Don't Forget
The Deal
Connor scratched the back of his head as he leaned back in his easy chair. The public place he chose was a hipster cafe where the coffee was way over caffeinated. Red Hot Chili Peppers Scar tissue thrummed softly over the sound system. Connor saw Eric enter and stood. Eric seemed taller. The last time they’d seen each other was the engagement party where he flaunted his prize. Today he wore a turtleneck that effectively covered his tattoo. He looked like more of the Wonder Boy he was. Connor tried not to smirk at the thought. They shook hands, even that felt too familiar between them.
“Eric,”
“Connor,”
“Please sit,” Connor said gesturing to the the other easy chair, “What would you like to drink?”
“Anything but coffee,” Eric said stifly.
“You don’t drink coffee?” Of course… Connor added mentally.
“Is that a problem?”
“No, no problem,” Connor said holding his hands up as if he was being held at gun point. This was probably a really bad idea. Connor scratched his head again. He realised now he ran the risk of making everything worse instead of helping. He went to get himself a coffee and Eric a Chai.He sat and Eric spoke first right away.
“Why did you call me here?”
“Got somewhere to be?”
“I’m just not a fan of wasting any of my life span on you.”
Connor sighed. Well at least we’re off to the best start. “There’s only one thing we could talk about.” Connor said matter-of-factly, “Mia.” Eric’s jaw was clenching. Jeez this kid really fucking hates me… Eric didn't speak after a few moments so Connor continued, “Did you hear she’s moving back to Cali?”
“So?”
“Nonchalance doesn't really suit you.”
“Wasting life span.” Eric said as if he was reminding Connor he was coming to the end of his lecture period.
“Then I’ll get right to the point.” Connor said, “I need your help.”
“In what world would I help you?”
“Because I’m not asking for me really,” Connor said, “I’m asking for Mia and the,” Stink-bag, Leech, Monster-Alien-Parasite, “baby. Whether I like it or not, she needs you.”
“She’s shown me on more than one occasion that if she needs anyone it’s you,” Eric pointed his chin, “not me. I’m done lying to myself about it.”
“Apparently not.” Connor snorted. Eric stood and Connor rushed ahead of him, “Wait, bad joke, I’m sorry.” Eric eyed him, “I’ll stop hand to God.” Connor said lifting his hand. Eric sat again.
Connor sighed as he took his seat. This wasn't supposed to be so hard. Connor was supposed to give a pep talk to Wonder Boy. Wonder Boy was supposed to willingly accept the advice and skip back to Mia, “How did she break it to you?” Connor asked.
“Why does that matter?”
“Because if she told you how she told me, she probably made you feel like she’s some one woman army. It’s all an act and in all honestly my fault. I’m sorry.”
“Nah it wasn't like that.” Eric said sipping his chai, “She begged me to stay, but I can’t just accept someone else’s child as mine.”
Connor’s heart pounded in his ears. What!
“She got a paternity test?”
“It’s too early and she refuses.” Eric said slumping in his seat, “You train her to be stubborn too?”
“Nah that came naturally.” Connor said sitting back in his seat.Ok...getting easier…”She told you about the training?”
“The only secrets Mia keeps from me are when she screwing around with you.”
OK, less easy…
“So it could be yours.”
“It could also be yours.”
“But it could be yours.” Connor insisted, "Just think about that. You could have everything you want,” Connor added when he saw Eric open his mouth to say something, “Besides me dying I mean.”
“I don’t want you dead.” Eric said, “I want you gone…”
Connor felt a pain in his chest. He hadn’t considered this. This was the farthest from his mind, but if it meant Mia would finally be happy and get everything she deserved, how could he say no?
“Fine,”
“What?” This wasn’t an answer Eric was expecting.
“If that’s what it takes to get you to go back to Mia fine, I’m gone.” Connor said. He scratched his head, “What am I supposed to tell her? I’m a good liar, but she can always tell.”
"That's my fault. Sorry," Eric smirked. Connor's mouth was dry. He hadn't considered all the time Mia had spent with Eric. Of course he effected her. “Don’t say anything.” Eric continued when Connor was silent for a beat, “Disappear.”
“That’ll hurt her...bad…” Connor said.
Eric was merciless, “She’’ll be sad, for a time, but I made her forget about you once. I can do it again.”
Connor wanted to punch him. That would help nothing, but it sure would feel better than this negotiation.
“What if the little monster gets sick or has an accident and needs a blood transfusion or something?”
“Then I’ll call you.” Eric said, "That is, if you're actually needed."
