With Friends Like These. . .

Flautas and Fuckups

Evie opened the door to see Karli’s dad, Liam, standing there. His familiar face broke into a broad grin when he caught sight of her as he said; “Mae-Mae! I’m glad you--What’s wrong?” His tone shifted immediately from playful father-figure to deep concern. “You doing okay?”

Nodding, wiping her eyes conspicuously, Evie nodded unconvincingly. “Yeah. Oh yeah, I’m fine Mr. Alinac. W-What brings you over to my neck of the woods anyway?” By the time she’d finished her shaky sentence, she’d gained enough emotional footing to get herself under control. They both knew she was lying, but gracefully, he accepted her answer.

“Please, you can call me Liam, you’re practically family.” He said softly, reaching out and putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. He was warm and steady, and it made her guts squirm. “Wouldn’t you know it, Karli ditched me for Jeremy, and we had this whole TV marathon planned. I made a bunch of snacks, I didn’t want them to go to waste, soooooo. . . .” He trailed off, looking expectantly at her.

“You know I can’t resist the call of snacks, Mr. Alinac--Sorry, I mean, Liam. Yeah, I’m already dressed for a TV binge anyway--If you still were gonna. . .Do that. . .” She trailed off awkwardly as they walked out of her doorway and across the lawn to the house next door.

“Mae-Mae,” He said in a deathly serious voice, “I’m not going to hold food hostage at the price of bad VHS tapes.”

She couldn’t hide a snort of laughter. Evie was so stunned by his sudden appearance, she didn’t even realize she left her phone, abandoned on her table.

Liam stood at least two full feet taller than her. Evie was a grown woman, yet this man never failed to make her feel like a child. After all, Karli still lived with him, it was hard to shake the feeling of being a kid around this man, when nothing really changed. Not even in all the years she lived with her Aunt in the city. Even Karli’s room was still the same, with the exception of new posters cycling out old obsessions.

Mr. Alinac didn’t even really change He even still called her Mae-Mae. Not Maeve, not Evie. Mae-Mae. He got older, sure, and more tired, but Evie remembered harboring an adolescent crush on him, when she’d escaped to his house during the explosive fights her parents used to have. That was when Karli’s mom was still alive. When her parents were still alive.

Those last two were no great weight on her soul. The best thing they ever did was overdose and leave her the house. The dark clouds gathering in her mind must have shown on her face, because Mr. Alinac turned around just before opening his front door. “Mae-Mae, are you sure you’re okay? You know you can talk to me if something’s bothering you?”

“It’s nothing. . .Just. . . Y’know, stuff you wouldn’t care about. Boy troubles.” She tried to deflect him, hiding her face behind her hair, staring off at a distant wall.

“You’d be surprised what I’d care about. Especially boy troubles. You don’t mean that Trevor kid, do you?” He asked, quite seriously. “If he’s giving you problems, Mae-Mae, I can--”

“It’s. . . Not like that. I-If it’s okay, Mr--Liam, do you think we could go eat? I just--I’m really hungry, and I think it’s making me more upset, and--” She paused, watching him shrug out of a well loved sweater, doing absolutely nothing when he slipped it over her head. It was warm. Soft. Smelled like him. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes, and she felt an aching in her chest.

“If calling me Mr. Liam makes you feel better, you can do that. Just know my joints ache hearing you say that. Lets get you fed, huh?” He patted her on the shoulder, marching her inside his home.The late Mrs. Alinac had an impeccable eye for design, the walls were painted a deep blue-gray, and dark, wrought iron picture frames full of family photos hung to break up the negative space--Dark wood paneling along the base of the walls. His house was a gothic wet dream, and being in the cozy, familiar space made it easier to forget the fact that Trevor was cheating on her.

He lead her to the living room, where an impressive spread was laid out on the table. It all looked homemade. Flautas, wings, pigs in a blanket, assorted candy and chip bowls, a cracker platter, the man had a damn charcuterie board for chrissake! Evie wiped her dripping eyes again, whistling appreciatively. “She bailed on a feast like this? Damn, Karli, you missed out.” She’d take a seat on the squishy loveseat right next to the table, stiffening as she felt a blanket drop gently around her shoulders. She looked up, Mr. Alinac’s face looming above her.

