Kendall hit the button, allowing his FaceTime call to be put through. He was ready to answer James' questions and ask a few of his own.
"What in the hell was that?!" James' cheeks were flushed and his eyes were ablaze. Kendall was thankful that he wasn't standing in front of James at that moment.
"Relax, Jay," Kendall's voice was soothing, hoping soft tone would calm James down.
"Relax?! You were in my bed with my girlfriend! You want me to relax?!" Another unpleasant memory of Francie and Kendall was forever imbedded in James' mind.
Kendall started to explain. "Jay -" James cut him off.
"Didn't have the balls to make a move on her while I was there, did you?!"
Kendall struggled to keep his cool. "James, listen to -"
"Had to wait until I left. That's a real puss move, Kendall!"
Kendall's blood was boiling at the accusations James threw at him. He couldn't keep it together any longer. "Would you shut the hell up and listen?!"
James was slightly taken aback at the fury in Kendall's voice.
"Fine, I'm listening." His eyes were hard and his jaw tight. Kendall could tell that James was trying to regain his control.
"She's sick, man."
James' expression changed to worry as Kendall's words sank in. "What? What's wrong?"
"I don't know, maybe the flu. She got sick earlier so I put her to bed. She was cold," Kendall's eyes flashed with anger as he spit out his next words, "and alone."
James flinched at the viciousness in Kendall's words.
"I was trying to comfort her since her boyfriend isn't here."
The guilt, like a knife, plunged deeper into James' heart. "I'm working, Kendall. She told me to keep working."
"I know she did but is that really what you're doing, James? Working?" Francie's emotional strain was rubbing off on Kendall and the idea of Francie, brokenhearted and a total wreck, was infuriating him. Tact was not an option. "Because Francie thinks you're fuckin' around. Is she right?"
"What?! No way! I'm working, that's all!"
Kendall pursed his lips and squinted his eyes, looking doubtfully at his friends image on the screen of his phone. Kendall's face said it all, he didn't believe James, and James knew it.
"I swear, Ken, you've got to believe me." James pleaded.
"Then what are you hiding?"
"Nothing." James replied and ran his hand, nervously, through his hair. I can't tell Kendall, he'll tell Francie. Dammit!
There it was, James' telltale sign. Something was definitely up and Kendall needed to know what. As James' hand dropped to his side and out of the camera view, Kendall noticed the bandage peeking out from under James' sleeve.
"What happened to your arm?"
"Oh," James looked at the bandage, and tugged his sleeve down in an attempt to cover it. "I, uh...I fell and hit my arm on the counter. Just a cut, no big deal." James unconsciously ran his hand through his hair, again, betraying himself.
Another fucking lie, dammit James! Kendall had hoped he was right earlier when he tried to convince Francie that James would never mess around on her, but it appeared that he was mistaken. Kendall now felt as betrayed as Francie did and it hurt him deeply.
"Look, Kendall, I'm sorry for jumping on your ass. Thank you for watching out for Francie. I appreciate it, really."
"You need to hurry back even if it's just for a day, she needs you."
"I don't know when I can, I'm swamped."
Kendall had an idea, and a pretty good one, or so he thought.
"I know, I can keep Marley for a few days and Francie can fly out to you. What do you think?"
James was quick with an answer. "No! No, that's not going to work. I mean, I'd love to see her, but you know how easily I'm distracted by her. Just tell Francie I called, and I'll call her later."
"Will do." You lying bastard. Kendall wouldn't be fooled anymore.
"Thanks, Kendall. Bye."
"See ya, James."
Kendall disconnected the phone call unable to believe that his best friend would blatantly lie to him. How could Kendall continue to defend James' uncharacteristic behavior to Francie when it was crystal clear that James is deceiving everyone.
Kendall sat on the couch and immersed himself in his thoughts.
How could James do this to her? He claims to love Francie so much. I would never have done something like this to her. He's got a wonderful woman and he's going to throw it all away because he can't keep his dick in his pants!
Kendall's train of thought quickly moved to the dream that James' phone call had interrupted.
I guess laying there cuddled up with Francie stirred up some old memories, and not so old desires. My subconscious was, full-blown, working overtime. I guess I should feel bad but, damn, that was a great dream. I guess I'm sexually frustrated...yeah, that had to be it.
Kendall felt his cheeks getting hot as he recounted every moment of his dream.
"Shit!" James slammed his fist onto the counter. Anger, and disappointment in himself, pumped through his veins. "I don't know why, in the hell, I thought I could get away with this. She knows me. She can read me. I've got the worst poker face ever!"
James walked into his front room and flopped down on his couch. He stared at the ceiling, feeling like an ass.
My girlfriend is sick and I'm halfway across the country. I should be with her, not Kendall, but I'm afraid...afraid she'll find out what I've been keeping from her.
James pinched the bridge of his nose and released a heavy sigh.
Sweetness, I hope you understand that I kept this from you for your own good. Hell, how are you supposed understand that when I don't? I tried to protect you but all I did was break your heart and leave you with your ex-boyfriend who, I'm sure, would jump at the chance to have you back. How could I've been so stupid?
