“Fucking motorcycles!” Dylan yelled smacking the steering wheel with his palm. “This happens every time! You think you see a space, lots of room and then there’s a God Damned bike taking up a third of a space that might be useful to you!”
“Maybe you shouldn’t be driving around this tank of a four wheeler,” Owen scanned the parking garage. “We live in New York, not backwoods Yukon.”
“Just shut up and help me look for a space, dumb ass,” Dylan grumbled. The massive truck’s engine rumbled, growling like a disturbed tiger prowling the parking spaces for it’s next meal.
“Smart car...smart car...smart car...” Dylan grumbled, looking at the spaces that could be filled by his truck. “No respect for classic American muscle anymore...”
“I’m gonna do it...” Owen said, not looking from the spaces.
“What?”
“I’m gonna move back in with Val,” Owen mumbled.
“Sorry,” Dylan said, scanning the spaces. “What was that?”
“I’m gonna move back in with Val. I just gotta swallow my pride and do it.”
“Seriously, Owen?” Dylan said. “That girl was a psychopath! And you’re seriously considering moving in with her? Again? After everything?”
“Firstly, she wasn’t a psychopath,” Owen said. “She had some stuff going on, but it’s over. Secondly, I don’t have a choice but to move back in with her. I can’t afford rent in my place and it makes more sense to move in with Val.”
“You’re kidding me!” Dylan cursed, stopping the truck. “You’re moving back in with that controlling bitch?”
“She wasn’t a bitch, OK?” Owen said. “Yeah, we fought and yeah, she was controlling...sometimes. But she’s not like that anymore.”
“How do you know?”
“We talked...”
“Owen, you can’t move back in with a girl who was stealing from you after a phone interview.”
“Let’s try another level,” Owen turned away from the spaces. “If we make this loop another time, I’m gonna get dizzy and puke.”
“Not in my car, you’re not!” Dylan ordered, turning the car toward the next level of the parking garage. Once they arrived, Dylan started the circling process again. “See? Still no room. And don’t think I forgot about Val. She’ll use you again, man.”
“She hasn’t yet...”
“What?”
“We’ve been seeing each other again,” Owen explained. “Privately. It started as a few cups of coffee, which she paid for, then dinners, which we split. We’ve been seeing each other for a few months now.”
“Months!” Dylan slammed on the brakes and looked at Owen. “You’ve been seeing this girl for fucking months? You’re so full of shit!”
“Remember those night classes I started taking?”
“Yeah for computer—oh...”
“Yeah, I didn’t tell you cause I knew you’d freak out.”
“No shit man, that’s not how you treat your brother!” Dylan glared and let off the brake, moving the car forward. He looked out the window, scanning the backs of cars and getting more frustrated with each vehicle he saw filling a space.
“Dylan, listen, I didn’t want you to find out because I was worried you’d shake me off Val again.”
“Cause she’s fuckin’ evil!”
“But,” Owen repeated a little louder, “she’s been getting clean again. She’s sober now...”
“Fuck that,” Dylan shook his head. “She lied once she lied again. I mean, what’s she got to offer this time?”
“Space...”
“Fuck that, I can offer you space. Or just go live with mom and—“
“No, there was a space.”
“What?” Dylan looked back. “Where?”
“Between that yellow car and the grey sedan.”
“I see it now!” Dylan grinned a little, victorious. “Not gonna get me this time!”
Dylan pulled into the space quickly and started backing into the slot. The front of the truck still stood out a good foot or so out from the space, but Dylan was confident that no one would smash the front of his truck.
“Look,” Owen said. “I just wanted to give you time, you know? We weren’t gonna hide it forever, but I thought it was only fair to let you know that I’m gonna do it.”
“No you’re not.”
“Yeah, I am! And nothing you can say will change that.”
“Why, Owen? Cause of love?”
“It’s nothing so stupid, don’t think I’m an idiot OK? She just...we just...it’s complicated.”
“Uh-huh...” Dylan shook his head. “And who’s gonna be there to pick up the pieces of your shattered life once you realize Val is still the same?”
“I’m not a kid anymore...”
“Fuck that, you’re 23.”
“And your 28, what’s your point?”
“My point is—“ Dylan started to yell, but let out a slow breath instead. “Forget it. I’m not gonna yell. I know how much you hate yelling.”
“You’re OK then?”
“No, I’m not OK,” Dylan said. “I don’t want to see you with that girl again. I made that very clear last time. But nothing I say will change your mind and I’d rather be a part of your life when you’re doing something stupid than not be there to help when it falls apart, OK stupid?”
“Yeah,” Owen nodded. “Ready? We can still get to the store before it gets too late.”
“I’ll be there in a second,” Dylan swallowed, unlocking the doors. “I need a second to clear my head first before I take a swing at you.”
Owen was about to say more, but stopped. He reached for the door handle and pulled. “Dylan?”
“What?”
“I can’t open the door.”
Dylan sighed and flipped the lock switch again. Owen opened the door a little, but the car out his side was keeping his door shut.
“Fuck me...” Dylan cursed, smacking his steering wheel with an open palm. He tried to open his door, but found he was also stuck. For a moment, both boys sat in silence.
“Wanna try the next level?” Owen asked.
“Yeah,” Dylan sighed, defeated. “OK...”