Page 44 of The History in Us

Levi

“Levi, it’s important to mingle with professionals. Networking can help you.” Anne was making me attend a photography show. I’d finally applied for the Geographic Digest job, and used Jet Markenson’s connection from the Tribune to expedite the application, however, he did offer me a job free-lancing for the newspaper. It wasn’t ideal, but it was something. He mentioned a decision from Geographic Digest could take some time and I needed more experience.

In desperation, Katie was going to babysit for me. I hated asking her, but after Mrs. Hubbard’s daughter Maggie bailed on me the night of my date with Katie, there wasn’t anyone else I trusted. Secretly, I liked the idea of coming home to find Katie in my apartment waiting for me, which made me sort of sick in the head. It wasn’t like she was my wife, or even my girlfriend, and yet when the cashier at the bookstore called us a family, a strange sensation came over me. A calm I hadn’t felt before. The concept of a family brought peace to me. Add to that when Katie said she trusted me, for our project, and I liked the words, but I didn’t know how to respond. I understood the commitment of trust, but it scared me. After what happened to me in the military, I didn’t want another person to have faith in me. I didn’t trust myself.

“I promise not to stay long, and I won’t be drinking that much.” I don’t know why I felt the need to explain myself to her. I didn’t want to justify going out. On the other hand, I liked the idea that she’d want to know my plan.

“Take your time. Have fun. Give yourself a break.” She waved at me dismissively while she jiggled a growing AJ on her hip. She held up AJ’s hand to wave at me.

“Say bye Daddy,” she cooed, and I worried, for the millionth time, that my son would never hear properly, a secondary concern being his speech. If he couldn’t hear, how would he learn to talk? But Katie looked lovingly at him, like he could conquer the world. She looked natural holding him, like he belonged on her hip, and I exhaled in relief of her affection for him. I also appreciated how she sensed what I needed. I did need a break. AJ and I were joined together every second minus the ones when I went to school. I needed a night out of sports and shots to renew my man card.

* * *

I called Grant to meet me at the bar before the photography event. A three-piece suit kind of guy, the dive bar wasn’t his place to hang, but we hadn’t spoken since I saw him a few weeks prior.

“How are things?” He sat with a heavy huff on the seat next to me at the bar.

“They’re…interesting,” I said, by way of explanation for life in general.

“Still banging the babysitter?” He laughed, raising his scotch to his lips.

“Who says I’m banging her?” I snapped, thinking the invitation to meet Grant might have been a mistake.

“I have my sources.” He smirked like he knew a secret, and my thoughts drifted to the strange tension between my advisor and him. Was there more between Anne and Grant than I knew?

“I’m not banging her. Or anyone,” I offered, sounding pathetic. What thirty-year-old man isn’t getting some action?

“You need your whistle wet, pal.”

“Who says that?” I scoffed, fully laughing at my friend. “Besides, we’re…we’re friends.” The term felt strange. Not only was it unoriginal, it also wasn’t a title I used to describe any woman in my life. With the feelings I had for Katie gnawing inside me, it seemed especially disingenuous to use that label for her.

“Friends? Like with benefits, right?” Grant stared at me, aghast at the thought of such a relationship.

“No. Just friends. Guys can be friends with a chick,” I lied. I didn’t know any guy friends with a girl friend who didn’t want in her pants. I shook my head, knowing I fit that bill as well. I wanted deep inside Katie’s jeans, but I also wanted deep inside her heart, and that scared me. Afraid I’d take advantage of Katie again, I’d only given her a brief kiss after our date. The whole experience seemed a bit surreal with AJ as the third wheel, but Katie took it all in stride.

“Only if he’s getting an additional benefit from it,” he said, sounding horrified at the thought. He stared at me a moment too long, assessing me. “Oh. My. God. You’ve been fucking nabbed again. As if Alicia didn’t do enough of a number on you, you’ve fallen for this girl.” Grant snorted, his steely gray eyes glared at me.

“I’ve fallen for nothing. No one,” I clarified, adding more conviction than I felt.

“Prove it.” He pointed to a brunette at the end of the bar. I sighed, hating these challenges from him. He once bet me he could get with our English professor when we ran into her at a country bar in Wrigleyville. Her husband died, and over the course of my undergrad experience, I’d seen a huge change in her appearance and confidence. Grant was convinced he could have her. I’m sensing he shifted direction and went for Anne instead.

“I’m not proving anything to you, asshole.”

His gray eyes narrowed again and his mouth twisted. “Strawberry-blonde, four o’clock. Fuck-me red lipstick.” My head swung slowly to observe his target. Bright red lips and piercing brown eyes, the look was all wrong for me. I wanted a rosy mouth and sapphire eyes.

“No.”

“That’s what I thought,” he said, and I turned away again.

“How is Mullens Manufacturing?” The subject change would shut him up.

“Boring as usual. Although I have a temporary assistant that I’m ready to show who’s boss.” Grant wiggled his brow and smiled a smile I’d been told wet panties. I’d take women’s word for it. I should consider him a privileged asshole, but I knew his secrets.

“Levi, are you avoiding me tonight?” Anne appeared at my side saving us both from conversations we didn’t wish to continue. She waved her cell phone at me and I realized I’d missed a text or two from her. I’d also invited Anne to meet me briefly before the start of the show. Her eyes peered around me, squinting as if she couldn’t believe who sat next to me. “Grant Mullens again? Please tell me you aren’t still hanging out with him.” Her words teased, but her tone hinted at the truth. Anne hoped I wasn’t still friends with a college student who drove her insane, her exact words when she described him. Obnoxious and privileged was all she saw in him. That and the donor check his father wrote to the university to get his son some kind of degree. As her eyes skipped away from Grant, I thought there might be something more Anne felt for her former student.

“Dr. Johnson, looking lovely as always.” Grant delivered his standard line, comfortable flirting with every woman, regardless of age. His flirtatious nature typically had deeper intentions. He’d have slept with Anne if he thought he’d get an A and get his father off his back. I’d like to think Anne was smarter than that and saw through his playboy good looks, but sometimes I questioned her intelligence. I’d seen professors swoon at him, despite his inferior position as the student.