Fireworks ignite inside me thinking about Oliver having extra energy because of me.
“I have no doubt it’s because of the hot waitress from the hotel’s lounge that keeps bringing out cold drinks to him. I offered to stay and do the digging, but he insisted I come get the plants. It’s about time he decided to get dirty with something other than actual dirt.” Chance chuckles as he starts to load up the back of the truck.
The fireworks fizzle out. I could easily dismiss the waitress comment from Chance, after all, I’m sure he thinks all men are like him, but I can’t figure out why Oliver sent Chance to get the plants, knowing I’d be here.
“You make it sound like Oliver’s a monk or something.”
“Might as well be. I can’t share why, but I can say he hasn’t had sex in … years. So naturally he has to be ready to explode and that waitress is definitely the spark that could set him off.”
“I didn’t need to know that.” I try to sound offended by yet another brash comment from Chance, but the truth is I do need to know this. Shit! It hits me how close to losing it Oliver probably is especially after what I did to him, or didn’t do to him last night.
“Yeah, well don’t mention it to him. It’s a sensitive subject,” he says while loading the last plant.
“Because you know I have a habit of discussing people’s sex lives, especially those I’ve known less than a week.” I shake my head trying to not overshoot my why-would-I-bring-it-up-to-Oliver attitude.
“Fair point.” Chance smiles. “Stay gorgeous.”
I want to be pissed and rant about how all men are the same, but I was the one who had the orgasm the other night. Hell, I asked for it! The pang of disappointment is from cracking the door to let in the possibility that Oliver is different, that his eyes could see me and not my scars.
Oliver
I can’t remember the last time I wanted time to fly. That’s probably the reason I feel stuck and lost. When I stopped running from my past but hadn’t yet looked to my future, time stood still. I’ve heard that’s considered living in the moment, but I think that requires a certain amount of appreciation for that moment. So for me, looking at my watch and anticipating something in my future, even if it’s only a few hours into my future, should be considered real progress. Once again, I’m self-diagnosing and self-treating my screwed-up mind. It’s money in the bank.
“What the hell has gotten into you today?” Chance asks. “You’ve been working circles around me and still have energy to burn.”
“I always work circles around you.” I chuckle.
“Maybe, but not like this. Are you taking something? Should I be worried? Should I be taking it too?”
“I had a good weekend, that’s all.”
“Good, as in your favorite scotch was on sale or good as in good company?” Chance leans on the handle of his shovel stuck in the ground while I continue to work those circles around him.
“I met one of my neighbors and we went for ice cream.”
“A female neighbor?”
I laugh. “Yes, I believe she is of that gender.”
“Well, shit, Oliver, is she hot?”
“How about is she nice, fun, what does she do? Not, is she hot?”
“You’re right, how could I be so insensitive. Is she nice looking? Fun in bed? What does she do in bed?”
“I think this conversation has expired and so have I for the day.” I toss the tools in the back of the truck and grab my water bottle.
“Okay, fine. Just tell me if I would like her?” Chance removes his gloves and wipes his brow.
“You do realize that doesn’t take much. In fact, as I recall, two breasts and a vagina are usually the only mandatory requirements. Except if you’ve had too much to drink, in which case a transvestite with a padded bra can turn your head or heads as well.”
“Fuck you!” He makes an attempt to look offended, but it’s a futile one.
Even Chance can’t spoil my giddy mood today, so I go ahead and get in a good laugh. “Sorry, man, I couldn’t resist. The answer to your question is yes. Something tells me you would undoubtedly like her.”
I’m not trying to hide the truth, but rather I’m trying to protect my fragile and undefined relationship with Vivian for a little bit longer.
“When do I get to meet her?”
We both get in the truck. “I’ll reveal her if and when the time is right.”
“Reveal? What the hell does that mean? Damn, Oliver, is she under age?”
“Yep, you got me. Figured I’d add statutory rape to the Konrad family rap sheet.”
Fuck! I can’t believe I just said that.
“Oliver––”
“Don’t, please, just forget I said that. Okay? Just … don’t.”
Chance nods and we ride the rest of the way in silence.
We haven’t exchanged numbers so I can’t call her, but since I’m dying to see her, a knock on the door feels perfectly appropriate.
“Just a minute.” I hear her muffled voice. “Oh God, what are you doing here?” she calls from the other side of the door. I assume she’s looking through the peephole.
“Well, if I were God my answer would be, ‘I’m here because I’m everywhere, my dear child,’ but since I’m not actually God, then I’m going to go with I’m here to see your lovely face.” I smile big in front of the peephole.
“Ugh!” She moans. “Can you just say you’re here to see me?”
“O–kay. I’m here to see you.”
The door cracks open and I see a curtain of black hair covering her face as she looks down. “See me? Now can you come back next week?”
“Vivian, what’s the—” I brush her hair away from her face. I’ve seen enough in my life that very little shocks me. The downside is my mind has an endless stock of images to use when my brain decides to conjure up a good nightmare. The upside is I have unwavering control over my reactions to certain things, Vivian’s face for example. It’s bright red, puffy, and raw in several places. It looks like she found a hole in the ozone layer and stood under it too long. However, I know from a few legal cases I helped with in school, that she probably had a chemical peel today.
“I thought we could get some Indian food tonight. We could go out or order in, doesn’t matter to me.” I find a comfortable neutral with my look.
“Are you blind?”
My brow tenses. “No, I’ve never even needed glasses.”
She points to her face. “This. Is this the lovely face you came to see?” The tone to her voice doesn’t say anger, it’s more incredulity.
“Yes, it is.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t know what your game is but whatever. Alex will be home soon so we can eat at your place. Apparently you don’t see why, but I’d prefer to stay in tonight.”
“Whatever you’d like.”
Chapter Six
No Take Backs
Vivian
Growing up with little money makes me a sucker for a good deal. Intending to own my own company someday makes me a stickler for a real deal. LivingSocial has some genuine deals if one does their research. I did mine and found a reputable place to get a chemical peel for half off. Alex has had several over the past few years, but she thought, given my history, it was odd that I wanted to try one. I did and now I’m dealing with the “minor” redness and swelling, and it’s because of my history that I am an expert on it and it is, relatively speaking, minor.