Kim: And in all seriousness, please talk to Russell about anything that is on your mind regarding Claire.
April: Yeah, don’t be afraid to ask him the questions that are on your mind.
Ryan: I will talk to him and ask him anything that comes up.
I glanced at the clock on the laptop when my phone lit up with a text from Russell. He said that he was getting ready to leave his place and would be here within ten minutes. Shit! I needed to change. As I thought about the lack of wine, I grabbed the phone.
Ryan: Okay, I will have dinner just about ready. Would you mind picking up a bottle of wine? I am really sorry but I forgot it at the store.
Russell: That is no trouble at all Ryan. You have taken the time to prepare what is I’m sure a delightful meal. The least I can do is provide the wine. What kind would you like?
I had no fucking clue about wine and what went with chicken. I quickly turned back to the laptop and typed out my question to the girls.
Ryan: Quick, what would be a good kind of wine for chicken?
I watched as the screen quickly filled with brands of wine from the girls. How do they fucking know all of this stuff? They even had a small debate between two brands. I shook my head at the screen and looked back down at my text string with Russell.
Ryan: You can pick. Whatever you think would be best is fine with me.
Russell: Very well. I will see you soon, my boy.
My boy.I loved the way that sounded. Why I loved it, I still haven’t figured it out. All I know is that I loved the feeling I was overcome with when he said it, or when I saw it in text form from him.
I told the girls he was on his way and getting wine.
Kim: Yay! Russell for the save with the wine!
April: Thank fuck!
Kim: If he only knew what a painful evening of beverage drinking that had been planned for him. He saved himself from the plastic jug.
Ryan: Unopened.
April: Save your unopened plastic jug of iced tea for a lawn game of bocce ball.
I frowned when I looked at April’s last message. Bocce ball. What the fuck is that?
Ryan: What is bocce ball?
April: I swear to God, Ryan. Seriously? Didn’t they teach you lawn games in college or high school?
Kim: Ry, you better go get ready if he’s on the way.
April: Don’t forget the button-up shirt!
Kim: And get your underwear off!
April: And don’t trust the fart!
I laughed as I closed the lid to the laptop and started to run down the hall to my bedroom. I stopped in my tracks and raced back to the kitchen to put the chicken in the oven. I pulled my t-shirt off as I ran back down the hall.
When I got to my room, I found a button-up dress shirt that was white with a thin blue checked pattern. I pulled it on, unzipped my jeans and started to move out of them while I buttoned my shirt. I shoved my boxers off and grabbed a fresh pair of jeans, just to be safe. I put my shoes back on and finished rolling up my sleeves when the doorbell rang.
“Hey, Russell,” I greet and flashed him my smile.
Russell’s mouth broadened into a smile, as he shook his head.
“Those dimples get me every time,” Russell teased and stepped into the entryway.
