Whiskey's needs to be saved. Buuuut, I think it's a little extreme to let some creepy old dude make videos with you.”
