Page 20 of Diluted Truths

“How is your dad?” Sarah asked.

“No. I can’t talk about him,” I snapped as I began peeling the label off of my empty bottle.

I didn’t talk about my father.

“Fine, luckily for you I won’t push because she just got here,” Sarah responded as she began waving her hand towards someone who just entered.

“Sarah, who is this she?” I asked, feeling a bit bombarded but the sudden unknown guest.

“Don’t be mad. I invited her thinking you two could continue talking about the case,” she said in a whisper. “In my defense, I didn’t know you lied about your job to Ophelia before I had asked her.”

“You’re up to something.”

“She always is,” Jackie said as she approached our table. “Hi Will! Fancy seeing you here.”

Jackie was radiant tonight with her blonde hair falling in the most beautiful waves. She also brought a light with her that I don’t think she even noticed. She had this effect whenever she entered the room, it was like a light that followed her. Just then I felt a kick under the table.

I must have been staring for too long.

“God, that hurt,” I grimaced as I rubbed my shin and glaring at Sarah, the culprit of my pain. “Hi Jackie. I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”

Jackie laughed. “Yeah, I figured that one out pretty fast. I also didn’t know you would be here if that helps. I actually umm…” Jackie turned to look at her friend. “I invited Fai.”

Sarah’s face paled. “Well, fuck.” She turned to face me. “Want to hide under the table?” she asked with a sheepish smile.

“It will be fine, Sarah. We can get along.” I was lying, we couldn't.

“Nope. Jackie, sit.” Sarah stood and pointed at her abandoned seat. “I will find Fai and get him to come home with me. It won’t be too hard to convince him, if you know what I mean.” She finished with a smirk.

“Ewww!” Jackie grimaced as she sat in front of me. “That’s like hearing about my parents having sex.”

Sarah laughed as she gathered her things and got ready to hopefully intercept Fai before he saw me. “First off, I am still too young to be your mom. Second off, stay here and talk to William about this San Francisco trip you failed to tell me about, and third have a goodnight.” Sarah leaned down to give me a kiss on the cheek and whispered, “You have fun withher, but remember, you’re banned.” With that, my friend sauntered out the front door.

“You didn’t tell her about the trip?” It had been nearly a week since we discussed the logistics of the trip in her office. I had to leave shortly after but had wanted to see her since.

“Nope, but it seems like you didn’t either,” Jackie retorted as she peeled off her worn jeans jacket that was damp from the never ending rain.

“You’re correct in that assumption.”

As I looked at her, all of my usual sayings seemed to slip away. My usual charming personality was replaced with a stuttering teenage boy.

“Can I get you anything to drink? A beer or something? Oh fuck! Wait no. You don’t drink.” I palmed my own face. I was already fucking this up. “Water, can I get you water?”

Luckily, it seemed as though she was amused by my ramblings. “Sure that would be great, a coke as well.”

I took my time getting her drinks and a coke for me as well, trying to get myself in check. Something about her unbalanced my usual controlled self. I couldn’t understand why I felt this way.

“Here you go,” I said as I placed her drinks down and sat back in my seat.

“Thanks, Will.” Jackie looked up at me. “So… this is more awkward than I was expecting.”

I laughed at the woman in front of me. “You’re not wrong,” I responded hesitantly. “Is it hard coming to bars like this?”

“No, not anymore. It was at first but I worked hard to make it easier. I was only twenty-three when I stopped drinking which made it hard to date and make friends because I learned most socialization takes place in said bars,” she responded as she took a sip of her water.

“Do you do that a lot? Date, I mean?” I asked, not even sure why.

I, for some reason, just needed to know.