Demi residesin a transformed warehouse in Chelsea, a space as lively and diverse as she is. She invested heavily in this place because it also needed to accommodate her greenhouse. A greenhouse I detest and vow never to enter again. When I arrive, holding an expensive bottle of cabernet, the aroma of something mouthwatering and inviting drifts from her open door.
“Finally!” she exclaims, enveloping me in a strong hug, taking the wine, and guiding me inside. “I was starting to think you had completely ghosted me.”
“I’ve been busy,” I reply, putting my bag down and removing my shoes.
“Too busy for your best friend? Even after you listened to those audiobooks and didn’t give me a full report?” She waggles her eyebrows suggestively.
“The books were interesting.”
“Interesting?” Demi scoffs, stirring something on the stove that smells divine. “That’s like calling the Beyonce concert at Coachella a ‘nice time.’ Come on, Mimi. Give me more than that. Aaron Singleton’s books are literary orgasms, and you know it.”
“Before this conversation goes left, I have something to share.”
“What?” Her eyes widen.
“I think I knew Aaron from college.”
“What?” Demi nearly drops her wooden spoon. “You knew him? From college? And you’re just now telling me this?”
“I said Ithink. You remember the guy I slept with my last year of college?”
She has her thinking face on. “Wait, the chocolate God? The one you said had a big dick and might ruin your chances at graduating early because you were always at his dorm room, getting dicked down nightly for two months straight, needing three Plan Bs level Aaron? That guy?”
I roll my eyes. “I mean, yes, I think he is that guy, but I don’t want to ask him because if he’s not then I’m giving this Aaron an open invitation to ask about my past, something I forbid him to do. And I don’t want to make this complicated.” I huff.
“Wait, does he resemblethatAaron?”
“Yes… kind of, but then again I don’t want to be like?—”
Demi laughs out loud, already knowing what I’m trying to say. “Okay, don’t answer that. But what if he is college Aaron? Like you didn’t just know Aaron Singleton before he becametheAaron Singleton you were thoroughly fuck?—”
“Demi! Enough.”
“Are you kidding? This is the best story I’ve heard all year. So, did you ever?—”
“No.” I cut her off. “Remember I ghosted him and deleted my Facebook so he couldn’t find me once I graduated early.”
“Oh, I still think that was the stupidest shit you did, but the past is in the past.” She sighs. “Okay, okay, so you possibly slept with the greatest romance writer of our generation before he even picked up a pen. If it’s not him, well—what was the college Aaron’s last name?”
“The last thing I was worried about during our time together was his last name. He didn’t share much information about himself. If I remember correctly only, I was sharing information, but it didn’t bother me because the sex was amazing.”
Demi nods. “I guess you’re right, but do you remember anything? Like I know you two must’ve talked aboutsomething. Did he give you a nickname? If you see his dick again would you remember?”
“Is that your way of telling me I should sleep with him?” I look at her with wide eyes.
“I mean, yeah, duh. You might as well, right? If it’s college Aaron, can you imagine the sex now that you’re both adults?” She smiles, already spiraling into a world of possibility. “I’m calling it now. This is fate.”
“I don’t believe in all of that. Can we change the topic, please?” I pour myself a glass of wine. “You mentioned some gossip? It must be intriguing if you’re cooking your Sunday dinner on a Tuesday.”
Demi’s eyes sparkle as she serves up our meal—baked macaroni and cheese, candied yams topped with marshmallows, fried chicken, cabbage, spicy rice, corn muffins, and her renowned potato salad. “Oh, definitely! I’m working on a huge installation for a comic book launch. The publisher is a total heartthrob named Axel. He wears the most attractive glasses and has hands that look like they could create you from scratch. I wouldn’t mind letting him use my naked body as a canvas. His hands would be the paintbru?—”
“Demi, stop. Are you talking about Axel Comics?”
“Yes!” She sets our plates on her dining table. “How did you know? Are you into comics? I mean I hear anime is all the craze now.”
I take another sip of wine before answering. “No, I’m not. Aaron invited me to that launch party.”
Demi freezes mid-motion, her mouth forming a perfect O.
