Talking to Jenn

Scott finished his sandwich and headed to work. The day flew by, he’d talk to Julio a bit, but mostly he was thinking about Suzie as he worked. Jenn came around a few times, she acted fine, but Scott could see she was sad. He gave her space and just did his job. It was a bit awkward, but it wasn’t bad. He’d take an awkward day at Bob’s over his usual day in the Army every time. As they closed Jenn was awkward, like she had something she needed to say.

“How’s Suzie?” Jenn finally asked.

“She’s good, did you know she’s going to NYU in the spring?”

“No, I didn’t know that.” Jenn said, looking at him like he said it for a reason.

SHIT. Scott didn’t even think about how that would sound.

“Yeah, gonna be a lawyer like her dad.”

Jenn laughed. “Are you going to be her Anne? Happy homemaker Scott, flirting with all the teenagers?”

That was classic Jenn, but it hit different today, and his face showed it.

“Whoa, Scott, I’m just jagging you, I didn’t mean it.”

“I know Jenn, it’s just. . . I’m sorry. I shouldn’t talk about this.”

“Tell me Scott, whatever happened, I’m still your friend.”

“Suzie and I, we’ve got great chemistry, and I like her a lot, but she’s going away in a few months, to New York.”

“Suzie doesn’t seem like the type that could do long-distance.”

“Yeah, and I did that once before, it didn’t go well for me either.”

Jenn punched him in the arm. “Hey, Suzie isn’t Amanda Scott. Don’t put that on her.”

Scott rubbed his arm. “Yeah, I know, it’s just, in my head, I don’t think I could do that again, my brain would fuck with me.”

“Then what do you need?”

“What do I need?”

“Yeah, if you can’t do long-distance, what do you need to make it work?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, you better figure that out then.”

Scott scoffed. “Yeah.”

She punched him again, this time hard.

“Ow, Jenn.”

“I’m serious Scott, if you really like her, talk to her, figure out what you guys need, together, don’t shut her out and mope.”

“Yeah.” Was all Scott could say. “Thanks Jenn.” He said as he turned to leave.

“Yeah, well, you owe me.” She replied as he walked out of the shop.

Jenn was right, not that it helped. That was the Jenn he remembered, she knew him better than anyone, and she wasn’t afraid to call him out on his bullshit. It was one of the best things about her, one of the main things he liked about her. She was the kind of woman that wouldn’t let him get away with stuff, and he found that very sexy.

“Fuck.” He said out loud as he started Audrey up. The last thing he needed to do was start thinking about Jenn right now. He had hoped they could be friends, like old times, and the minute that version of Jenn shows up he starts thinking about. . .

Shit. He liked women that didn’t need him, ones that had their own shit together, who liked him being around, not for money or gifts, a girl he could hang out with, have fun with. Someone who would kick his ass if he wasn’t good to them. As he pulled out onto the street he thought about Martha, how much she needed him, how she deferred to him, to any man really. He knew she had been through a lot, he understood why she was like that, but he didn’t want that. He’d resent that over time.

Hell, when he liked Suzie best was when she wasn’t chasing after him, when they were just cool with each other. He had screwed up letting it get too intimate so fast. He needed to spend time with Suzie, get to know her better, let her get to know him better. Because stressing over whether they could last her going to school, and Suzie considering dropping college all together for him. . . that he didn’t like.

Scott drove straight to the Carter’s house. Walking in the front door it smelled good, bacon, pepper, garlic maybe? Scott found Suzie in the kitchen with her mother. When Anne Carter saw Scott she glared at him.

“So, Scott Williams, do you have anything to tell me today?” She asked with a scowl.

“Hi Anne, sorry about last night, I didn’t want to tell you before I got a chance to talk more with Suzie.”

“Well, you did a hell of a lot more than talk last night, so I want to hear it from your own lips.”

Scott looked to Suzie, her face was bright red, her eyes told how embarrassed she was, but at least she hadn’t run away.

“Mrs. Carter, I really like your daughter, she’s a fantastic young lady and we are together now.”

“Hmph, wasn’t so hard.” Mrs. Carter turned her back to him and continued chopping vegetables.

“What’s for dinner?” Scott asked.

“Carbonara Scott, you’re going to love it.” Suzie answered.

“Yes, somebody suddenly wants to learn to make more than snacks and sandwiches.” Mrs. Carter said, she didn’t sound happy about it.

Suzie looked back at Scott and smiled. Damn she looked good, her usual short shorts, t-shirt, apron, barefoot with her hair tied back. . .

“Go get cleaned up Scott, it should be ready when you’re done.” She said, biting her lip.