“Ah, fuck,” I protest, helping her up and giving her a hug. “It was one time.”
“One time what?” Lou asks me.
“I told Irma that Jules was sneaking out of the house,” I answer. “One time.”
“It was enough to break my trust in you forever,” Juliet says dramatically, even though she hugs me back.
“We were nine. I didn’t know you were trying to find owls.”
“Owls?”
“I could hear them every night,” Juliet tells her. “I just wanted to see one, and for some reason, I thought Irma wouldn’t let me.”
“But once I told on her, Irma started going out with her,” I add. “It’s good to see you, shithead.”
“You too, dumbass. It’s been too long.”
“Are you hungry? We didn’t get too far with the food,” Lou says. “Only the wine.”
“I’ll eat if you both eat,” I say, taking a spot on the blanket.
They both nod and pay more attention to the tray of meat, cheese, and fruit than their wine glasses. Conversation continues, still mostly about sexual encounters. Not all their own, though. Between the two of them, their social circles are large and have a lot of tales to tell. I couldn’t care less whatwe talk about; it’s just nice to hang out with Juliet and see Lou relaxed and, dare I say, happy.
Some of their stories are the things you would expect to only see in movies. Lifestyles of the rich and famous type shit. It’s a wonder anyone survives in that environment, let alone thrives. Juliet isn’t as directly affected since she’s in more of a supporting role in the industry, but Lou seems to have been the face of it.
The way they talk, I’m getting the idea that she’s well-known. Very well-known. Which makes it more understandable that she’s so cautious about leaving the house. Not that anyone around Stowaway would recognize her. We’re not so fashionable around here.
Summer gets crazier when school is out and Portlandians need a break from city life. But that also means that Lou would blend in more, maybe.
“How did you meet your ex-wife? Sorry, I don’t know her name,” Lou asks, bringing me into the conversation.
“Brenda Stanley,” Juliet says, like it tastes bad in her mouth.
“You don’t like her?”
“Jules hates her,” I say.
“It’s mutual, she hates me, too.”
“That’s partly your fault, Jules.”
“She started it.”
“I met Brenda at a bar in Portland. A random encounter,” I tell Lou.
“When you still had dreams of being a rock star?”
“I can’t believe you told her about that,” Juliet says, giggling the same way she did when we were kids.
“Hey, I’m proud of what a big dreamer I was,” I say, knocking my shoulder against hers. She almost topples over, and I have to steady her, which makes us all laugh. “Eat more food, you lightweight. Anyway, Brenda was confident. Came right up to me and introduced herself. I’d never known a woman to be so forward. I liked it.”
“Why did she hate you?” Lou asks Juliet.
“Because she’s a jealous cow.”
“She thought we were too close to have never had a romantic relationship. Juliet didn’t help the situation.”
“You’re like my brother. She wouldn’t listen to you about us and that annoyed me,” she says. “So, I may have played into it.”
