"Do you think you'll get married?" Brick's question was a little alarming. Oliver and Gabby's for burgers. Oliver was grilling at the commons, which was an outdoor area for entertaining. It was quiet now, but he was certain the place would be buzzing like a block party when the Fourth rolled around.
"You and Carrie sound so much alike," Oliver choked on a laugh as he flipped a burger. His little Carie was full of questions like that.
The girls were still inside getting the sides ready to bring to the nearby picnic table where there were already cold drinks in an iced chest.
Brick sat there like he might be a lost boy in the hot prairie wind. A smile gave away, and Brick said he didn't mean to pry. "I want to get married."
"Right now? You and Lily?" Oliver winced back at him as the burgers sizzled. He was waiting to put on the franks. He knew Brick was still a growing boy, even if he was twenty or so now.
"I'm going to wait," Brick told him. "See how summer goes and the fall too." He sighed as if he were contemplating all of it. "We get along so good when it's just the two of us, but when we're around family and friends, sometimes, I'm not sure who Lily is."
"Are you saying your girlfriend has a personality disorder?" Oliver almost smirked.
"I wouldn't go that far, but she's got a lot of angst about so many things," he shrugged. That's when he mentioned how he'd had a good talk with Rain the night of the dance. "I knew I couldn't say anything to Harley. Lily might take it the wrong way."
"I don't know many guys who would talk with his ex's new boyfriend." Oliver shook his head, wondering how he would react if he saw Carrie's mom with someone else. He'd have to be all right with it, but it still made him wonder if he could handle it.
"She's going into diabetic education, you know," Brick mentioned. "I don't guess she would have ever thought of that, if..if we were still together." Brick sounded as if he was proud of Harley.
Oliver nodded. He liked that Brick was so positive, but he sensed it was hard with Lily. Oliver still wondered if Gabby was happy with her job. As of late, she'd slowed down and was content being home with Carrie. Still, he didn't want to keep her from her friends.
"It looks like they'll hire me in the fall at the school."
Oliver hated to mention it because he didn't want to jinx it.
"It's about time, you've been going to the University forever," Brick's smile was open. He popped open a fresh soda for Oliver.
"That means you better stay the course, bro. It'll be over before you know it," Oliver nodded as he took a sip of the cold root beer. Maybe there was still time for Brick to find true happiness with someone, but it might not be with Lily.
No comments:
Post a Comment