chapter thirty-two
We never got around to decorating Andrew’s tree that night.
By the time we’d finally untangled from each other it was late. Dude needed to go out, and I had to get home to Birdie and Edith. We’d kept it casual as I gathered my things to go, but it felt like there was a blinking neon sign between us advertising “live nude fun.”
I’d felt nervous as Andrew walked me to the door. Was he going to give me a high five? A hug? What were we to each other? I’d forced myself to repeat a mantra:we’re having fun, we’re having fun, we’re having fun. Maybe if I said it enough I’d figure out what we meant by it?
The goodbye issue was settled when I paused at the door to pet Dude. The moment I’d straightened up Andrew had gently grasped my shoulders, pulled me to him, and planted a kiss on my lips that almost had me dragging him back to the bedroom.
Focusing on my classes the following day was all but impossible. My three privates had gone well enough, but by the afternoon I kept glancing out the door for glimpses of Andrew. I’dseen him walk by with Dude and I was tempted to go out and say hi, but I wasn’t sure if we were at the I-wanted-to-see-your-face-so-I-ran-out-into-the-cold-without-a-jacket-and-oh-God-I-really-want-to-kiss-you-now stage. We’d texted, but we were both busy and more importantly, we didn’t owe each other anything anyway.
Just fun.
I’d finished my day with my intermediate class, which was a cakewalk filled with overachievers on both ends of the leash. I was on autopilot the entire time, but not a single student was aware of the fact that I couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened the night before, and my intense need for it to happen again.
Although I’d have to wait at least until tomorrow.
“Dinner’s here!”
My mom’s voice echoed around Frolic, and Edith took off for her.
“Please don’t let her jump on you!” I warned. “We’re working on polite greetings.”
I jogged over to them and Edith was spinning in happy circles but not jumping, which was good enough for me. There was something about my mom that all dogs loved. Even ones passing her on the street turned to watch her walk by like the cheating boyfriend in the meme. When I got to them she was greeting Edith with one hand while holding a pizza box up with the other.
“Thanks for bringing it, I’m starving.”
“I’m so excited to decorate with you,” she said, stepping over Edith, who managed to place her body exactly where my mom was trying to walk. “Thank you for inviting me.”
We leaned into a hug and kiss and did the usual compliment inventory on each other’s clothing and hair before moving on toher visions for Frolic. No one loved decorating for the holidays more than my mom. She switched out the wreath on the front door for the nondominant ones like July 4th and Valentine’s Day, but every other holiday was Manhattan Macy’s-window-level decorating. I’d told her that I had everything I needed yet I could guarantee that there was a box sitting in the back of her car ready to be called into service.
I gave Edith a new bully stick and we spread out the pizza box on the table just outside my office. “What would you like to drink? I’ve got water or beer.”
My mom shimmied her shoulders and grinned at me. “I’d love to have a beer with my daughter.”
I laughed. Her favorite thing in the world was hanging with me and Taylor. As we ate I explained the logistics of my decorating scheme, which was basically “multicolored explosion” since I hadn’t picked a real theme this year.
“That’s going to be lovely,” she said. “And I have some ideas as well. I brought a box—”
“Of course you did,” I laughed and she gave me a guilty shrug.
She caught me up on the latest home renovation gossip from Taylor’s kitchen and the state of the union between the parents-to-be, as well as the latest from her book club. We were so focused on deciding if her friend Louise, who never read any of the books, should still be invited to come when there was a knock at my door, then a voice.
“Hello? You still here?”
My heart seized. Andrew.
“Yup, in back, with mymom.” I put emphasis on the word so he wouldn’t yell anything inappropriate about what he wanted to do to me, even though I was curious about the possibilities.
Edith careened toward him with the bone hanging out of her mouth like a cigar and I heard his voice go up as he greeted her.
“Neighbor Andrew?” my mom whispered.
I nodded, trying to remain nonchalant.
Her mouth went into an O of recognition and my heart dropped to my feet. The timing was all wrong. We’d just had sexlast nightand I hadn’t talked to him in person since.
He came around the corner looking absolutely devastating and immediately focused on my mom. “Hi, Mrs. Higgins, I’m Andrew. We met years ago, but you probably don’t remember.”
