We're in Trouble by Christopher Coake

Author:Christopher Coake
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

AFTER JIMMY AND APRIL left, Dana retreated to a comer, drinking another eggnog and trying not to be noticed. She watched Bryan work the room, traveling from one laughing knot of employees to the next. They all loved him. And they should—Bryan loved all of them. Dana tried not to think of Jimmy, of the feel of his stomach under her palm. But she could remember it with tremendous clarity, just by closing her eyes.

Half an hour later Bryan returned to her.

Hi there, he said. I’m sorry. Okay?

He bent to kiss her temple; she turned her head. She couldn’t help herself.

I’m sorry, too, she said quickly. I—I’m not feeling well.

What is it? Bryan moved in close to her, putting a hand on her waist. Honey?

My stomach. I drank too much.

Bryan began looking around—trying to spot, she guessed, the bathroom, or a chair where she could sit. His Santa hat jingled.

She touched his elbow. Honey, I’m sorry—but can you run me home? I don’t think I ought to drive, and I have to lie down.

His eyes widened. She had to admit a grim little satisfaction in screwing up his careful plans. Or else why would she have asked?

Yeah, Bryan said. Umm—let me talk to Dave and Mary—

Okay. I’ll go sit in the car, all right? I’m sorry.

Now she meant it. Bryan looked frantic.

Outside the snow was falling heavily; the sculpted bushes growing against the brick of the reception hall were already prettily frosted. Dana moved carefully across the parking lot, steadying herself on the hoods of other cars, half expecting Jimmy to pop up from the shadows, smirking and beautiful. By the time she was inside the car, she had the shivers. She turned on the heater and sat with her hands in her armpits, watching her breath curl smokily against the passenger window, and through it, the snow piling up on the hood of the next car over.

But this was only Ohio snow—only a tease. Dana had grown up in Colorado, where the snow didn’t fuck around. She missed the mountains in winter, the acres of hip-deep snow that would never be tracked up, dirtied with slush.

The snow had been a lot worse than this, the night of the accident. That was for sure. It piled up on top of a coating of ice, riding winds that swirled over the caps of mountains. That was another thing you almost never saw in the Midwest: the kind of snowstorm that frightened you, that spawned disasters.

She’d kissed another man. Jimmy had kissed her, and she’d kissed him back, and then she’d pushed him away.

Bryan opened the door and folded himself behind the wheel. How you doing? he asked.

Better. She waved her hand. Fresh air.

We’ll get you home, Bryan said and stroked her knee. His voice was regretful. He was thinking, maybe, that he’d have to hold her hair out of the way while she puked into the toilet. His hand lingered a bit on her knee, his thumb moving in circles. She put her hand over his and pressed down.

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