Trent steps back and lets the car go. He’s shaking his head as I drive away. I’ve gotten the last word and I wish I hadn’t. I didn’t go there to fight with Trent. Especially because he’s got this twisted idea that fighting is quote-unquote “our thing.” He seems to think that whenever we fight with one another it’s keeping our spark alive. In reality, it just exhausts me. And makes me sad. I’m friends with a few of my exes, and considering Trent is Jack’s best friend, it would be nice if the two of us could be friends, too.

But I just don’t see that happening. He’s too combative. Too convinced that we’ll get back together someday. And if I’m being honest, he’s too mean. He’s got his soft moments, but when he gets mad, truly mad, there’s nothing he won’t say to win an argument. I’m never going back there again.

As I’m driving, I switch off the radio and just think. Ever since I took over Pops’s job, it’s the rare moment when I get to just think. There’s always someone calling me needing this or that, or I’m hauling ass up to his care facility to spend time with him. It’s nice to just let my brain wander wherever it wants.

My crush taps a high heel against the floor and gaudily shuffles a deck of cards to get my attention. Of course my brain goes there. I can’t help but think of Eliot. A ridiculous fantasy enters my brain. It’s Thanksgiving, and I’m sitting at the table with Pops, Jack, and Trent, like we usually do. Only this time, there’s another person at the table. Eliot is sitting next to me.

I almost laugh at the absurdity. I mean, Pops would like Eliot a lot. I’m sure of it. For starters, Pops likes anyone who’s nice to me. But Pops especially likes people who are goofy, not too self-serious, easy-going. The way Jack used to be.

It would be fun to have Eliot and Pops in the same room. But what about Eliot and Trent?

“Ha.” I can’t help but say it out loud. Trent would burst a blood vessel if I brought clean-cut, beautiful, white-toothed, friendly-smiling, polite, generous, sweet Eliot around. When I’m talking to Eliot, it’s like a fluffy white cloud surrounds me. I imagine having that Eliot cloud when Trent is near. Would it be like protective gear? Would it keep me from getting singed? I don’t know him all that well, but I bet Eliot would love to be that person for somebody. He would love to be their cloud of protective happiness and support. It sounds like heaven.

My smile fades. Because I imagine the last combination of people: Eliot and Jack.