Meeting The Unpredictable Read online

  “Why are you here?”

  “I had some time to kill. I figured who better to kill it with than a friend.”

  “I’m not your friend.” Even my harsh tone doesn’t cause her smile to fade. I lift my brows. “Seriously, why are you here? I have a lot of shit to get done today.”

  “Oh, I’m sure the shit is piling up, but answer me this. When was the last time you asked your boss for a personal day?”

  I rake my hand down my face. “I’m self-employed, and I really don’t have time to stand and listen to your...” I groan in defeat. “Whatever this is you’re trying to do.”

  Lennie turns on the balls of her feet and walks straight to my couch. “Lennie, I’m being serious. I have work to do.”

  “Okay,” she squawks. “Go work. I’m not stopping you.”

  Without asking, Lennie picks up the TV remote and starts scanning the channels. “Does Jodi not have a TV?”

  “Of course she does.”

  I release a long, calming breath before walking over to my desk. Lennie is trying to be annoying, and it’s working like a charm.

  ***

  BANG BANG BANG.

  My fists clench as a ringing starts in my head. There’s no rhyme or reason as to when Lennie will suddenly appear at my door. The only thing I can count on for a fact is she will at some point barge into my apartment and do her best to annoy the ever-living piss out of me.

  But not today...today I’m going to tune her out. With my headphones on and my music turned up, I pretend I don’t know she’s at the door. My plan was perfect until twenty minutes later when Lennie and the manager of the building unlock my door.

  “Oh, thank God you’re okay. You had us worried.” Lennie winks at me.

  “We don’t need any trouble in the building. If you have a problem, I suggest you get it taken care of and quick,” Frank, the daytime manager, says with a frown on his face.

  “Don’t worry, Frank. That’s why I’m here.”

  My eyes narrow as Frank walks out of my apartment.

  “What in the hell?” I growl.

  “What?” Lennie shrugs. “You didn’t answer, and I was worried about you so I brought in some reinforcements.”

  “What the hell did you tell Frank?”

  Instead of answering me, Lennie smiles. “Let’s get out of this retirement home and go do something fun.”

  I glance around the room, trying my best to tamp down my anger. “Look, I live here, I work here, and I don’t need you attracting unnecessary attention to my life. Go back to...whatever it is you do.”

  Instead of getting pissed, she laughs and wags a finger at me. “Tyler, you need to chill, maybe even get drunk and laid. It’s not healthy to leave yourself wound this tight.”

  “You’re the reason I’m wound fucking tight,” I practically scream.

  “Well, then maybe we should get drunk and screw.” Even pissed off, this woman has me fighting a smile.

  “Go finish working. When you’re done, I’ll take you out for dinner.”

  Like there’s nothing to debate, she drops down on my couch and starts watching TV. Getting this woman out of my life is starting to feel like a chore, and with every annoying encounter, my energy to fight her slips.

  “I’LL TAKE THE DOUBLE BACON cheeseburger with fries and onion rings.”

  Tyler’s face scrunches up. “Just a regular burger and fries for me.”

  Once the waitress walks off, he turns his face to me. “Do you seriously eat like that?”

  “No, not all the time, but when I’m in the mood I do, and tonight I’m in the mood.”

  He nods his head with a serious expression. “Lennie, I think you need to understand a few ground rules.”

  I tap my finger on the table. “That’s how you live your whole life, isn’t it? By a huge set of rules.” I tilt my head and smile.

  “What? Wait...that’s not what I meant. I’m talking about you and how you think you can stop by anytime you want. Today you seriously crossed the line.”

  I can’t stop myself from laughing.

  “Tyler, if you had answered your door earlier, Frank and I wouldn’t have upset your work day, or better yet, you can leave your door unlocked. That way when I stop by, I won’t interrupt your work or cross any lines you feel you have.”

  He’s already shaking his head. “No, you’re not understanding. I don’t want you coming over at all.”

  His gaze immediately leaves me as he scans the restaurant.

