“I’m glad there was someone to take care of you.”
Talking about Alessa, I can see her relax.
“She really saved me. Kasabian tried his best to help, but he’s just not the nurturing type. But he bought us a lot of beer.”
“He bought himself a lot of beer and let you have some.”
Candy wags a finger at me.
“You really need to ease up on him. He’s changed a lot since you’ve been gone.”
“I’ll try.”
Candy takes my empty, pours more from the pot, and brings it back to me.
“So. The other thing,” she says.
“The other thing?”
“You, me, and Alessa.”
“Right. That.”
I move around a couple of the coasters.
“I don’t want to get in the way. I’m not going to get in the way. I’ll walk out of here right now if you want.”
Candy looks at me.
“You would, wouldn’t you?”
“If that’s what you want.”
“See?” she says, a tone of exasperation in her voice. “You’re playing the hero again. Stop it.”
I pick up my hands and drop them in my lap.
“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do right now.”
“Listen,” she says. “The three of us were figuring things out when you were killed. I want to go back to that. I want to figure out how we can make this work.”
“Alessa has had you to herself for a year. How’s she going to feel when some dead guy suddenly appears and you go off with him?”
“First of all, I’m not going off with you. And I’m not going off with her. You and me were together for a year or so when I started seeing Alessa. If you were okay with me seeing her I’m sure she’ll be okay with me seeing you.”
I swirl the coffee around in the mug.
“That sounds complicated.”
“You and me were always complicated. Now it’s the three of us. That’s only one more. Between us, we can figure out the complication.”
I set down the mug.
I don’t have to go away. My gut unknots itself.
“Okay. I’m in if you are.”
“I’m in.”