"You there, Laney?"
Uh-uh-uh. I've suddenly lost the ability to be witty and charming and have become a bumbling idiot apparently.
"H-hey Bri. I was just about t-to call you back actually."
I'm just going to pretend I didn't just stutter.
"It's okay Lanes, I knew you were going to stall until you actually saw me again to really talk so I came up with an idea to cut out the awkward first meeting in public part."
What? What does that mean?
Oh that better not be his car I hear pulling up.
I'm just going to casually walk to the edge of the balcony and casually peek over the edge and....
"Laney I can see those sunglasses from all the way down here, I know you're on the balcony."
What's with everyone picking on the glasses? They've got character if nothing else.
"Okay.You caught me. And by the way you can't see them from all the way down there, only the green ones are bright enough for that. Thankyouverymuch."
He just stood there chuckling at me for a minute.
You know, I don't think I have ever heard him really laugh, just chuckle.
Interesting.
"Lanes, if it's okay with you, I'd like to come up and talk to you. If you'd snap out of your daze and ring me up, that is. You forget I don't have a key."
Wha?...Oh right...buzzer...
*bizzzz*
"Sorry bout that, too much sun I guess."
He turned and walked into the building as I turned off the phone and quickly grabbed my shorts and tank from the chair next to me. No sense in him seeing my pasty self and blinding him. Millions of screaming girls would hunt me down for sure.
"So what brings you to my neigborhood today?"
Friendly is good. I can do friendly and avoid all mention of divorce. Bad topic, bad.
"Well considering I've talked more to your voicemail and Jess in the last two weeks than to you in the last four months makes a guy wonder why he's no longer wanted. So I decided to investigate for myself."
Eck. I knew I'd feel really guilty if I avoided him too long.
"I'm sorry, it's just......well with everything...you know...Nick, getting my new job, and your div-v-v....I mean, your..."
"It's okay Laney. I can talk about it. I'm moving on."
I might of not felt as bad if I hadn't of seen his smile sag a little at the corners.
"You sure, because I know it was tough for awhile there and I just feel bad because I got caught in my own little torment I just, I dunno, felt like I abandoned you and I didn't know how to fix it and it was a vicious cycle and..."
Oh god I'm babbling like an idiot.
"Lanes."
He tried to stop me , but my babbling had only just begun.
"The whole cycle kept repeating itself. I mean here you are, a good friend to me, ever since me and Nick started and then, wham! I stop talking to you because i'm caught up in me..."
Suddenly a pair of hands grabbed my cheeks and stopped my mouth.
"Laney, I swear I'm going to duct tape your mouth shut if you don't stop making up excuses in five seconds. Don't worry, I understand."
Still.....
"Laney? Did you hear me?
"yessh biwan"
He let go of my cheeks and gave me a quzzical look.
"I said, yes Brian."
"Good"
Then I realized how I didn't know what to say. After all my talking, I had now become a mute. Great. First stuttering, then babbling, and now a mute. Just great.
Then he spoke.
"So..."
And my brain clicks on randomly.
"Sew a button, not a convrsation."
Then he did that little chuckle again and the smile lifted a little back up.
"I missed you Lanes..... So, are you going to go to the wedding?"
Crap.
I knew I shouldn't of put on mascara this morning.