“Hey,Andy.” I closed my eyes at the sound of his name for me. “How you doin’?”
Theway he said it would’ve made me laugh months ago, with visions ofFriends’Joey Tribianni in my head. But now, I only smiled, biting my lip and enjoyingthe warmth that coursed through my veins and settled in the lowest part of mybelly.
“I’mokay,” I answered quietly, almost shy. “How are you?”
“Good,good. No. You know what? I’m fuckin’great. It’s beautiful up here. Andmy brother just had this gorgeous in-ground pool put in, so you know where I’mgonna be.”
Imagesof Vinnie in a pair of trunks, wet, shirtless, and bathed in sunlight, cloudedthe cluster of landscaping before me. I wondered exactly what he looked likeshirtless. I wondered if he had a thick blanket of chest hair or if he shaved.I wondered what his skin smelled like, tasted like, looked like in the sun. Iclosed my eyes, ignored the two other hospital personnel occupying the otherbenches in the atrium, and envisioned his hands in my hair, his tongue in mymouth, and his body pressed against mine.
“Soundsnice,” I replied.
“Whatare you doin'?”
Swallowingat the dryness in my mouth and throat, I said, “Sitting outside. Why?”
“Oh... you just sound out of breath. Thought you were running or somethin'.”
Mycheeks singed with embarrassment. “No, I'm just,” I cleared my throat and shoveda hand into my pulled-back hair. “It's hot, so ...”
“Hm.Yeah, I'm dyin' up here. Z and Grey went to grab some burgers and dogs to throwon the grill, but they're comin' back soon. Otherwise I'd go skinny dipping.”
Howcruel, I thought, shifting on the stone bench, and wiping a handover my face. I laughed awkwardly, too awkwardly, then answered withoutcomposure, “Yeah, I wish.”
Thewords were out before I could stop them from dropping from my lips and I laid ahand over my eyes, wishing I also possessed the ability to disappear.
Vinniewas momentarily quiet, allowing my flickering humility to build until my faceand gut were both ablaze. I wasn't smooth. I wasn't skilled in the art ofwooing. I could respond with enough tact, but making that first move? Thatwasn't typically my thing, with the exception of our first kiss, and I wassuffering the aftereffects of that now, scorched cheeks and all.
“Youwish, huh?” he finally responded, his voice low and gruff.
“Um...” It was too late. I couldn't rewind and erase. I could only accept and own.So, I replied, “Yeah. I-I wish I was there.”
“Iwish you were, too.”
Iwas suddenly sixteen and on the brink of a major breakthrough with my biggestcrush. Here it was, that big confession, the big turning point in what seemedlike a fling of innocent sweet nothings and sweeter kisses. The bench I sat onwas my bed, the slim phone in my hand was thicker and heavier, and the ghostswere nothing but curious illusions.
“God,I just saw you yesterday, but I miss you. How fuckin' ridiculous is that?” Helaughed, deep and rough, and I said I missed him, too. His laughter fadedgently, and he said, “You should come by my place tomorrow.”
Theknots in my gut tightened as my excitement piqued. “I should, huh?”
“Yeah,you should.”
“Whatabout your dad?” God, it felt ridiculous to ask.
“Ican be quiet if you can.”
Ibit my bottom lip with the promise that this was happening, before replying, “Ican try.”
Vinniegroaned in a way that made my entire body feel filthy and my mind evenfilthier. Immediately I envisioned us, alone and in bed, and I wished so badlyI was at home, behind my closed bedroom door and not in this atrium.
“God,you shouldn't do that,” I whispered into the phone, glancing at a doctor aboutsix feet away. “I'm still at work.”
“Dammit.So, I guess phone sex is out of the question, then, huh?”
“What?Seriously?”
Hislaugh bubbled through the phone, bordering on a giggle, and the butterflies in myheart joined those fluttering in my stomach. “Nah, I'm kiddin'. I can't do thatshit. Makes me feel weird. And besides, the first time we do anything likethat, it's gonna be you and me. That's it.”
Mystomach dropped with a swoop of nervous anticipation. “Tomorrow night,” I saidby way of confirmation, chewing on my lower lip and glancing away from thedoctor.
