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“Because she makes me feel better than other people do. When you find someone with that power, you hold on tight.”
Diva smiles. “Can we meet her?”
“Eventually. I’m still trying to nail things down.”
“If she’s any good, she’ll hold on tight,” Diva says, giggling over how I have a girlfriend.
I change the subject to pizza and movies. We end up pigging out and watching “The Monster Squad.”
“Your grandma and I used to watch this movie,” I tell them as I turn it on.
“Did Mom watch it, too?”
“I saw it before she was born. I don’t know if she watched it with Jillian.”
“Because you were in the basement?” Rocket asks as he sits nearly on top of me like he does with his dad.
“Sure.”
Diva’s expression is a gut punch. She looks just like my mom right now.
“If we had a basement and you lived down there,” she tells me, “I would live with you.”
Rocket nods, making his shaggy brown hair bounce. “Me, too.”
I grin at their little faces, wishing I could get along with most people like I do with these two.
We have a fun night. They pose for the picture I send to Irina. Diva texts my girlfriend, telling her to be nice to me.
“I will,” Irina texts back. “Eagle’s the best.”
I imagine Irina joining me here. No, a better fantasy is us at our own house. I can see a place with lots of windows. Rocket and Diva could have their own rooms and stay over. I’d also need a room for my other decent nephew, Wayne.
Without a doubt, Irina would treat them well. She’s got a big heart, and they’re bound to fall for her like I have.
Long after the kids are in bed, Gretchen arrives, drunk off her ass. She stumbles into the family room and glares at me.
“Mom only liked you best because you have a dick,” she spits out and rubs her face too hard. “Men are the worst. I hate you all.”
I help my sister to bed, tucking her under the covers. As I brush away the hair from her face, I smile and whisper, “Mom did love me the most.”
Before Gretchen can bitch, I walk out of the house and ride my hog through the quiet McMurdo Valley roads.
The Pigsty is hopping tonight. A half dozen chicks are singing along with Aerosmith when I enter. Tomcat calls for me to join the fun.
“No, man,” Walla Walla tells our club brother, “his heart is locked up for one special lady.”
“Good Lord, not another whipped bitch,” Tomcat says.
Goose sighs. “Must be something in the water. That’s why I only drink booze and soda. I’m never catching that commitment virus.”
Her comment wins applause from the rest of the group. I don’t hear what happens once I shut my bedroom door. A hot shower temporarily fixes my unsatisfied need for Irina.
Crawling naked into bed, I can still smell her body wash. I bring up her photo on my phone. She had finished dressing to leave. A soft smile lingered on her lips. Her gaze found me just as I snapped the photo.
Irina’s beauty wraps around me as I doze off. I return to my fantasy about the kids visiting our dream home. What would Irina make them to eat? She’s never even tried a hot dog. I sense she’s been deprived of a lot of great things.
Soon, we’ll be together all the time. I’m a hesitant man. She thinks of herself as a coward. Together, we’ll step into the unknown without fear. That’s how it works with the right people.
