"Hello?" Mary called.
"In here," Charlie answered, and a second later, there she stood. Her smile fell as she looked over the room, her calculating eyes falling on me last.
"What are you doing here, Jack?"
I passed him another bowl, and he took it cheerily — Mary's frost clearly had no effect on him. "I came by to see how the party went for Rick."
"I don't know why you're so invested in the whole thing. You don't even know him." I shot her a look, but she'd already moved on. "Charlie, we need help with the bags."
He dabbed at Maven's cheeks. "I'm busy."
She huffed. "Elliot can do that. I need your help."
"Elliot's leaving, so figure out your shopping bag problem on your own."
Jack wiped off his hands. "I'll help."
Mary scowled at Charlie. "At least someone cares. Come on, they're in here." She turned on her heel with her nose in the air.
Jack smiled down at me with a wink. "I'll be right back. Don't leave without me — I'd like to walk you back to Rick's, if that's okay."
"Sure." I smiled back politely, hoping in the back of my mind it would give me a chance to tell him the truth about how I felt about him. Or, more importantly, how I felt about Wade.
Once Charlie and I were alone, he scoffed. "God, she's gotten worse since your dad has been here, don't you think?"
I sighed, washing the spoons. "It always happens this way. It's like they feed off each other."
"How did you survive as a kid? It's like a sheep in the wolf's den."
"I had books. Lots and lots of books."
He laughed at that and sent the kids out. "You know, I really like you and Jack together. I've been trying to make that happen for years, did you know?"
I kept my thoughts to myself, washing dishes like my life depended on it. "No, I didn't."
"He's a great guy. One of the best."
"Oh, are we talking about Jack?" Dad said from the hall as he entered the room with his quivering Chihuahua under his arm. He looked like a vulture: hungry eyes, the skin of his neck sagging just enough to betray his age, his camel coat hanging from his shoulders, lined with the slightest bit of fur, fashionable if not ostentatious.
Charlie smiled. "Yeah. They've been spending a lot of time together lately."
"Well, I approve," Dad said.
"Me too, Walter," Charlie added.
"He's quite a catch, Elliot. You're not likely to find another man with money and looks who's interested in you. Maybe if you put in a little … effort you'd have more prospects, but Jack … Jack is something else, all right." He smiled, lips curling up at the edges.
Charlie cleared his throat. "Let me finish that up, Elliot, if you want to go."
I turned, wiping my hands on a dishtowel, grateful for him. "Are you sure? I can stay a while longer."
"I'm sure. Go on, and good luck over there."
Dad stopped me as I passed. "Don't spend too much time over there, not if you've got Jack interested. I'd hate for the Winters boy to interrupt anything between you and him."
I didn't acknowledge his words. "I'll see you later, Dad."
He nodded, looking pleased with himself, and I walked out, wondering more and more what I was doing there. I heard Jack and Charlie and everyone in my mind, and for the first time, I didn't feel defensive. I heard their truth.
I pulled on my coat and hat in the hallway, and just as I finished, Jack walked in with Mary on his heels. He smiled. She scowled.
"Ready?" he asked, reaching for his coat.
"I am," I answered.
"Then let's go." He placed a hand on my back, and I felt myself flush. "See you, Mary."
We left quickly enough that it didn't seem at all strange that she didn't answer.
Once again when we were outside and the door was closed, I felt myself breathe easier, underscoring with newfound clarity just how unhappy I'd been there, with Mary, with my father.
"So," Jack started, "anything on the agenda for today?"
"Nothing big. We're planning Italy for Rick tomorrow night, so tonight is just hanging out."
"Italy, huh? Wine and pasta?"
I chuckled. "Among other things."
"Bread?" he joked.
"Yes, bread. We're shooting for a picnic in the Italian countryside."
He nodded. "It's really kind of incredible, what you're doing for him."
"He's very well loved. I only wish there was more we could do."
"Do you think you'll be over there late tonight?"
"I'm not sure. There's no real agenda, why?" I asked stupidly, realizing my mistake too late.
"What do you think about joining me for a friendly-very-patient-with-no-kissing dinner?"
"Oh," I answered, the word a breath as anxiety over my impending refusal set in. "Jack—"
"Before you say no, I'd like to state my case."
"All right," was all I could say.
"As mentioned, I am patient, though maybe more persistent than I let on. I like you, Elliot. I like you, and you're shouldering a lot. You could use a night away, a night out where you don't have to think about anything but yourself and what you want. You don't have to worry about Mary or the kids or Rick or broody guy. You could use a safe place, and I happen to be extraordinarily safe. Maybe when things settle down we can be more than friends, but for now, I'm perfectly content with that, if it's what you want. I just … I like you, and I'd like you to join me for dinner tonight. Will you do me the honor?"
He quieted down, giving me a moment to think about how to respond as we approached Rick's house. It wasn't untrue, me needing a safe place, but I had no intention of dating him, and it felt wrong to proceed without him knowing.
We slowed to a stop at the steps of the house, and when I looked up at him, I saw his hope fade as he took in my expression.
I touched his arm, and he took my hands. "Jack, I'm sorry. You've been … well, you've been a great friend to me in a time when I needed one. But …" I collected myself and told him the truth. "Time won't change the fact that I'm in love with someone else."
He nodded down at our hands. "Let me guess. Broody guy?"
I pursed my lips and released them. "Yes," I answered quietly.
"I should have known." His words were soft, blameless. "Judging by his reaction to seeing us the other day, I think he's in love with you too."
"It's been that way for a long time. It's just not so simple as us being together, that's all. I'm sorry. I … I didn't mean to mislead you."
He shrugged, still looking down. "It's okay — you didn't. You were pretty clear from the start. I'm just not great at taking the hint." He met my eyes and smiled. "We can still be friends, though, right? Real friends, if I promise no expectations of more from my end?"
I smiled back, relieved. "Of course. I really have enjoyed spending time with you. I hope we can still have that."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." And with that, he cupped my cheek and leaned in, pressing a kiss into my other cheek chastely as I stood there, frozen to the spot. "I'll see you around, Elliot."