She wrapped her skinny arms around my waist and the smell of her exotic perfume wafted in the air. “I’m glad Andrew found you,” she said.
“So am I.”
With one final squeeze, Candy and I separated. We waved goodbye to the rest of his family and climbed into Andrew’s car.
Cranking the heat, I blew on my hands. “I feel like it’s colder up here.”
“Probably because we are closer to the water.”
The McMansion faded into the distance as we drove down the winding gravel driveway. I would miss this place but Andrew and I would be back again. Candy had mentioned tentative plans for Christmas. I smiled at the image of lights strung along the eaves and carols sung around the grand piano. Last year, I’d spent Christmas watching ‘FRIENDS’ reruns with a microwave meal. Monica had been working, while my mom was my mom. Crazy how much could change within twelve months. Andrew turned on the radio to a jazz station. Miles Davis playing the saxophone streamed from the speakers.
“I love your family. You made it seem like they were super judgey and would greet me with pitchforks,” I said.
Andrew laughed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean for you to get that impression. My mom doesn’t normally warm up that quickly to my girlfriends like she did with you.”
“So I’m special?”
He looked at me from the corner of his eye. “Indubitably.”
“Nerd.”
With two hours of driving left, I opened the box and peeked inside. Like Candy had said, there were t-shirts, pants, and worn book covers of classics. What caught my eye though was a black leather jacket. It felt buttery between my fingers. A gasp dropped from lips when I read the label, Vince.
“What’s wrong? Did my sister sneak a fake rat in there?”
“No, it’s just this jacket….” I stared at if it was a cruel mirage. “This jacket cost more than I’m worth.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah! I can’t believe your mom gave this to me. It has to be at least five hundred dollars.” I folded the jacket over my knee while I continued to search through the box. The other clothes were equally as expensive. “I can’t accept this stuff, Andrew. It’s too much.”
“Of course you can. My sister and mom are designer whores. They give away perfectly good clothes just because they are not in season anymore.”
Acid crawled up my throat at the thought of them thinking I was their charity case of the month.
Andrew saw through my expression and squeezed my knee. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop. My mom knows what it’s like to have your home vanish. She wanted to help and that’s all. Same with my sister. Ok?”
“Ok,” I echoed.
“Besides, you deserve pretty things.”
I grinned and pressed my lips against the back of his hand. An overwhelming amount of affection toward Andrew swelled inside my heart. “Have I told you how much I like you? Because if I haven’t, it’s a lot.”
Andrew’s half lopsided smile was adorable to the ninth degree. If he wasn’t driving, I would have tackled him in a bear hug. “Say it again.”
“I like you a lot like donuts and coffee, a lot like fiery purple sunsets dipping into the ocean a lot.”
“Damn, how did I get so lucky to win your affection?”
“It was your mad ninja skills.”
Laughing, Andrew steered into the left lane toward Detroit. He peered at the box with curiosity. “What else is in there?”
“Ummm let me see.” Rifling through the clothes, my hand closed around a clear plastic bag. Inside was a ring that looked a lot like Brad’s fraternity ring.
Andrew’s eyes widened in excitement. “Yes! I was hoping that was in there. My mom actually listened to me.”
The ring was gaudy, not to mention screamed douche canoe. “Please don’t tell me you aren’t going to wear this in public.”
“Nah, but it does hold sentimental value.”
“Since my apartment burned to the ground, it has slowly dawned on me it is meaningless to attach value to objects. The real value is in the memories attached.”
“Who are you? And what you done with my girlfriend?” Andrew joked.
“Very funny.”
The rest of car ride we listened to the greatest hits of Miles Davis. The melody lulled me into a relaxed state. Kicking off my shoes, I rested my head against the window as the trees gave away to cityscape.
“Home, sweet home,” Andrew muttered.
“You ready?” We stood in the hallway outside the front door. Andrew had teased he had a surprise waiting for me when we got back home. As I was not a fan of surprises, I begged to know what he had up his sleeve. Andrew wouldn’t budge for anything. Sighing, my eyelids fluttered closed.
“Good girl,” he praised. “No peeking, you hear?”
His chest pressed against my back as he fit his hands over my eyes. We awkwardly marched into the apartment that smelled like roasted coffee beans.
“Did you get me a French press?” I guessed.
“Nope.”
We halted. My stomach fluttered with apprehension. “Did you get me a pony?”
“Where the hell would I put a pony?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “Your art studio?”
“Yeah like I would put a pony in my art studio. That’s an awesome idea.” Andrew’s tone dripped in sarcasm.
He grabbed my shoulders and positioned me to the right. Clapping his hands together, the sound echoed off the walls.
“Open,” Andrew said with a flourish.
Fluorescent pink assaulted my eyeballs and I blinked, unsure why it looked like Barbie had thrown up all over the walls. Until it hit me. Andrew had painted the hallway the obnoxious color he’d brought to Mallory’s house.
“This is…” I trailed off, lost for words.
“Awful, right?” He bounced on the balls of his feet and laughed. “I know. The color in the store was labeled as bubble gum pink but I had no idea how accurate that description was until now. Still, the triptych doesn’t look bad against it.”
The painting of my soul somehow balanced out the vividness of the backdrop. I tangled my arm around his waist, touched how above and beyond Andrew went for me.
“I love that you did this for me but I don’t need a reminder anymore that happiness is out there for me because I have you. You are my reminder.”
Andrew gazed down upon me, lifted my chin with his finger, and pressed his lips against mine. I slid my hands underneath his shirt, feeling the hard apex of his muscles. Lust shot straight between my legs.
“There is a reason that doors were invented. I suggest you guys use them when you are about jump each other’s bones.”
Andrew and I reluctantly broke apart. Matthew stood in the doorway in his usual uniform of ripped jeans and stained t-shirt. His hair was styled as if he’d gotten up that morning with the intention of trying, but gave up.
“You should quit your job as computer programmer and became an official cock blocker,” Andrew said to his best friend.
“Ha! You are hilarious, but not really.” Casting a glance at the pink wall, he squinted. “That’s interesting. Are you going for a certain theme or….”
I spoke. “Andrew’s apartment was a man den so I injected a dose of girliness.”
“Did you ever,” Matthew muttered.
“Is there a reason you stopped by?” Andrew asked, pointedly.
“Yeah, there is. I need to talk to you.”
“Ok, then talk.”
Matthew met my eyes then jerked his head toward the hallway. “Outside.”
Andrew kissed the top of my head. “I’ll be back.”
Burning with curiosity, I watched as they walked as far out of hearing range as possible. Since the hallway was the size of my thumb, I still could perceive snippets of their conversation. I inched closer but Matthew caught me eaves dropping and steered Andrew into his apartment. The door slammed shut. Reason number one why I hadn’t become a spy. My feet were as heavy as cement blocks. Minutes later, Andrew returned alone. His carefree expression was gone and replaced by undeniable tension. Whatever Matthew had divulged had thrown him through a loop.