“You okay?”
“Yeah, it’s just that what you said there gave me pause.”
“He’s your soul mate, Jamie. I can see the connection between you. No one can compete with that.”
“Oh,” I reply as I start moving from side to side again. Once the song stops, Logan and I walk back to our table where my parents are now sitting. My dad’s sitting in my seat, forcing me to sit across from him where I can’t watch Ajay play.
“I thought he left town.” Dad motions toward the stage and even though I know better, I look over my shoulder at Ajay.
“Some of the guys are sick, so Lee asked Ajay to play.”
“I suppose he has to stick around for as long as possible, huh?”
“He wouldn’t, if you’d tell Harvey to knock his shit off,” I say.
“Don’t curse in front of Evelyn, Jameson,” Mom scolds.
“Yeah, Mommy. You’re not allowed to say bad words.” Great, everyone is ganging up on me. Logan decides now is the time to tell my parents that he’s leaving. My mom cries and tells him she’ll send him boxes all the time so all he has to do is tell her what he needs. My dad mumbles something about war and how it’s gone on far too long and needs to end. You won’t hear me complaining there. But it’s Evelyn who has all the questions. She doesn’t understand why he has to leave, why he can’t come see her for a long time, and why he has to go so far away that they can’t talk on the phone. Most importantly, she wants to know if he’s bringing her a present back and if he is, she asks if it will be a puppy or a kitty.
When Dhara and Fletcher show up, my parents decide it’s time to go and take Evelyn with them. The goodbye between Logan and Evelyn is sad and he asks her to send him lots of pictures so he can decorate his wall with her drawings. Fletcher is pissed that his friend is leaving and Dhara promises to take him to a concert when he comes back.
When last call is announced, the four of us get up and make our way outside where Dhara, Fletcher and Logan share a tearful goodbye.
“You ready?” he asks, motioning toward his car.
“I think I’m going to stay.” I look back at the door. Logan pulls me into his arms and kisses the top of my head.
“He’s one lucky guy. Do me a favor?”
“What’s that?”
“Keep me updated. If he doesn’t get his shit together, I’ll come back and beat his ass.”
I laugh into his chest. I have no doubt Logan will do exactly as he says.
“I’m going to miss you.”
He hugs me tighter. “I’ll email and text when I can.”
One more kiss and he leaves me standing in the parking lot. I wait for him to drive away before I contemplate going back into the bar. The guys from the band are starting to file out so I stand near the door, waiting for Ajay.
He’s the last one to come out and stops in his tracks when he sees me leaning up against the light pole. “You shouldn’t be out here alone.”
“I’m not alone if you’re out here with me.”
Ajay smiles and drops his head. When he stands up tall, the grin is gone. “It’s late. I have a plane to catch tomorrow so I’m going to go.”
I walk toward him, determined to keep him out here as long as possible. “I thought we could talk.”
“I don’t have a whole lot to say right now, Whiskey. I mean…” he pauses and breaks eye contact. When he hides his face, I know he’s fighting back his emotions.
I go to him and wrap my hand around his wrist, pulling his hand away from his face. There are tears in his eyes, tears that I know he’s shedding over our lost child.
“She’s five and the love of my life,” I start off with. “I had a one-night stand with a guy I met at a management conference. My boss took me, thought it would be a good idea to show me the ropes. This guy was in the bar. He bought me a few drinks… I was still broken from our relationship and it felt really good to feel something again. Her father, he knows about her and pays child support, but he’s married, has a family, and doesn’t want his wife to know. Evelyn asks about him all the time and I say nice things because I don’t know what else to say but when she asks what he looks like, I describe you.”
“Your boyfriend isn’t her father?”
“No, he’s not, and as of tonight, he’s not my boyfriend either.”