He had told Ali that he loved her.
Would he have done so — said “I love you” like that — if Jessica hadn’t visited him last night?
Yes.
Are you sure about that, Myron?
His cell phone rang. “Hello?”
“Do you plan on sitting out in the car all night?”
He felt his heart soar at the sound of Ali’s voice. “Sorry, just thinking.”
“About me?”
“Yes.”
“About what you’d like to do to me?”
“Well, not exactly,” he said. “But I can start now, if you want.”
“Don’t bother. I got it all planned out already. You’ll only interfere with what I’ve come up with.”
“Do tell.”
“I’d rather show. Come to the door. Don’t knock. Don’t talk. Jack is asleep and Erin is upstairs on her computer.”
Myron hung up. He caught his reflection — the goofy smile — in the car’s rearview mirror. He tried not to sprint to the door, but he couldn’t help but do one of those run-walks. The front door opened as he approached. Ali had her hair down. Her blouse was clingy and red and shiny. It stretched at the top, just asking to be unbuttoned.
Ali put a finger to her lips. “Shh.”
She kissed him. She kissed him hard and deep. He felt it in his fingertips. His body sang. She whispered in his ear, “The kids are upstairs.”
“So you said.”
“I’m usually not much of a risk-taker,” she said. Then Ali licked his ear. Myron’s entire body jerked in pleasure. “But I really, really want you.”
Myron held back the quip. They kissed again. She took his hand, quickly leading him down the hall. She closed the kitchen door. They went through the family room. She closed another door.
“How’s the couch work for you?” she said.
“I don’t care if we do it on a bed of nails at half court at Madison Square Garden.”
They dropped to the couch. “Two closed doors,” Ali said, her breathing heavy. They kissed again. Their hands began to wander. “No one can sneak up on us.”
“My, haven’t we been planning,” Myron said.
“Pretty much all day.”
“Worth it,” he said.
She wiggled her eyebrows. “Oh, just you wait and see.”
They kept their clothes on. That was the most amazing thing. Sure, buttons were undone and zippers were lowered. But they’d kept their clothes on. And now, as they panted in each other’s arms, fully spent, Myron said the same thing that he said every time they finished.
“Wow.”
“You’ve got quite the vocabulary.”
“Never use a big word when a small one will suffice.”
“I could make a crack here, but I won’t.”
“Thank you,” he said. Then: “Can I ask you something?”
Ali snuggled closer. “Anything.”
“Are we exclusive?”
She looked at him. “For real?”
“I guess.”
“It sounds like you’re asking me to go steady.”
“What would you say if I did?”
“Asked me to go steady?”
“Sure, why not?”
“I’d exclaim, ‘Oh yes!’ Then I’d ask if I can doodle your name on my notebook and wear your varsity jacket.”
He smiled.
Ali said, “Does your asking have anything to do with our earlier exchange of I-love-yous?”
“I don’t think so.”
Silence.
“We’re adults, Myron. You can sleep with whomever you wish.”
“I don’t want to sleep with anyone else.”
“So why are you asking me this right now?”
“Because, well, before? I don’t, uh, think very clearly when I’m in a state of, you know…” He sort of gestured. Ali rolled her eyes.
“Men. No, I mean, why tonight. Why did you ask about exclusivity tonight?”
He debated what to say. He was all for honesty, but did he really want to get into Jessica’s visit? “Just clarifying where we stand.”
Footsteps suddenly began to pound down the stairs.
“Mom!”
It was Erin. A door — that first of two doors — banged open.
Myron and Ali moved with a speed that would intimidate NASCAR. Their clothes were on, but like a couple of teenagers, they made sure everything was fastened and tucked in by the time the second doorknob began to turn. Myron jumped to the other side of the couch as Erin threw open the door. They both tried to wipe the look of guilt off their faces with mixed results.
Erin burst into the room. She looked at Myron. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Ali finished adjusting her shirt. “What’s wrong, honey?”
“You better come quick,” Erin said.
“Why, what’s up?”
“I was on the computer, instant messaging with my friends. And just now — I mean, like thirty seconds ago — Aimee Biel signed on and said hello to me.”
CHAPTER 45
They all hurried up to Erin’s room.
Myron took the stairs three at a time. The house shook. He didn’t much care. The first thing that struck him when he entered the bedroom was how much it reminded him of Aimee’s. The guitars, the photographs in the mirror, the computer on the desk. The colors were different, there were more pillows and stuffed animals, but you would have no doubt that both rooms belonged to high school girls with much in common.
Myron headed to the computer. Erin came in behind him, Ali after her. Erin sat at the computer and pointed to a word:
GuitarlovurCHC.
“CHC stands for Crazy Hat Care,” Erin said, “the name of the band we were forming.”
Myron said, “Ask Aimee where she is.”
Erin typed: WHERE ARE YOU? Then she hit the return button.
Ten seconds passed. Myron noticed the icon on Aimee’s profile. The band Green Day. Her wallpaper was for the New York Rangers. When she typed back a sliver of her “buddy sound,” a song from Usher, came through the speakers:
I can’t say. But I’m fine. Don’t worry.
Myron said, “Tell her that her parents are upset. That she should call them.”
Erin typed: YOUR PARENTS ARE FREAKING OUT. YOU NEED TO CALL THEM.
I know. But I’ll be home soon. I’ll explain everything then.
Myron thought how to approach this. “Tell her I’m here.”
Erin typed: MYRON IS HERE.
Long pause. The cursor blinked.
I thought you were alone.
SORRY. HE’S HERE. NEXT TO ME.
I know I got Myron in trouble. Tell him I’m sorry, but I’m fine.
Myron thought about it. “Erin, ask her something only she would know.”
“Like what?”
“You guys have private talks, right? Share secrets?”
“Sure.”
“I’m not convinced it’s Aimee. Ask her something only you and she would know.”
Erin thought a moment. Then she typed: WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE BOY I HAVE A CRUSH ON?
The cursor blinked. She wasn’t going to answer. Myron was pretty sure about that. Then GuitarlovurCHC typed:
Did he finally ask you out?!?!
Myron said, “Insist on a name.”
“Already on it,” Erin said. She typed: WHAT’S HIS NAME?
I have to go.