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I laugh with her. “Believe me, I’m as clueless as you are. I’ve never been on a date, either.”
“What?”
“Not like, you know, an actual date, date.”
“Liar.”
“No. I’ve never been on a date. I’ve hung out. I’ve been in groups. I’ve, you know, messed around and had one-night stands. But a date? Like where I say, ‘I will see you at such and such time, pretty lady, and I can’t wait!’” I chuckle. “No.”
“Wow.” She sounds flabbergasted. “So, we’re each other’s firsts. That’s pretty cool.”
“There’s nothing like a girl’s first, right? That’s what a really pretty girl at a party told me recently.”
“Whoever she is, she’s a freaking genius.”
“Yes, she is.”
Oh, God, I feel high when I talk to this adorable girl. She’s better than the finest weed. The best tequila. She’s the scent of flowers in human form. She’s the sound of the ocean. She’s music.
“Oh, shoot, I have to go!” Alessandra says. “I’m gonna be late for work.”
“I’ll see you on Friday night, cutie.”
“It’s a date! Our fourth.” She laughs. “Thank you again for the roses. The gorgeous red roses.”
“Not yellow.”
“God, no,” she says.
I smile to myself. I was hoping she’d understand the coded message I was trying to send her with those very, very red blooms. I was hoping she’d understand I want more than mere friendship with her. A lot more.
“Bye for now, Fish. Matthew. The Goat Called Fish Who’s Hung Like a Bull.”
“But not really. I’m actually quite average, to tell you the truth.”
“I won’t tell anyone.”
“Thank you. Well, all right, cutie-pie. Get yourself to work, ya lazy bum.”
“I’ll see you on Friday night. Have a good writing session with the Goats.”
“I will. Bye now.”
“Bye.”
We end the call and I lope out of Dax’s game room with a huge smile on my face. I’m intending to return to Dax’s home studio, but as I pass the kitchen, I discover not only Violet and Jackson sitting at the table, but Dax and Colin, too.
“You raced out of the studio like your pants were on fire,” Dax says. “Everything okay?”
I plop into an empty chair next to Jackson. “Everything is fan-freaking-tastic, as a matter of fact. Just had to take a call from Alessandra. Hi there, Action Jackson.”
“Hi, Unkee Fisssh.”
I look at the group. “Alessandra texted me some fantastic news, so I called her back.”
“Unkee Fish?”
I look down to find my nephew offering me an apple slice.
“Thanks, buddy. That’s why I love you the most.” I eat the apple slice and point to a baby carrot. “Can I have one of those, too? I’ll be your best friend.”
Not surprisingly, my nephew hands me what I’ve asked for. Because he’s a ray of sunshine, that kid. Kind and generous by nature, just like his parents.
“Ha! Tricked ya,” I say, after taking the offered carrot. “I’m already your best friend! Forever and ever!”
Jackson giggles, understanding the joke, and I tousle his blond hair.
“So, are you gonna tell us Alessandra’s fantastic news or not?” Violet says. “I’m on pins and needles!”
“Oh. Yeah. I got distracted.” I glare comically at Jackson. “By a yard gnome.”
This time, when Jackson giggles, it’s highly doubtful he gets the joke—seeing as how he has no idea what a yard gnome is. But I don’t mind. I’ll take his laughter, whether I’ve earned it, or not.
I tell the group Alessandra’s news, and why getting that gig at the coffeehouse means so much to her—and, therefore, to me. And my friends totally get it. In fact, they seem as stoked for Alessandra as I am.
“You know what you should do?” Violet says. “Send her some flowers to congratulate her. Especially when a relationship is new—”
“Dude, I’m already two steps ahead of you. Three dozen red roses were waiting for Ally in her apartment when she got home from her audition.”
“Look at you!” Violet coos. “I’m impressed.”
I wink at Jackson. “Can you say ‘Uncle Fish is a baller?’”
“Unkee Fish ith a bawah.”
“Wooh! Gimme five, buddy! You nailed it!” The kid gives me five. Because, of course, he’d never leave me hanging. “Can I have another apple slice, too—to celebrate what a baller I am?”
The kid gives me an apple slice and I tap his with mine.
“As long as we’re celebrating . . .” Colin says. He gets up and grabs four beers from the fridge. As he distributes them, Dax suggests ordering pizza. So we do. And then, as we’ve done many, many times in our lives, we sit and drink beer while waiting for our pizza to arrive.
After dinner, Violet takes Jackson away for a bath and bedtime. And we three Goats finally drag ourselves back into the studio.
As we get situated, Colin says, “It’s cool seeing you this hyped about a girl, Fish Taco—and especially, seeing her return your feelings.”
“Thanks, man. I’m pretty stoked about the situation myself.”