Mia will be happy.Mia will be happy.Mia will be happy. He repeated in his head so that he could force the word from his mouth, “Fine.”
Eric smiled and stuck out his hand, “We have deal then.” Connor felt sick as she shook Eric’s hand. It felt like he had just signed away his soul.
“Eric,”
“Connor,”
“Please sit,” Connor said gesturing to the the other easy chair, “What would you like to drink?”
“Anything but coffee,” Eric said stifly.
“You don’t drink coffee?” Of course… Connor added mentally.
“Is that a problem?”
“No, no problem,” Connor said holding his hands up as if he was being held at gun point. This was probably a really bad idea. Connor scratched his head again. He realised now he ran the risk of making everything worse instead of helping. He went to get himself a coffee and Eric a Chai.He sat and Eric spoke first right away.
“Why did you call me here?”
“Got somewhere to be?”
“I’m just not a fan of wasting any of my life span on you.”
Connor sighed. Well at least we’re off to the best start. “There’s only one thing we could talk about.” Connor said matter-of-factly, “Mia.” Eric’s jaw was clenching. Jeez this kid really fucking hates me… Eric didn't speak after a few moments so Connor continued, “Did you hear she’s moving back to Cali?”
“So?”
“Nonchalance doesn't really suit you.”
“Wasting life span.” Eric said as if he was reminding Connor he was coming to the end of his lecture period.
“Then I’ll get right to the point.” Connor said, “I need your help.”
“In what world would I help you?”
“Because I’m not asking for me really,” Connor said, “I’m asking for Mia and the,” Stink-bag, Leech, Monster-Alien-Parasite, “baby. Whether I like it or not, she needs you.”
“She’s shown me on more than one occasion that if she needs anyone it’s you,” Eric pointed his chin, “not me. I’m done lying to myself about it.”
“Apparently not.” Connor snorted. Eric stood and Connor rushed ahead of him, “Wait, bad joke, I’m sorry.” Eric eyed him, “I’ll stop hand to God.” Connor said lifting his hand. Eric sat again.
Connor sighed as he took his seat. This wasn't supposed to be so hard. Connor was supposed to give a pep talk to Wonder Boy. Wonder Boy was supposed to willingly accept the advice and skip back to Mia, “How did she break it to you?” Connor asked.
“Why does that matter?”
“Because if she told you how she told me, she probably made you feel like she’s some one woman army. It’s all an act and in all honestly my fault. I’m sorry.”
“Nah it wasn't like that.” Eric said sipping his chai, “She begged me to stay, but I can’t just accept someone else’s child as mine.”
Connor’s heart pounded in his ears. What!
“She got a paternity test?”
“It’s too early and she refuses.” Eric said slumping in his seat, “You train her to be stubborn too?”
“Nah that came naturally.” Connor said sitting back in his seat.Ok...getting easier…”She told you about the training?”
“The only secrets Mia keeps from me are when she screwing around with you.”
OK, less easy…
“So it could be yours.”
“It could also be yours.”
“But it could be yours.” Connor insisted, "Just think about that. You could have everything you want,” Connor added when he saw Eric open his mouth to say something, “Besides me dying I mean.”
“I don’t want you dead.” Eric said, “I want you gone…”
Connor felt a pain in his chest. He hadn’t considered this. This was the farthest from his mind, but if it meant Mia would finally be happy and get everything she deserved, how could he say no?
“Fine,”
“What?” This wasn’t an answer Eric was expecting.
“If that’s what it takes to get you to go back to Mia fine, I’m gone.” Connor said. He scratched his head, “What am I supposed to tell her? I’m a good liar, but she can always tell.”
"That's my fault. Sorry," Eric smirked. Connor's mouth was dry. He hadn't considered all the time Mia had spent with Eric. Of course he effected her. “Don’t say anything.” Eric continued when Connor was silent for a beat, “Disappear.”
“That’ll hurt her...bad…” Connor said.
Eric was merciless, “She’’ll be sad, for a time, but I made her forget about you once. I can do it again.”
Connor wanted to punch him. That would help nothing, but it sure would feel better than this negotiation.
“What if the little monster gets sick or has an accident and needs a blood transfusion or something?”
“Then I’ll call you.” Eric said, "That is, if you're actually needed."
Mia will be happy.Mia will be happy.Mia will be happy. He repeated in his head so that he could force the word from his mouth, “Fine.”
Eric smiled and stuck out his hand, “We have deal then.” Connor felt sick as she shook Eric’s hand. It felt like he had just signed away his soul.