“Make yourself at home. This is as much your house as it is Karli’s, in my humble opinion.”

“Oh, in your humble opinion? And does your humble opinion still consider me a toddler? You know I’m a grown woman, right?” He petted her sweetly on the head, walking out of the room. his voice floated back to her as he went to the kitchen.

“Of course I know, Mae-Mae, I also know this always makes Karli feel better when she’s having boy troubles. Now, what do you want to drink, we’ve got--”

As he rattled off a list of drinks and Evie picked one, she couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed. If he didn’t still see her as a kid, then why the hell was he still calling her Mae-Mae? Treating her like a little kid? He dragged her over here after all, didn’t even give her time to THINK about Trevor--

Before she could, he was back, and those gorgeous amber eyes of his dazzled her brain into something like TV static, but a little more naive. “You’re really clinging to that sadface there, Kiddo. You sure you’re alright?” He snatched one of the flautas and took a satisfyingly crunchy bite that made her stomach growl.

Evie followed suit, snatching a little mini hotdog from the plate in front of her, and taking a bite. Hot grease seeped out onto her tongue, only to be mopped up by the flaky pastry wrapped around the mini dog. A measure of strength flowed into her, and Evie nodded.

“Its. . .Uh. . .I think. . . Trevor is cheating on me. Well, more than think. he called me. . .Y’know, d-during the act.” She admitted, leaning back. Somehow, saying it out loud made it real, and she couldn’t take it back. Tears flowed in earnest, but, unconcerned, she grabbed a slice of cheese and a cracker and made a little cracker sandwich. It did feel better to eat--She was starved.

“Oh Mae-Mae. . . I’m so sorry. You deserve better than that. We can consider this a little break up party then. Good thing I’ve got ice cream.” He mused, taking a seat on the two-seater beside her. His warmth seeped in from where he sat, and Evie ’s cheeks flushed with heat.

“Break up party. . .Yeah. . .” she replied, suddenly feeling drained. Was she really going to break up with him? Shouldn’t she at least give him a chance to explain himself? What if it wasn’t what she thought, and she was about to fly off the handle on him for absolutely no reason? That would be awful!

No, she wouldn’t toss out a good thing without a fight. After all, hadn’t she made him wait two years. . .?

“You’re better off without him anyway. Kid’s a freaky little parasite.”

“Mr. Liam!”

“Awww, you did it on purpose that time.” He teased, passing her a little plate he loaded up with snacks. “Okay, sorry, sorry! Karli usually loves when I trash talk her boy problems.”

She didn’t answer right away, huffing into a flauta that was too good to be made by this walking dad joke. But, even this gentle bickering felt warm. It felt safe. It made her feel like she could cry, and he wouldn’t make fun of her for it. Not like her father used to. After all, whenever she scraped her knee, or got her heart broken, wasn’t it Karli’s house, Karli’s loving parents, who comforted her?

A sick, queasy feeling settled itself into her stomach, but she didn’t let it consume her. A feeble kind of optimism took place of the gnawing dread and looming heartbreak. She was lying to herself, but she needed to make it through the night.

Everything would be okay.

“What were you guys gonna watch anyway?”

He grinned sheepishly, getting up from the couch, and grabbing an old tape. The familiar faces of three Zany cartoon--Dogs?--Looked back at her.

“I remember you girls would get bored of Animaniacs before I did. But c’moooon, it’s a classic!”

“Oh my god, fiiiine!” Evie put on a huge show of protesting, but really, she was glad for the familiar comfort of a beloved old show. And, as the episodes and evening rolled on, as the plates cleared of their delicious contents, and as her eyelids felt heavier and heavier, Evie couldn’t resist the sandman's seductive whispering.

A gentle ebbing of consciousness, and Miss Evie bundled up in dreams,