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I smile at him wanly, mulling over his words. “I do know actually. Thanks man. I appreciate it.”
Just then, Jackie and Susie come walking towards us, Jackie with a beer and Susie with a plate of food.
“Here you go. My mom thought you might be hungry since you just got off your flight,” Susie murmurs, handing me the plate. Jackie hands me the beer and pulls Jim off to talk to some relatives. They suspect nothing, and for that, I’m grateful.
Meanwhile, Susie and I sit down and catch up.
“Thank you for the food. I actually was starving,” I say with a grin.
She smiles. “Oh my gosh I still can’t believe that you’re here. I’ve dreamed of this moment for months and you’re here. Just…wow. I’m so happy I feel like I have a hanger in my mouth.”
I chuckle at her, loving her forthrightness. “This burger is good but it has nothing on all the treats you sent me.”
She blushes, and I watch as her décolletage turns slightly pink.
“Well, now that you’re here, you can finally get them fresh. If you think you loved me then, well just wait,” she tells me. “You’ll love what I have now even more.”
“Love?” I ask her, cocking my head to the side. My blue eyes pierce her with an intensity that makes her blush.
“No, I meant “love” as in love my food…I mean, my baked goods. Just watch your waistline is what I’m trying to say,” she stammers.
I stare at her, watching her turn red again. It’s endearing and I gently touch her knee.
“I’m sorry Brady, I just wow, I don’t know how to be around you. This is so exciting, and new, but so sudden too,” she admits softly.
I shake my head at her. “No need to apologize for anything and hey, just relax because it’s me. The same person you’ve been talking to for months. Take a deep breath. It’s just you and me…and everyone else.” We both look around us, all the partygoers oblivious of the little bubble we’re in.
She takes a deep breath and smiles, her beautiful brown eyes making my heart contract. She’s so different from the girl I met a year ago talking over the fence. This one seems more mature, more beautiful, and a little more serious. She’s not over the top with her sexuality, but lets it subtly seep out of her, making me want her even more. I decide I can’t wait until I finish my plate. Taking a long swig of my beer, I lean in and whisper to her, “Why don’t you and I find somewhere quiet to talk?”
She looks at me, a mix of nervousness and excitement, but then she nods. “Let me just tell Marcella to keep my parents distracted so they don’t come looking for me. I’ve said hi to everyone else here already so we should be good. My room is the first one on the left. You go first, okay? I’ll be up in five minutes so just make yourself comfortable.”
With one last smile, she gets up quickly and disappears into the crowd of people roaming the living room. I find a trash can and get rid of my plate and beer bottle. Then I slide through the crowd, undetected, and make my way up the stairs.
Is it really going to happen? Are my dreams going to come true, right here, in her parents’ house? The thud of the music fades to a gentle pulse as I stand outside a white door with a purple S hanging on it. I slowly open the door and take in the room. I’ve seen parts of it from the pictures Susie sent me, but now I see it in full.
It’s a girl’s room, and for a moment, I pause. This is no sophisticated vixen. She’s still young, and the décor reminds me of that. The bed is made with a frilly white coverlet and a teddy bear is tucked away in the corner. There are different medals hanging on the wall, and also a poster of a boy band whose members look too young to shave.
On her desk, I come across a picture of young Susie. She’s standing on the sidewalk with an orange popsicle melting all over her and the white t-shirt she is wearing. Her curly hair is wildly flying about her head and she has a big smile. I pick up the picture, touched by the image of this young and carefree little girl.
“That’s one of my favorite pictures,” a small voice murmurs from behind me.
Startled, I turn around and see Susie standing in front of her closed door. She must have been as light as a mouse because I didn’t hear her enter. But now, she closes the door with an emphatic click, and turns the lock too. Everything fades away, except for the woman before me.
