But now comes the inevitable. How am I going to face Evan as we head full swing into holiday season? I probably should have thought about that before I started handing out pieces of my underwear as souvenirs.
That answer will have to come at another time, because pure exhaustion prevails and I finally fall asleep, still dressed in his T-shirt.
* * *
“YOU DID WHAT?!” Nikki gasps as the piece of waffle falls from her fork midway to her mouth.
I shrug, “Yep, that’s everything. I was mortified this morning, but this mimosa is making me feel much better about my current life choices,” I say as I lift the glass up to my mouth for another sip. Nikki rips it from my hand and sets it down on the table, causing half of the contents to spill.
Thank God for bottomless mimosas I guess.
“Ok, I’m gonna need a little bit more than ashrug and sipas a response Amelia! This is better than if you guys actually had sex. You totally mind fucked him!” She starts to dab fake tears away from her eyes. “I’m so proud of you I could cry.”
I swat her hand away from her face and take my glass back. “I mean yeah, it was a huge deal. I mean, it’s Evan for fuck’s sake. The person who not only has become more of a God in my mind, but to the rest of the world as well.” I sigh as I lean back in my chair, but then feel a slow smile unfold across my lips, replaying the feeling of Evan pressed against my back.
“Oh God are you having sexy thoughts right here and now? Am I gonna have to ask for a mop? Clean up on aisle 7?” Nikki laughs.
“You know what’s even crazier about this whole thing? As mortified as I am, I don’t regret it. Not one bit. I feel like a part of me has been wanting to be bold with Evan ever since I first laid eyes on him. Which I know is pathetic, I’m almost thirty. I know I shouldn’t still be hung up on my first crush, but Nikki you just had to see the look on Evan’s face. It felt as if I were having an outer body experience with a front row seat to our interaction.” I look out the window and chuckle. “I’m sorry for ditching your thong by the way.”
“That thing needs to be put in the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum.” She smiles as we clink our glasses together.
“Anyways, at least I have almost a week until I have to see him for Thanksgiving. Which will give me plenty of time to figure out how I want to play this. Feigning amnesia is on the table.” I take a big bite out of my French toast. “But seriously, we need to hurry up and eat. We’re supposed to be at my dad’s at noon to start decorating and setting up for his birthday party. It’s his first one since…you know… and I want to make sure it doesn’t turn into another memorial service. Today we are showing grieving boomers how to have fun!”
15
Evan
I’ve spentthe last two hours at the gym, and I still feel just as wound up as when I first got here. I keep looking at my phone, thinking about texting Amelia, but what would I even say? I keep hoping that she’ll text me, but she obviously won’t. She already left me a handwritten note this morning, along with a special little something. I should be embarrassed that I’m a grown ass man that can’t keep from blushing every time I think about her leaving her underwear at my place. Was she sending me a message? Am I supposed to dry clean and return it? Is it meant to stay at my place for her to wear? Is it a taunt?
Of course it’s a taunt. Only Amelia has the power to get under my skin like this, but that was a well kept secret until last night. Now she knows, and I’m terrified of how she plans on abusing that power.
I’m about to call it at the gym, when I get a hard smack on my shoulder. I turn around and see Antonio with an exaggerated angry face. I panic for a minute, did Amelia tell him about last night?
Then he says, “You don’t call, you don’t write...” We laugh and I bring him in for a sweaty hug and pat on the back.
“Sorry man, got back last week, still getting acclimated to being back in the city.”
“Acclimated?” he asks.
“Yeah, I’m officially here full-time. Surprise,” I say with a tilt of my head and a half grin.
“What the hell man, you move back to the city and don’t even give your best bro a heads up?” he complains.
Guilt creeps up on me. I know I’ve been a shitty friend the past few years. Letting work take up all of my time and energy. But this move will change that.
“I know, I’m sorry man. That’s on me. I’ve been worked to the bone lately trying to get a business deal and this move done. But I’m here now, and I’m making it a point to have a life outside of my office now.” Antonio is still giving me the side eye. So I continue, “Let me make it up to you. I’ll have friendship bracelets made, and I’ll take you out for beers.”
This makes him laugh and he concedes, “Ok, hard pass on the bracelets, the guys on the force would never let me live that down, but absolutely on the beers.”
“I’m free later,” I say. “You on patrol tonight?”
“No, I’m off today, but I’ve got to head to my dad’s birthday party later.” He pauses. “Actually, you should swing by. Everyone will be there. They’ll be happy to see that the prodigal son has returned,” he says with a deep chuckle.
I pause before I answer. Amelia will be there. Obviously. I need to be careful; Antonio is Amelia’s brother and my best friend. Plus, he owns a gun and knows how to use it.
I still don’t know how she’ll react to seeing me, but maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe I should try to reclaim a bit of that power that Amelia took from me last night.
“You know what, that sounds good. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
