Chapter 15
Nolan collapsed into bed but couldn’t relax enough to sleep.His mind raced with a million possibilities.He remembered hearing Cam come home around dawn but succumbed to exhaustion soon after.It wasn’t until early afternoon that he finally stumbled out of his bedroom to find Cam in the kitchen once again making breakfast.
Nolan sat bleary eyed at the table and said,“What do I have to do to get you to give me some of that?”
“Dude,I was already making enough for two.I was just getting ready to pound on the door and get you up.”
“The smell of bacon is a siren song I’m am powerless to resist.But what’s the occasion?”
“To say I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
“Sorry for everything,really.Sorry for being a dick to my dad.Sorry for being a dick about you defending my dad.And most of all sorry for letting Ashley in.”
Nolan groaned and put his head in his hands.“I forgot about Ashley.”
“So,I assume she was still here when you got home?”
“Yeah,she scared the shit out of me.”
“I didn’t know what to do,”Cam said.“I was heading out and she sort of just forced her way in and refused to leave.”
“That’s Ashley all right.”
“Did you kick her out?”
“No,”Nolan said.“We talked a little bit.I’m thinking of calling her.”
“For real?I thought you were done.Like,done done.”
“We were,but I don’t know.Maybe I shouldn’t give up.I’ve got to get my shit together and stop fucking around.I’m graduating next year.It’d be nice to settle down,start a family.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”Cam asked.“Less than twenty-four hours ago she was the devil who had ripped out your heart and spat on it and now you’re all getting married and shit?”
Nolan just shrugged and began scooping up some of the eggs that had been sat before him.
“Hey,is that my dad’s shirt?”
“Yeah,”Nolan said.“I had to borrow it.Mine got pop all over it.”
“Since when do you hang out with my dad like you’re bros or something?”
“I dunno.It just seemed like a good idea.I don’t think I’ll be doing it again.The vibe is just different without you there.”
“Not as much fun without your BFF around,huh?”Cam flashed his bright smile.
“Something like that.”
The roommates finished the rest of their meal with friendly chatter.Cameron seemed truly sorry that he’d been so cold and standoffish to Nolan and Nolan was glad to have his friend back and glad to be setting his life back on track.
Nolan did call Ashley later that day but he had apparently waited too long for her tastes and she refused to meet him until three days later.She also refused his idea for lunch.She instead insisted on dinner.And not just dinner at a one of their usual favorite spots.Apparently if she was even going to consider reconciliation it was going to be over the most expensive Italian food in town.Nolan reluctantly agreed to her terms.
Time seemed to crawl by.Classes weren’t enough to fully occupy his mind,so he began working out at the school’s gym.Nolan soon discovered that Rick was correct.Physical activity was an excellent way to quiet a frantic mind and the effort left him too exhausted to lay awake at night.He did find time to buy a new dress shirt and tie for his date with Ashley and he adjusted it nervously,hardly able to contain his nervous energy while he sat and waited for her at Bavaglio.The waiter had already brought Nolan more bread sticks twice before Ashley finally arrived.
Nolan stood and kissed Ashley on the cheek before pulling the chair out for her.“So sorry I’m late,babe.Hey,flag down the waiter.I’m starving.”
Nolan did as she requested and Ashley wasted no time in ordering an impressive amount of food.Nolan scanned the menu and ordered the least expensive entree he could find.
“You look lovely tonight,”he said with a goofy grin.
Ashley took out a small mirror from her clutch purse and checked her makeup.“I should hope so.This new lipstick cost me a small fortune.I mean,good makeup is well worth the hefty price tag,but my God.”
Nolan nodded but found his attention drifting off to observe a couple a few tables away.The man seemed to be uncomfortably shifting in his chair while he tugged at his tie.His wife was near his age,late forties,but had obviously bleached out hair and was sporting unflatteringly harsh makeup.As she talked,she jabbed her fork at her husband to emphasize whatever point she was making while he sat nodding his head.The husband made eye contact with Nolan and nodded.
“Hello,”said Ashley,snapping her fingers in front of Nolan’s face.“You’re not even paying attention to me.For someone who wanted to get back with me so bad,you think you’d make some more effort.”
“Oh,sorry,”he apologized.“Just wondering when the food will arrive.”
Rationally,Nolan knew that not all couples ended up like this middle-aged couple before him.He also realized that he might be totally off base with his assumptions about how they felt about one another.Maybe he was just foisting his fears of what a life with Ashley would be like upon them.
“Are you going to ask how I’ve been?”asked Ashley.“What I’ve been doing?”
“Sure.How have you been?”
Ashley frowned at having to lead the conversation,but didn’t hesitate to narrate her daily comings and goings for the last few weeks in extreme detail.Nolan found his gaze drifting off again,this time it settled on a small booth in the corner.There were two men at the table,one leaning forward animatedly sharing a story.The other man threw his head back and laughed loudly at some obviously hilarious punch line.His dinner date slid his hand across the table to cover his hand and quiet him down.The laughing man covered his mouth with his free hand and gripped his date’s hand with the other,both chuckling more quietly.Nolan smiled,sharing their mirth.
“I’ve had Miffy since I was twelve years old!Why is her death making you smile?”
“Huh?”Nolan tried to catch the thread of what Ashley was saying.“Oh yeah,Miffy.So sorry to hear about that.She was an awesome cat.”
“She was.When mom called,I just about couldn’t handle it.I’m going to have her cremated and made into a stepping stone.”
“Well,”Nolan said.“You can certainly do that.”
“What’s wrong with you,Nolan?You’re being so weird.”
“Oh,sorry.It’s just that…”
Nolan was grateful to be interrupted by their waiter’s sudden arrival.He served first Ashley then Nolan.As he leaned over to place the plate in front of him,Nolan caught a whiff of the waiter’s cologne.He knew that smell.It was a cologne that Rick had used when he had last worn the shirt Nolan had worn home.Nolan smiled at the memory but then locked eyes with the waiter.He realized that the waiter assumed Nolan’s soft,wistful smile was meant for him when it was returned with equal enthusiasm.Nolan found that he didn’t mind the mix-up and smiled even wider before saying,“Thanks.”