I head toward home and there’s a comfortable silence. She’s staring out the window, humming, and I try to place the song.
“Nirvana? ‘Come As You Are’?” I ask.
“Yeah. They’re my favorite. Well, they were my mom’s favorite and listening to their music makes me feel closer to her. Don’t get me wrong, I love their music too, but the connection to my mom is special.”
“My mom loved Abba,” I say after a moment. “She would play them all the time so if their music ever comes on and I know every word, that’s why.”
“I like Abba,” she says. “And I love the movies.”
“I haven’t seen them,” I admit. “I was afraid it would remind me too much of Mom.”
“Well, if you ever want to try, I’m happy to watch them with you.”
“Next time we have date night it can be at the house and I can stream them.”
“Sounds fun.”
I pull up to the house and into my space in the garage.
“Wow, this place is almost as big as ours,” she says, looking around.
“Five bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms, five guys, and four parking spots.” I laugh. “And West has two cars so it’s a little complicated but it works out. Whoever’s outside has to drive with someone to practice. West and I go together a lot since we like to get there early. Simon and Felix ride together most of the time and Vik likes to go on his own. So far, it’s been seamless but I’m sure there will be times when we need to move things around. We’re all having duplicate keys made to hang on a ring in the mud room so if someone needs to move a car late at night, they can do it without having to disturb anyone.”
“That’s a good plan.”
“Except West’s Ferrari—that stays in the garage.”
“Now that’s a car I’d like to drive sometimes,” she says. “Assuming I learn to drive a regular car first.”
“I can teach you,” I offer amiably. “Have you driven at all?”
“I took driver’s ed in high school, which included both the book stuff as well as driving time, but it’s been seven years. I might be rusty.”
“That’s okay. We’ll find a place with a big parking lot—maybe one of those mega churches, like on a Thursday or whatever, when no one is there. And you can practice.”
“That sounds perfect. I’d really like that. Thank you.”
We walk into the house and it’s dark.
“Everyone is out except Vik,” I say. “My bedroom is the only one downstairs. With its own bathroom.”
“You lucked out.”
“West asked me first so I got to choose. He’s in the primary bedroom, of course, but that’s upstairs. Someday, with his permission, I’ll show it to you. There’s a fireplace built into the wall between the bedroom and bathroom, so you can use it in either room. It’s one of the two-sided ones. When I buy a house, I’m definitely getting that.”
“It sounds beautiful. I have a fireplace in my room, but it’s just a normal one, against the wall. No complaints, though. I can’t wait for the weather to change so I can use it.”
“I don’t have a fireplace, but I do have privacy.” I motion with my hand and let her walk in ahead of me. Leaving a door open is a signal that we’re not home, so everyone knows if the door is closed, someone is inside.
“Oh, it’s spacious!” she says when I turn on the light.
“The bathroom and closets are a good size too. It’s technically an in-law suite, so it’s meant to be comfortable. Sorry about the bed, by the way. I don’t usually make it.”
“I don’t either.” She sits on the edge and smiles up at me invitingly.
“Do you, uh, want to see the rest of the house?” I can’t believe it, but I’m nervous. Not about the sex but about the emotions that could potentially go with it. I don’t know if I’ve ever made love to a woman in the romantic sense of the term—it’s always been about fucking.
“No.” She pats the space beside her. “I want you to come sit next to me and tell me why you’re acting nervous all of a sudden.”