  “Why?” I question. His hesitant eyes come back to mine. “Do you dislike me personally or is it the interruption to your day that you don’t like?”

  He clears his throat. It’s...it’s the interruption.”

  “Problem solved. You can’t work around the clock. Tell me when you’re working and I’ll avoid stopping by then.”

  The waitress arrives at the table with our food. I can tell Tyler wants to say something more, but he doesn’t. Having me in his space is interrupting his world, and I’ve forced him to either admit that or admit he hates me, but Tyler is too nice to do either.

  ***

  I WAKE FROM A DEEP sleep covered in sweat. My heart is beating a thousand miles a minute as the urge to be sick takes over. I barely make it to Jodi’s guest bathroom before I become violently ill.

  I feel like I’m ready to die when I hear a knock on the door. “Lennie? Are you okay?”

  I groan, “Yes. Sorry, I just had too much to drink.”

  I can hear her mumbling something before she walks away. Once again, I’ve proven to my sister that I am and always will be nothing more than a screw-up.

  ***

  “GOOD MORNING, CARLA.”

  “Oh, sweetheart, are you feeling all right?”

  “Of course,” I lie. Life has a funny way of giving you what you need exactly when you need it. As far as Jodi is concerned, I’m a screw up that went out and drank too much last night, therefore, she didn’t even consider feeling bad for me. Carla, on the other hand, gave me that motherly touch my fragile emotions needed.

  “You look pale. If you’re not feeling well, you should go home and rest.” I don’t have a home, but I don’t say that aloud.

  “Thanks, Carla, but I think being here will do more good than anything else.”

  She smiles and nods her head. “You’re probably right, but if anything changes, you let me know, sweetheart.”

  For the next five hours, I was given the best dose of unconditional love a person can receive. By the time I went back and crashed at my sister’s, my horrible day and mood were behind me.

  “I’M HUNGRY. DO YOU WANT a burger? I’m going out.”

  Chad looks away from the TV. “Sure. I could eat.”

  “I’m almost positive you’ve never turned down food.”

  Chad laughs. “Whatever. I’ll take my usual.”

  “I’ll be back,” I warn as I grab my keys and walk down to my SUV. I’m almost to my vehicle when I hear what sounds like people arguing. I do my best to keep my eyes from wandering when I hear Lennie’s voice.

  “I don’t need someone like you in my life,” Lennie shouts at an older man who towers over her.

  “Lennie, please stop,” Jodi begs.

  “No, I won’t stop!” she screams. “I’m sick of this fucking shit. I’m not going to live under your thumb or play by your rules so you can butt right the hell out of my business.”

  “Lennie,” Jodi says louder before tugging on her arm. “This is where I live. Keep your voice down.”

  “I should’ve known you’d take his side.”

  “If you didn’t act like a disrespectable brat she wouldn’t have to,” the man firmly says.

  “You know what, screw you both. I’m out of here,” Lennie snarls before taking off in the opposite direction I’m parked.

  I should walk away, but for some reason, I can’t make my feet move.

  “Sorry, Dad. I was hoping this time would be different.”

  Dad? I guess I
shouldn’t be surprised that Lennie would talk to her own father that way. I haven’t always had the best relationship with my family, but I’d never talk to my mom or dad the way Lennie apparently does.

  I shouldn’t feel disappointed, but for some reason...I do.

  ***

  NOTHING I’VE DONE HAS MADE Lennie Jacobs go away. I’ve tried being rude, I’ve tried ignoring her, but she doesn’t seem to care. I work from home rather than an office because I prefer being alone. Outside of when I’m forced to visit my family or when I go to get food, I rarely leave the apartment. I even put up one hell of a fight when Chad demands I go out with him, but I’ve embraced a smooth, quiet life that I do my best to keep far away from the turbulent outside world.

  However, everything changed the day Lennie knocked on my door asking for oil. From that moment forward, my normal, peaceful life blew up in smoke. For some reason, she appears to be on a mission to fix me, although I’m positive I’m not broken.

