When the days seem long

 

"So did that ex of Connor's go home?" CW was curious and couldn't wait to talk to Darry when he came into the coffee shop. He brought him a cup of coffee and a leftover sweetroll from breakfast. 

"Maybe," Darry sighed. "I tried to tell her there was nothing she could do here. I mean, she's the smart one, not me." He looked torn, perhaps. CW wondered just who his friend was thinking about? Jude or Junie. 

"We talked a lot longer than I thought we would," Darry told him about Jude.

"You're not falling for her, are you?" CW gave him a beady look.

"No." Darry scowled back as if CW needed to shut up.

"Well, maybe you should, you know, stop this notion about the 5-year wait with you know who."

"You know who?" Darry squinted back at him as if CW wasn't making sense.

"You know?" CW wished he hadn't brought it up. "Have you seen Cat lately?"

"Cat?" Darry acted like he didn't know what CW was getting at.

"Bro, I'm beginning to wonder about your attention span." CW sighed, wondering if he needed to get back to the grill. But they were cleaning up to close for the day.

Darry yawned. "I just need sleep. This whole thing with Junie is keeping me sleepless. I do worry about her. I don't want to. Sometimes, I think she is just getting back at me, because she knew by the end of the school year we were going to break up."

"Is that so?" CW knew he should just let Darry talk; maybe that was the best thing for him to do. Get it all out about Junie. But Darry wrapped up the sweet roll to eat for later. He was on his way to the library to work.

"I'll let you know if I hear anything." CW nodded.

"Look, I'm not doing anything with Cat. I know she's too young for me. No way am I as great as she might think I am. I think she knows that, too. I'm just a big brother who'll listen to her problems." He said as he buttoned up his coat for the cold.