Chapter Ten

When Eddie stumbled into work the next morning, Nick could see that he was his usual grouchy-morning self. Chuckling to himself, Nick continued his paperwork.

A half-hour later, Nick figured Eddie would have woken up enough to be himself again. Looking up from his desk, he shouted to Eddie, who had gone into the back room.

"Hey, you know where the invoices are for the Temple account?"

"I put them back in the file where we always put them," Eddie said, walking back toward the front.

"I just checked, man," Nick told him, "and they're not there."

"Then check your own desk." Eddie was starting to get defensive. "Because I put them back in the filing cabinet," he continued, making his way back into the back room.

Nick sighed at Eddie's demeanor. Clearly Eddie needed another cup of coffee. Walking back to check his desk for the second time, something on Eddie's desk caught Nick's eye. He picked up the folder to find the Temple account invoices inside. Just as he was deciding whether or not to say anything to Eddie or to just let it slide, he heard a curse from the back.

"Damn it!"

"What is it?" Nick walked back to see what had gotten Eddie so upset.

"These damn windows are back again," Eddie explained, gesturing to the box they had been trying to get rid of when Rory first came back to town.

"This is getting ridiculous," Nick said in disbelief. "What do we have to do to get rid of these things?"

"Fill out the damn shipping label correctly," Eddie answered. But unlike the last time when he had criticized Nick's handling of the shipment with a joking undertone, this time he seemed genuinely angry.

Okay, this is about more than a box of faulty windows, Nick realized. Eddie had been in a foul mood all morning. As the two made their way back to their desks at the front of the store, Nick decided to risk Eddie's wrath

"What goes on, man?"

"What do you mean?" Eddie asked.

"What's with the temper? I know its not about a box of windows."

"I don't have a temper," Eddie argued.

"Eddie," Nick said emphatically, "we are well past the usual 'Give me three cups of coffee before speaking to me' point of the day."

"Then fine. Can't I be in a bad mood without getting all kinds of questions about it?" Eddie asked.

"Sure," Nick agreed. "Except that yesterday we just picked up our biggest account since the elementary school window project. Seems to me we should be celebrating, not snarling at each other."

"I did not snarl," Eddie argued.

"Oh, there was definite snarling."

Eddie sighed and rolled his eyes.

"So what goes on?" Nick asked again.

"I saw Janet last night," Eddie explained.

"So?" Nick asked. He knew things were still awkward between Eddie and Janet, but last he heard the two had formed some sort of a truce. "I thought things were getting better between you two."

"They were," Eddie agreed. "They are."

Nick just raised his eyebrows.

"Okay, fine," Eddie relented. "It's not perfect, but we're trying. I was leaving the shop last night, and I was still all excited about the new job, so I stopped by Sully's for a celebratory drink. Janet was there, we got to talking. . ."

"And you started arguing?" Nick guessed after Eddie fell silent.

"No, that's just it," Eddie tried to explain. "No arguments, no anger, nothing. Just two people talking and having a great time. But then I drove her home. . ."

"And then you started arguing?" Nick guessed again when Eddie didn't continue.

"You know," Eddie surmised, "I kind of wish we had. It probably would've made things easier. At least then I'd know what I'm angry at. But with what actually did happen. . . I don't know what to think."

"So what actually did happen?" Nick was really getting curious now.

After a long beat of silence, Eddie admitted, "I kissed her."

"You kissed her," Nick repeated in surprise. Yelled at her, fought with her, any of those he would've expected. But kissed her? Nick was not expecting that one.

"I kissed her," Eddie confirmed. "We spent over two hours talking. About the new job, about other stuff, it doesn't matter. Because the whole time I'm just looking at her and wanting to pretend that all that other crap never happened. And then I drove her home, and I actually did start pretending that it never happened, because I leaned over and kissed her. As soon as I realized what I was doing I pulled away, but what floored me is why I did it in the first place."

"And why did you?" Nick asked, already knowing the answer.

Eddie avoided the question. "So I told her we're just friends, nothing more, and that was it."

"Just friends?" Nick said skeptically.

"Just friends," Eddie said emphatically.

"They are so much more than 'just friends,'" Nick told Hannah later that afternoon. The two had run into each other when Nick stepped out for lunch, and as one of the only other people in town who knew what had really happened between Eddie and Janet, Nick decided to update Hannah on where things stood. After rehashing his earlier conversation with Eddie, Nick continued, "The guy is still crazy about her, but he thinks he should be furious with her, so he's taking all his frustration out on us innocent bystanders."

"Well this is all news to me," Hannah said in reply. "I saw Janet this morning and she didn't even mention the kiss. She probably doesn't want to get her hopes up."

"I get where Eddie's coming from," Nick said, "don't get me wrong. But it just seems so stupid to me that two people who obviously care for each other have to go through this."

"Betrayal is a hard thing to get over," Hannah reasoned. "And I don't just mean Janet's betrayal. Even though she knows she was in the wrong, she's still hurt by the fact that Eddie kissed Rory and waited so long to tell Janet she was in town." Hannah stood up for her friend and refused to let Eddie off the hook just because Janet made a bigger mistake.

"Well, the only people they're hurting now are each other," Nick said in frustration. "And their business partners, apparently."

"Give it time Nick," Hannah laughed. "Once Eddie pulls his head out of his ass, they'll find their way back to each other."

Most of Janet's day went by in a blur. She was glad she had work to keep her occupied during the day, but aside from dealing with a few unruly teenagers during the lunch crowd, she could focus on nothing but that kiss last night. Grateful to have the night off, she left work at 5:00pm and headed home.

As she turned onto her street, she saw a familiar black truck parked in front of her house. Parking in her driveway, she walked up the front steps and looked down at Eddie, who was sitting on her porch.

"Eddie," she greeted. To say she was surprised to see him was an understatement. She thought for sure he would try to avoid her after what happened last night. But thinking about it a little more, she realized: When has Eddie Latekka ever run away from anything? He faces things, head on. She didn't know how to feel about the fact that he now obviously felt she was something he had to face.

"Hey Janet," he returned her greeting. But he didn't say anything else.

"How long have you been here?" she finally asked, after an awkward moment of silence.

"Awhile," Eddie admitted. "I needed to talk to you, but I also needed some time to think before I did it. Here seemed as good a place as any."

Janet nodded and waited for him to continue.

"Here's the thing," he finally said. "I know what I said before, about not being able to trust you."

Janet thought back to his drunken confession on her porch a few weeks ago. This time, she noted, he was stone sober. She sat down next to him.

"I still don't know how to forget what you did," Eddie continued, turning to face her. "But I'm getting to the point where I just don't care anymore. Last night, the time we spent talking in the bar, that was the happiest I've been since I got out of the hospital. And later when I drove you home, kissing you - I think that was my heart talking. But my brain is finally catching up. I want you back in my life Janet. All the way. Do you think we can try to do that?"

Janet smiled. She couldn't believe he was willing to give her another chance so quickly. Overcome with emotion, she just nodded her head.

"Yes, Eddie. I would love to try to do that."

Eddie smiled. "I made dinner reservations for tomorrow night. I thought maybe we could start there. What do you say?"

"I say that sounds perfect," Janet said.

"Great. I'll pick you up at seven?" Eddie asked, standing up.

"I'm looking forward to it," Janet told him.

"See you tomorrow then." Eddie headed back toward his truck. He gave a small wave as he pulled away.

Janet was so excited he actually wanted to try to make things work, she didn't even think to ask where he was taking her.