Admission by Travis Thrasher Page A

weed. He drained his drink and stood up off the bar stool.
    “Where are you going?” I asked.
    “Just to get some fresh air.”
    “Sit down.”
    “Huh?”
    “Sit down,” I ordered again. “Look—I know we got the okay from Mr. Jelen for you to tag alongside of me. But this isn’t some spring break or something.”
    “You better be lucky it ain’t,” Bruce said, a darkness in his tone.
    “What’s that mean?”
    “You know what that means.”
    “You got something to tell me?”
    Bruce sat down again and cursed. “Man, nobody told anybody
anything
. Nothing. If I had something to say I’d say it, but I don’t. I just have my ideas, you know. Thoughts.”
    “Like?”
    “Like it’s better not to think of them. Like it’s better to try and get rid of them.”
    “And getting high is the answer?”
    Bruce just laughed. “No. I just like it.”
    “Don’t rub it in my face.”
    “I recall smoking a few bongs with you.”
    I nodded. “I never did like pot. You know that.” I looked around the mostly empty bar. “Let’s give him another hour.”
    “Then?”
    I shrugged. “Then we go get a hotel room.”
    Bruce ordered another drink and we waited in silence.
    “Are you going to call her?” he asked.
    “I wasn’t planning on it.”
    Bruce just looked at me.
    “What?”
    “You want to call Alyssa as bad as I want to go take a smoke break.”
    “That sounds really romantic.”
    “Call her,” Bruce said. “Ask her out. Make it no pressure. Tell her your pathetic, burnt-out college buddy will be there too.”
    “Bruce—”
    “I’m just joking. Come on.”
    But this time I knew Bruce was right. I picked up the cell phone sitting on the table in front of me and pressed a number on my speed dial that I had programmed in a few days ago.
    The phone rang four times before I got her voice mail. It was amazing. Just the sound of her voice felt refreshing and got me in a different mood.
    “Leave a message at the tone, and I’ll make sure to get back to you,” she said so politely.
    “Hi, Alyssa. It’s Jake. And Bruce too. We’re back in Chicago. We were trying to hook up with Franklin tonight, but it didn’t work out, I guess. We’re going to be staying close to Summit, and I just thought—well, maybe we could all get together. For coffee or whatever. So give me a call if you’d like.”
    I gave her my number and then clipped the phone shut.
    “‘For coffee or whatever.’ What was that?”
    “What?” I asked Bruce.
    “You need to take her out to a nice dinner.
Alone
. I’ll be overstuffed baggage.”
    “You just said—”
    “Yeah, I know what I said. Saying my name will make her more at ease. Take off any pressure. But I’m leaving the two of you alone.”
    “Bruce—”
    “What?”
    “It’s not like that.”
    He nodded, his long hair flopping in his eyes. He brushed it back and laughed. “It’s not like what? Dude, you were in love with this girl since the day you met her. I mean obsessed sorta love, you know? You remember how many nights we sat around talking about her? If you don’t, well, I sure do, man. And it’s cool. You know. Sometimes you’re given a second chance.”
    “That was a long time ago.”
    Bruce cursed. “Wasn’t
that
long ago. I mean, look at us. Does it feel
that
long ago?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “So she’s divorced. So what?”
    “I’m not saying that’s the problem. It’s just—I’m sure it’s the last thing she wants.”
    “And you’d think I’d be the one with less sense. Dude, she like called you. Out of the blue. Remember? You said she called and it was like this totally magical night.”
    “All right. Easy there, killer.”
    “I’m just trying to get some sense in you.”
    I nodded and watched him stand up.
    “I’m going outside for a little smoke. Want to join me?”
    I shook my head, knowing Bruce was a hopeless cause. I told him we’d take off in five minutes.

    Franklin’s being a no-show didn’t surprise me. What