  She was nice enough to give me advance warning that she’d be by today to take me out. I cringe thinking about what she has planned. Normally, I work around the clock, including the weekends, but today I made sure I had everything necessary done first thing in the morning.

  I almost gave up on her coming over when she barges in at three in the afternoon.

  She’s wearing another pair of short shorts but today she has on a t-shirt. Her brown hair is braided down one side, and she’s wearing those funny glasses again—something I’ve noticed she doesn’t regularly do.

  “Are you ready?”

  I sigh. “Do I dare ask where the hell we’re going?”

  She smiles, and I find it slightly frightening. I can’t believe I’m not protesting this, but again, I highly doubt it would change her plans. “You spend too much time worrying, Tyler.” My stomach drops from her comment. My brain feels like it’s permanently in overdrive. I calculate every move I make, which is one of the reasons I prefer to stay home and avoid the unknown.

  “Let’s go.” The Lennie that’s here in front of me is not the same one I saw arguing with her dad and sister the other day in the parking lot. That Lennie seemed mad at the world, but this is the Lennie I’m used to seeing, the one who, no matter how rude I am, always has a smile on her face.

  I find Lennie to be odd, but I secretly envy her carefree attitude and her ability to not give a damn about what anyone else thinks, especially her family.

  ***

  AFTER THIRTY MINUTES IN HER OLD, beat up car—with the windows down and the music up, no less—we arrive at the Lakewood Animal Shelter. “Is this where you...work?”

  “Yep,” she answers, already halfway out of the car.

  “Why are we here?” I’m practically jogging to keep up with her fast pace.

  “To walk dogs,” she answers a second before she breezes inside.

  “Lennie.” The little old woman behind the counter lights up when she spots Lennie.

  “Carla, how’s it hanging?”

  “Saggy like always.” The woman starts chuckling. “Tina started walking the dogs in order. Why don’t you start at the back and work your way up until you meet her?”

  Carla looks over at me and smirks. “And who is the delicious looking beefcake you brought?”

  Beefcake?

  “This is my neighbor, Tyler. He volunteered to help.”

  “Oh, thank you, young man. Volunteers are few and far between these days.” I glance over at Lennie, suddenly thankful that she didn’t throw me under the bus and tell Carla how I’m not here of my own free will.

  “No problem.”

  Out of nowhere, Lennie grabs my hand and leads us to the back. She picks up two leashes, and we walk down a long hall where I witness dog after dog begging for attention. “We’ll both take one at the same time.” Lennie unlocks the last kennel, and a ratty fur ball darts out. Instead of taking off, he starts jumping on Lennie. “Hang on, little guy.” Lennie latches the leash around its neck and hands the dog to me. Without a word, she opens the next kennel and repeats the same process.

  I follow her past all the dogs barking at us and outside. “Now what?”

  “We walk.” Her answer is as simple as they come, and we do exactly what she said. For over ten minutes, we walk the dogs around the lawn out back. “Okay, little guy, I’m going to have to take you back in now.” Lennie squats down in front of the dog she walked, rubbing its face and allowing it to lick the shit out of her. I glance down at my dog but...no way. I’m not going to let that thing anywhere near my face.

  After three rounds of dogs, I finally ask her the question that’s been on my mind since we arrived. “Why do you do this?”

  “Do what?”

  I roll my eyes and gesture to the dog she’s walking.

  She looks down at the dog then back at me. “How could I not is the better question. Being locked up in the same small space day in and day out...I know that seems like a normal day to you, but to most people, it’s enough to drive them crazy.”

  My step falters when I hear her answer. No one outside of Chad calls me out on how little I leave our apartment. Even Chad is starting to give up.

  “These dogs are more than likely going to die, anyway.” Lennie turns a sharp stare my direction. “The reason these dogs won’t get adopted is because everyone wants the cute, shiny puppy. Most people won’t stop to notice that these dogs have a lot to offer the world. People just need to open their eyes and take a chance.”

  I’ve apparently ignited a fire.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. My parents aren’t animal lovers so we never had a pet.”

