5. Reed

5

REED

“IT WAS A GOOD DAY” – ICE CUBE

A s the suburban landscape disappears behind us on the expressway, the city skyscrapers grow bigger and taller. Mr. Dunn’s car is a classic model in impeccable shape—two doors, a backseat, and a black top. And this alt-rock station is good for the drive: “She Fucking Hates Me,” “Nice Guys Finish Last,” “Stacy’s Mom,” “It Was a Good Day.”

Dunn drives faster than any normal human being with a kid on the way should drive. That’s just part of his nature. Just like he needed to beat me by a hair every single time we ran back in high school. He needs to be a little faster than everyone. I always liked and respected that about him. Of all the friends I’ve ever had, Dunn can drive me out of my comfort zone the best.

“So how’s Sam?” Dunn asks.

“Good,” I say, a little perplexed since he already asked me this. “It’s going well.”

“How’d you know you wanted to marry her?”

“She’s the best. I’ve loved her since the moment I saw her.”

“You two have been apart for some time since college, though, right?”

“Yeah. I mean, sure. Physically apart.”

“Two years in the Peace Corps and another year with her in grad school. It’s impressive you haven’t grown apart.”

I consider for a moment what he’s suggesting. “Sam’s a good one, man. I’m not gonna find anyone else like her. I’ve got my life planned out. It just makes sense. She’s in California now, but she’ll be back soon. We’ll get married and start the whole shebang.” I decide to spare Dunn my whole life-is-about-sacrifices-and-hard-work spiel.

“Sounds logical.”

“What about you?” I ask.

“What do you mean?”

“How’d you know Wendy was the one? You’ve never told me.”

Charlie grips the steering wheel. “She was hot. I wanted to knock her up. Mission fucking accomplished.”

I laugh. “No, really.”

There’s an awkward pause between us. “You think I’m joking?”

“Oh.”

“It was the exact opposite of your decision. I used zero logic. All dick logic.”

“And then you married her, though.”

“Yeah. Exactly. What am I gonna do, be forty and racking up my number count? That’s an empty road. Real men get married. It’s the ultimate game. And Wendy is fucking awesome. I love her. I’d die for her.”

Charlie has always been one of the most measured, exacting guys I’ve known, so this surprises me. I’m also relieved to hear his philosophy on women is more in line with mine, and less in line with Mason’s.

“Zero logic,” I repeat.

“Gut feeling only. You know about gut feelings?”

“And you’re happy?”

“What’s happiness, man? It’s a fleeting state. I don’t chase happiness.”

“What do you chase?”

He spits some dip into his water bottle.

“Mission.”

We head up Lake Shore Drive, and we’re getting looks from everyone in this snazzy car.

“So what’s the big haps tonight in the city?” he asks. “The hell does a Chicago city boy get into on a summer Thursday night in July?”

“Well…” I shrug. “My team is having a happy hour at North Avenue Beach. It might still be going on, depending when we get there.”

“That sounds incredible. Let’s do it.”

“It’s hard to park at the beach, though. There’s easier street parking around my place. You can park this bad boy there, if you want.”

“Sure. Think she’ll be safe?”

“I live in Old Town. I think she’ll be fine.”

Once we get to my block, we park, and walk to my place. I pause at my door.

“Oh, I forget my guitar,” I say.

“Let’s get it later,” Dunn says.

I shrug in agreement, and turn the key.

When we enter the apartment, Mason is on the couch with a girl.

A new girl, not the one from last night—or this morning, for that matter—from what I can tell.

“Yo yo, guys. What’s up?” He nods at us.

“Mason, this is Charlie. Charlie, Mason.”

Mason offers an obligatory wave.

“Normally I’d shake your hand,” Dunn says. “But I’m not sure what the two of you were up to.”

The girl’s face turns bright red. “Maybe I should go.”

“You have any food here?” Dunn asks, looking around my kitchen. “Wow. Unsliced bread. You’re so fancy. Where’s the knife? I could use a snack. Maybe just some bread and butter?”

The girl leaves, and Mason comes into the kitchen. “What are you all doing tonight?” he asks.

Dunn shrugs. “Getting drunk somewhere. Why?”

“Yeah? You looking to pick up some women?”

“I’m married,” Dunn says.

Seeing Mason and Dunn interact is worlds colliding. Both of them are important friends to me, though from very different chapters of my life.

Charlie and I were inseparable in high school. We pushed each other physically and mentally. Then there’s Mason. We became friends senior year of college while bartending together. We linked up again post-college when we worked at the same restaurant.

My relationship with Mason consists of going out together, partying hard, and flirting with women. I’m his wingman. That’s how it’s always been. Some friendships evolve, but ours hasn’t for the most part. There’s good and bad to that.

“We should totally hit up Blackwood’s,” Mason says. “Have you been there, Reed?”

I shake my head. “We’re going to North Avenue Beach.”

“Let’s go,” Mason says, inviting himself along.

“Hang on, let me grab my things.” I go to my bedroom and send a text to Sam, letting her know what we’re getting up to.

As I’m washing my hands in the bathroom, I feel Mason’s presence behind me.

“Dude, what’s going on with this bathroom?”

“What are you talking about?” I ask, drying my hands.

“It’s absolutely disgusting. When is the last time you cleaned it?”

I assess the bathroom. It’s not like it’s crazy dirty or anything. “What do you care? You have your own bathroom, the master bathroom.”

“Yeah, but if I have a girl over, she sees yours.”

“The door is almost always closed.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

I turn to step out, but he doesn’t move. “What do you want me to do? Scrub the toilets?”

He pauses. “Yes. Clean. Have a little self-discipline. Be a man.”

“Right. Yeah, I guess I need to work on that.” I shrug him off, then gesture at the painting in the hall. “Hey, what’s this painting from?”

“What do you care?”

“It’s nice. I like it. Did you buy it somewhere?”

“I don’t even remember,” he says.

I push past him, back to the kitchen where Dunn is waiting.

“Guys,” Mason announces, looking at his phone. “I would love to hang out tonight, but I spaced and just remembered I have a date.”

“Another date? Who was that you were just with?”

“That was a booty call. You know, to get loosened up for the date.”

I shake my head. Sometimes I can’t believe this guy. “Right, right, gotcha.”