And then he hobbles over to the door and opens it.
“Greetings,” Keiko’s stiff voice says from the entryway.
“Hey, Keiko. Good to see you,” Pike says in a cheery tone that I know is all for show. He doesn’t mean it.
“You, as well. Looks as though you’ve been healing properly. Congrats on properly repairing your living tissue.”
“Uh, thanks.” He motions to the house. “Come in.”
Keiko takes a step inside and sees me in the dining room. She pauses and then turns to Pike. “I was unaware your former lover was going to be in attendance. Shall I come back?” Former lover? Not even former wife?
“No, it’s fine,” I say to Keiko, and then glance at her belly. “How’s Blanche/Seymour?”
“Well. The fetus has finally started craving vegetables. As I told Kelvin, all in due time, as he observed me consume a family-size bag of Cool Ranch Doritos in one sitting. Now I prefer to suckle on the end of a carrot until my teeth turn a brilliant hue of orange.”
“That sounds . . . fun,” I say, not sure what else to say.
“Quite right. It has provided much-needed entertainment while I compete in rather tiresome competitions of chess against Kelvin. I’m grateful for the intermission with my comrade.” She stiffens her shoulders. “I only wish another comrade would prefer my company as well.”
And there it is. I don’t know why I thought Keiko would ignore the elephant in the room. Nope, she gives it a pat on the back and scoots it right on out.
“I didn’t want you to feel weird around Pike,” I say.
“Why would I feel weird around him? I’m a matured gentleperson, I obtain the capabilities of compartmentalizing my emotions. Do you not?”
“No, I don’t,” I answer honestly. “You know, I’ll just leave you two to it.” I gesture toward them. “I’ll be upstairs.”
I start to walk away when Pike calls out, “You can start packing. What I said earlier was true. You can believe that much.” And then he shuffles past me and to the couch, where he takes a seat. Keiko stands awkwardly in the entryway, her eyes flashing between me and Pike.
“I’m uncomfortable,” she says.
“Just go hang out with him,” I say before heading up the stairs to my bedroom.
I sit at the end of my bed and rest my hands in my lap as tears form at the backs of my eyes.
This is what I want, right? An out?
He’s giving it to me.
He’s demanding it.
And yet, here I am, crying on my bed about it.
I’ve never been so confused in my life.
I wipe away my tears and spot the basket of laundry that I folded earlier. Might as well put myself to work so I forget about the burning pain in the pit of my stomach. I stand up, wipe my tears, and then pick up the laundry basket. I walk into Pike’s room and open up his bottom dresser drawer, stuffing his sweatpants inside.
I have no idea why I’m putting his clothes away. I should just drop them on his bed and be done with it.
I slam the drawer shut and am startled by the sound of a throat clearing in the doorway.
I look over my shoulder to find Keiko standing there, arms crossed.
“Jesus, Keiko, you startled me.”
“Perhaps if you weren’t violently sealing the bureau, you would have heard my approach.”
“Perhaps,” I say. “Listen, I’m sorry if I’m acting—”
“I thought you loved him,” she says, a tilt to her head.
“I don’t think we should talk about this.”
“May I query as to why we shouldn’t?”
“Because,” I say, feeling exhausted. “He’s your friend.”
“And you’re my friend too.” Her brow crinkles. “I don’t see why I should have to choose between the two of you.”
“Come on, Keiko. I know you like him better than me.”
“I was rather unaware of the knowledge that you’ve become a mind reader in the last few weeks. Pray tell, are you certified?”
“Keiko, listen.” I stuff his shirts in his shirt drawer and shut it. “I’m sorry that I’ve been quiet, but I honestly wasn’t sure how to act with you. I didn’t want to taint your friendship with Pike. I wanted to respect your friendship.” I open the top drawer to toss in his briefs. Noticing a shirt out of place, I pick it up to fold and put back in the T-shirt drawer. “I haven’t been a good friend, and I’m—”