Free Always Upbeat / All That by Stephanie Perry Moore

fine, no big deal.
    â€œYes, I will just drop you off,” I said, looking him square in the eyes.
    I had to wait in the restaurant parking lot for him to actually get off from work. He had some clean-up chores he had to do. It made me really realize that not everybody had it like me. I did not have to work. I had a brand new car. But maybe my parents did not really value our family. As I sat there waiting on Brenton, I just reflected on what I saw earlier. Was I imagining the whole thing? Was my dad into this other woman? I did not want to call the house and ask if he was home because if my mom grilled me about my questions, I would have to spill the beans and let her know what I saw. And there was no way I could do that because I couldn’t break her heart. At nine-thirty at night, there was no explanation for another lady to be in my father’s car other than hanky-panky. Seriously, that was just wrong.
    I heard a tap on my window. It startled me. I didn’t even realize my eyes were closed.
    When I unlocked the door, Brenton said, “You always need to be checking out your environment, girl.”
    As he handed me a shake, I said, “Wow, thank you. You didn’t steal it, did you?”
    â€œI work here. I get discounts. I do have dollars. I figured you’re giving me a ride that’s the least I can do. I figured that’s what you came in for. You used to always get a shake to make yourself feel better. I remembered strawberry cheesecake was your favorite flavor. It hasn’t changed, has it?” Brenton asked, fully concerned about me.
    â€œNo,” I said, appreciating his thoughtfulness. “So if I ask you what’s really up with Blake, would you tell me or would it be this male loyalty thing?”
    He huffed. I certainly did not want him to go back down the road of: I don’t know why you like him. Can’t you just give me a try? Things were fine before he even moved here. You were supposed to be my girl . Blah, blah, blah, blah.
    It was not that I wasn’t sensitive or that Brenton was not adorable. It was just that … Blake was fine. Blake was mine, and I wanted things to stay that way. Brenton was quiet, and it was probably best for things to be that way. I’d already cried on the guy’s shoulder, for goodness’ sake. I did not need to bare any more of my soul.
    I was intrigued when he offered me an answer to an earlier question without me asking again. “Us guys just need to feel important sometimes. We just need girls to be there all the time when we call. I think it’s probably the same for older men. I’m not saying your mom’s not as amazing as you are, because I’m sure you get it from somewhere.”
    I backhand popped him in the arm because Brenton was so sweet. It was the first time I thought that if I wasn’t with Blake maybe we could have something. He sure knew how to make me feel appreciated.
    I continued to listen as he said, “If your dad is doing anything, it’s probably because he feels like this other lady is there for him.”
    He did not have to say anything more at that point. I could connect the dots. Then he told me which direction to turn to get into Bay’s subdivision. I realized that Blake probably had been telling his cousin that lately, I was unavailable. Obviously, Brenton was telling me that in Blake’s mind that was unacceptable.
    I had to fix this. I was thinking that I’d pull up, drop Brenton off, tell him to go and get Blake, and just believe that my beau was going to want to talk to me, hear me out, accept my apology, and all that. However, when I saw Blake outside, leaning against his car with his arms around Jackie’s waist and her arms around his neck, laughing that same crazy way that my dad was doing earlier, I clutched my heart again. The laughter that I’d witnessed twice in one night seemed too illegal and immoral to be real. These men were