Lost and Found

23 October

I threw the gym bag over my shoulder as I slammed the car door and trudged up Hilly's driveway, around back of the garage to the patio and stopped cold. I unconsciously allowed the thing to slide off my arm to the ground as I saw Hilly clearing the table and Jack dousing the coals in his grille. The party, it seemed, had concluded without me.

"Where's Colin? In your family room watching himself on the silver screen?"

"No."

"Loo?"

"No."

"Kitchen then, doing dishes?"

Jack and Hilly exchanged pained glances.

"You didn't let him ride! Jack?"

I swung around and looked into the garage to find Miss Cherry, as pristine and vain as ever, in her usual place and let out a relieved sigh.

"What?"

Jack returned his attentions to things that didn't need to be done. No guess he was avoiding answering me.

"Hilly?"

"He left Di."

"What do you mean he left? Left to where? When?....  Why?"

"I can answer the when. The other two would be speculation."

"I guess he's not going with us then?"

"I don't know."

"What the hell do you know?"

"What do I know!?! I'll tell you what I know! I've spent the last few hours entertaining a person that seemed ready to jump out of his skin or off my roof. Turn around... see those tire marks - your boyfriend did that! Peeled out of here like he was qualifying for Indy. He moped around here waiting for you like a lost soul. He was under my feet and in my hair. And the topper... in an attempt to help, Mr. Clumsy broke my refrigerator door - go look -  you'll see!  

I exhaled a long exasperated breath and flopped on the picnic bench. I really didn't mean to take out my frustrations on Diane. I knew I was rambling, but the last few hours had taken their toll. I crossed my arms on leaned them on the table.

"Maybe he's really a schizo and off his meds."

I rifled through my gym bag and pulled out my cell phone, then left them in my dust to find a private spot indoors. I went upstairs to the far bedroom, Callie's. She was in her own place now, so I wasn't intruding on anyone. It was just quiet and if I was followed it would be awhile before anyone would reach me. By the time I was finished my call I wasn't sure if I was angry or..... angry. Two very different states of mind. I made my way back to my bag, snatched it up and found my hosts in the kitchen.

"He's going. He's at his hotel, getting dressed. I better change so we can get there for some of the tailgating. I could use one of those wine coolers about now."

Nothing much was said as I changed for the game and we piled into Jack's car for the side trip we now had to take to get downtown and then head for San Marcos. We'd lose a good fifteen minutes of tailgating and a parking spot inside the main lot. Meaning we would now have to walk further than I wanted too, losing out on even more of the fun. As we navigated north on Congress Avenue I made the call Colin had asked for. We'd be there in less than five minutes. He'd be waiting.

Jack pulled up to the front of the hotel and placed the car in park. When Diane didn't immediately exit, he turned around to her.

"You going in?"

"He said he'd be waiting outside... there, there he is."

Colin saw us and got in the car. His attire was surprising, he was more dressed up for a football game than I had seen him for some premieres. A white button down shirt, tucked in, with black jeans, topped off with that old leather coat. I gave Di, one of my famous, "what the fuck?" looks, which she returned with her "I have no fucking clue!" look. Then leave it to Jack to ask the question that we didn't dare.
"Dude, a leather jacket?"
"It's October, Jack"
"It's Texas. I'd lose it if I were you."
The ride to Texas State was always short, but this one felt like we were traveling cross country. Colin did comply with taking the jacket off, for now was my guess. But then he started acting like he was about fifteen. It was cute, I supposed, and it was flattering but it was more than bewildering. I managed to catch a peek now and then at the mile marker signs that weren't going by quickly enough; even if Jack had a heavy foot and eighty was eking up to eighty-five.

Jack kept checking his rearview mirror, shaking his head and scowling. I thought some moron was riding his ass and I turned around to see what was pissing him off. The moron he was pissed at turned out to be Colin and the scene reminded me of something from high school. Colin was attempting to cop a feel and Diane kept slapping and pushing his hand away.

"So Di, is Thom meeting us there?"

Smooth Jack, real smooth, I thought as I gave him a poke on his thigh. 

Jack had caught my attention, but more so Colin's. It was a given Jack's question more than pissed him off. I tried to downplay it as best I could.

"No, he called me between seminars today. Stuck in the windy city. Probably till Thursday, Wednesday earliest."

I wasn't about to say any more as the ride got uneasily quiet. Finally, and none too soon, Jack careened off the interstate at exit 204.

I could feel Hilly throwing daggers at me with her eyes. I knew she was less than pleased with the speed of our vehicle, but I wanted to get to the stadium and out of the car as soon as possible. I couldn't help but feel this whole day was a bad idea from the get go and I wanted it to end. Speed seemed the most efficient way to accomplish this. I had never, in my life, felt more relief after that last mile was behind me and I turned into the parking lot.