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“So, why did you want to meet with me, Josef?”
“It’s a beautiful day out. Would you mind if we walked and talked?” I ask, not mentioning my concern that the walls in this house could very likely have ears.
“That sounds nice,” she says with a pleasant. We each take a few sips, put our glasses on the table and walk outside.
“I know you’re familiar with this area, at least down near the hidden lake. Will you be swimming there again soon?” I ask as we start down the path.
I notice she isn’t walking alongside me anymore. I turn back, and she’s standing there, staring at me.
“Not that I would… I mean…” I stumble awkwardly over my words.
“When I do swim there again, I’ll be wearing a bathing suit,” she laughs as she starts walking again.
“I see. Well, I guess I won't run that way in the mornings then,” It’s my turn to laugh.
“Okay, enough about my skinny-dipping and your clothes-thief girlfriend. What did you want to meet with me about?”
“She’s not my girlfriend. And I’d like to know about this favor involving the Southside gang first, if you don’t mind?”
“Good. I mean, fine. The favor is, well… My uncle and I got into a fight with four Southsiders after we left M.C. Grille’s Pub.”
“You were hanging out at M.C. Grille’s?” I can’t help interrupting.
“Sort of. Not really. My uncle left his credit card there, and I went with him to get it. One of the guys, Tony, accused my Uncle Maresuke of flirting with his girlfriend when he was signing her to a singing contract. I guess he was flirting a little. So, Tony punched Uncle Suki in the face. Then I punched Tony in the face. Then Joey came after me, so I threw him into the street. He almost got run over. I didn’t mean for him to go that far out into the street. I really didn’t want him to get hurt. Luckily a car stopped just in time before running him over,” she explains.
“Wait, wait,” I can’t help cutting her off again while looking down at the petite woman with a big smile on my face. “You punched Tony Banner, the Southside road captain, in the face? Then you threw Giant Joey, the gang’s sergeant-at-arms, into the street?”
“Yeah,” she says as if this shouldn’t surprise me at all, then she continues. “Your name, Blondie, came up, and so to stop the fighting, Uncle Suki said you were my boyfriend. It worked. I guess they have a lot of respect for you.”
“And for you too now, I’m sure. So, just how did my name come up, and what’s the favor?” I ask, enjoying walking and talking even more than I thought I would.
“I heard the guys call Joey’s name out a few times. I thought of you, Josef, and asked Uncle if you, Blondie, were like those gang a-holes. When he heard your name, Tony made everyone stop fighting and asked how we knew you. Uncle said Bratva Blondie was my boyfriend to get them to stop. It worked.”
“I see. And the favor?”
“We figure the gang might not like it if they found out we lied. So, if they ask, would you mind pretending to be my boyfriend, just to keep the peace?” she asks.
“I don’t know. That’s a lot to ask,” I can barely keep from laughing as I tease her. “But if you want me to pretend I’m your boyfriend, maybe we should practice making it look good.”
“What do you mean?” she asks.
“A kiss,” I can’t help myself. I may never get a chance like this again.
“What?” She stops walking again and looks at me.
“Kiss me.”
“Are you crazy? No! We literally just met yesterday,” she says.
“Hold my hand then?”
She looks down at my extended hand and hesitates before taking it. Her grip is surprisingly firm. It feels nice.
We walk along for a little while in silence. This part of the path runs along the side of a hill where rocks often roll down after storms. I wish I knew what she’s thinking right now. She stumbles over one of the rocks and I put my arm around her to stop her from falling.
“Oops! Thank you,” She says.
“I can show you how to keep from ever falling down in the woods,” I just can’t help myself.