  Lennie tilts her head to the side. “Tyler, have you ever felt unconditional love?”

  Her question causes my head to spin. I was in love once, only life didn’t work out how I pictured. The only thing I know for a fact is she didn’t unconditionally love me.

  “Sure, my parents love me unconditionally,” I finally answer.

  “What if you disagreed with them? If you told them you were gay or that you robbed a bank? That you killed someone? Would their love still be unconditional?”

  I look her in the eyes, and I can tell she’s seriously questioning my answer. “I don’t know. I’d like to think they would.”

  Her face softens. “Humans come with strings. They always have and they always will, but the love you get from an animal is truly unconditional.” There was a hint of sadness in her voice. Someone—and after the way I saw her talk to her father, I would say it includes her parents—let her down.

  I start to open my mouth to tell her I’m sorry, for what exactly I don’t know, when I notice her smiling at me.

  “Do you want to go out tomorrow night? Maybe I could convince my sister to tag along, and you can get your roommate to go.” She pauses to laugh. “I’m not sure what type my sister goes for these days, but I know she could use a man in her life. Someone to dust off the cobwebs, if you know what I mean.”

  “Are you trying to recruit me in setting up Chad and Jodi?”

  “Recruiting would imply I’m asking, and I’m not. We’re a team, and teammates stick together.”

  My eyes narrow. “We’re a...team?”

  “Yep, and you can’t get rid of me, so stop thinking about trying.”

  My entire thinking process shuts down when her unrelenting stare burns into mine. I haven’t belonged on a team since I graduated high school, but the sudden urge to be on Lennie’s is stronger than I could have imagined.

  WHEN I WAS A LITTLE girl, I remember having a never-ending list of things I needed. I don’t ever recall wondering if I’d get everything I asked for. No one taught me that no matter how good you are, no matter how much you beg, no matter how much you pray, some things can’t be purchased. Sometimes in life, what you want doesn’t really matter.

  ***

  “I DON’T HAVE TIME TO go out to a bar, Lennie.”

  “Yes, you do. You’re choosing not to.” Jodi huffs before turning back to h
er computer screen.

  “I’m not saying your job isn’t important, but if you don’t stop and look around every once in a while, you’re going to wake up one day as an old woman with no life.” Jodi slowly turns her face back towards mine. “You know how quickly life can change. Don’t let your life disappear right in front of you.” I’m laying it on thick, but that doesn’t change the fact that I believe every word I’ve said.

  “The real world sucks. We both know that, but unlike you, I get up every day and give it my best.”

  “And I don’t?” I snap.

  “I wouldn’t know. I hardly ever see you, and when I do, you’re usually throwing things in either my face or Dad’s.” Her words sting. Once upon a time, life felt like it was Jodi and me against the world. If I did something to get in trouble, she’d stick up for me in a heartbeat, but that’s no longer the case.

  “You know what, never mind. I asked you to go out to a stupid bar for a drink. I didn’t realize that would turn into a lecture.” I turn to leave her kitchen when she calls out my name.

  “I’m sorry...”

  I pause, knowing Jodi well enough that a huge but is coming.

  “You have seven weeks left. I love you. I’d invite you to live with me if I thought there was a chance in hell you’d take me up on my offer, but life goes on, and that includes the moments you usually deem not worth sticking around for.” No one takes me serious. Then again, I’ve given them years of reasons not to. “I can’t...no, I won’t get behind on my workload because you’ve dragged me out to a bar looking to get drunk.”

  I force a smile and pretend her words didn’t cut me. I’ve lived one lie and told another, but the ugly truth is, I don’t stay in one place long enough to form a solid foundation with anyone.

  “One hour. If you’re ready to go home after an hour, I’ll personally drive you.”

  The corner of Jodi’s mouth turns up. “Deal.”

  “Now let’s get you in something less stuffy and something a little more...sexy.”

  “Lennie.” She laughs. “Don’t push it.”

  I won’t push Jodi because I know if I do, she’ll push back, and I’m positive I won’t like what happens if she does.