What do you want?

Doug and Marissa sat in the back seat of the Carter’s Chrysler whispering to each other, the radio covering their voices, while Scott and Mary sat in the front in an awkward silence. Fortunately, the trip to the Stable was short.

Doug followed Marissa to her car, opened the door for her, and they continued talking, stalling the moment they would split up.

Scott and Mary watched them.

“Unbelievable.” Mary said.

“I don’t know, it could work.”

“That’s what’s unbelievable, Marissa can meet a guy and in moments know if they are going to be a serious couple or not.” Mary was looking down, moving a rock around with her foot.

“You should be happy, you got them together.”

“We did, you mean.”

Scott thought for a moment on that word, “We”. Mary picked up on his thoughts.

“Look Scott, I like you, you seem like a good guy, and. . . well, last night was fantastic. But there’s way too much drama going on with you, and I don’t want any part of that. Our best friends may be an item, but we aren’t.

“I understand.” As much fun as Scott had with Mary, he was more relieved to know where she stood than anything else.

“Can I give you some advice?”

“Sure.”

“You need to figure out what, and who, you want. You need to figure that out and be clear about it, don’t drag it out or lead people on. Make up your mind and go with it.”

Scott had a sinking feeling. “Is this about Jenn?”

Mary laughed, then turned and kissed him on the cheek. “God, you really are dense. Goodbye Scott.”

“That wasn’t an answer.”

“No, no it wasn’t.” Mary got into her car and started it.

“Goodbye Marianne.” He said to a closed car door.

She backed out and drove off.

Scott leaned against the car and watched Doug and Marissa talking. “Figure out what I want. . . How the fuck am I supposed to do that?” Scott suddenly felt like he needed a cigarette.

He didn’t think he was that dense, it was clear Jenn had been hurt by him, and clear she wanted something more from their relationship, but Scott didn’t want to acknowledge it. He didn’t want to lose Jenn as a friend, and while he had held a crush on her most of his life, that was years ago and she had made her feelings clear. Scott respected that she didn’t want more than friendship. And even if she did, with all that had happened with Amanda, Scott was in no condition to try and navigate a relationship as complicated as he and Jenn would be.

“God, I’d kill for a cigarette.”

As he stood waiting, Scott’s phone buzzed, he had a text message.

Hey Scott? Martha gave me your number, said you are back in town. Can we meet up for lunch? I’d love to see you again before you run away. – Lydia

“Shit.” Scott said out loud. “As if things weren’t fucked enough already.”

He thought back to the trailer, when Suzie saw the picture of Lydia, Angel and he. Thought about that weekend at the cabin, the week that followed, and a few of the reasons he had planned never to return to Franklin.

He also thought about his meetings with Jenn, and how hurt she was. He was tired of apologies, but he owed Lydia several, and stalling wouldn’t help anything.

Hey cuz, would love to meet up for lunch, anywhere you want to go?

Scott sighed. His thoughts wandered to Suzie. He liked Suzie, she was fun, she was hot and she was really into him. He liked the idea of taking her under his wing, teaching her like Amanda taught him. But that also scared him. The novelty of sexually mentoring someone would wear off, and he had serious doubts as to whether they could work in a long-term relationship. He didn’t want to start something serious and then grow tired of her and break her heart.

Doug closed Marissa’s door and walked back to the car where Scott was waiting for him.

“You okay man? You got that ‘I’m overthinking everything’ look.”

Scott turned and got into the car. “Yeah, sounds right.”

They drove back to the house with the radio turned up, filling the hole left by their lack of conversation.