The doorbell rang, making James jump. Man, I am so on edge.
He made his way to the front door and opened it. His eyes came to rest on the tall, blonde woman with an overly flirtatious smile.
"Hey, handsome. Are you ready for me?"
Oh God, Sweetness, please forgive me.
Kendall left Francie a note when he left to go pick up Marley. She had slept all day and that brought some relief to Kendall's worries.
When the father and daughter returned home, Kendall helped Marley with her homework, allowing Francie to continue resting quietly. When the homework was completed, Kendall went to tell Francie that he would take Marley back to his house and make sure that she had a good dinner. He instructed Francie to try and get some more, much needed, rest.
Unfortunately, rest was not so easy for Francie to come by. Her mind was still clouded with doubt about her relationship with James.
I wish he would just be honest with me. Just be a man and admit the truth. The truth? I don't even know if I could deal with the truth. I just don't know much of anything anymore.
Tears sprung to Francie's eyes, she curled up into a ball, and cried herself into a fitful slumber.
Kendall brought Marley home later that evening. He had gotten a phone call through to Tiff, who agreed to meet with him later. Kendall saw this as promising, considering she hadn't been answering his phone calls at all.
Francie wished him luck and thanked him for everything he had done today, and off Kendall went, with high hopes that all would work out well with Tiff tonight.
"Hi Kendall. Come on in." Tiff stepped aside letting Kendall enter her house. She wore a smile on her face but it wasn't her usual one. This smile look forced, with a hint of sadness to it, it lacked warmth and caring. Worry flooded Kendall, he was sure this wasn't going to go as he had hoped.
"Hey, Sunny. Thanks for agreeing to see me tonight." He kept his hands tucked firmly into his pockets, Tiff didn't look like she would be willing to accept a hug.
"Can I get you something to drink?"
"No thanks, I'm good."
"Have a seat."
Kendall stepped into her living room and sat down on her couch. Tiff followed him over and sat at the opposite end, keeping plenty of room in between them.
That's not a good sign...
"So?" Kendall prompted Tiff to speak.
"Look, Kendall, I've thought a lot about this, and I don't think either one of us are ready for this relationship."
Kendall knitted his eyebrows together in puzzlement. "You don't think?"
"No, I don't. I just got out of a bad relationship with Andy, and you, well, you..." Tiff's words faded.
"I what?"
"Well, I honestly don't think you've moved on from Francie."
"What? What do you mean?" Kendall demanded.
"I mean just that. I don't think you've let her go. I mean, come on, you bought her old house, right next door to where she's living now, and you paid an astounding amount for it. How do you think that looks to me?"
"Um, like I'm trying to be a good father and stay close to my daughter." Kendall was sure his sarcastic tone wouldn't help matters much, but he couldn't help it.
"I know that's what you'd like to believe, but I have a hard time swallowing that. I think you're using Marley as an excuse to hold onto Francie."
"Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, Tiff, but you are way off base. All I'm trying to do is be a good dad to Marley. If you think that's wrong then I'm sorry."
"I don't think that's wrong, but I think there are other ways you could have gone about it."
"I bought that house to give Francie and Marley a chance to stay in the only home my daughter has known. I wanted to make sure they were safe and sheltered. I didn't know James was buying the house next door. It all just worked out this way. I had no master plan, no ulterior motives. All I want is my daughter in my life."
And Francie, too, Tiff thought.
"I understand that, Kendall. Look, I'm not ready for this either. Like I said, Andy and I had our issues, and now I need time to just figure out who I am and what I want. I'm really sorry."
"Yeah, me too." Kendall stood up and walked to the door. "For what it's worth, you're wrong. I was ready for this relationship, I was ready to have you in my life. I'm sorry you couldn't see that."
Tiff followed him to the door, "I don't want things to be awkward between us. I mean, I'm sure we'll see each other, now that you live here." Next door to Francie...
"I'm sure we will. Don't worry, no awkwardness. Still friends?"
Tiff's smile wasn't a forced one, her worries had been lifted once she spoke her peace to Kendall.
"Absolutely. Friends." She held her arms open to Kendall and he stepped into them, lightly hugging her as a friend would.
Kendall backed his car out of the driveway and headed home. His heart ached. He was ready for this relationship, he was ready for Tiff.
I though I had moved past Francie, I thought I'd let her go. Do I have feelings for her? Of course, but having Tiff lessened them. That dream didn't help things any, neither did finding out James is a lying, cheating, son of a bitch. If Francie wasn't in such an emotionally vulnerable state right now, I'd try to get her back. I swear I would.
Kendall hit his steering wheel. He couldn't believe he actually thought that.
God dammit! No I wouldn't. I want Tiff, I need her. I think I've even begun to love her. What the hell is the matter here? Can I not catch a freaking break? I love one woman, and she loves my best friend, I love another and she thinks I still love the first. I guess the only woman I'm ready to have in my life is my daughter.
Kendall drove home on the verge of tears, all the while, thinking of what he could have done differently but finding no solution. He hoped that Tiff would realize she was wrong, and then maybe they could be together. Maybe...
