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“You shouldn’t have,” he said.
“I love you. Happy birthday! I couldn’t have done it without all our friends’ help.” She leaned over and kissed him quickly as they started to mingle.
Parker
"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." Eleanor Roosevelt
I sipped the drink I’d grabbed on my way back from unloading an ungodly amount of meatballs. That was when I spotted my parents and walked over to say hello. I smiled as I listened to Martha, my mom. She was always on the go and active since her retirement from teaching. I was pleased that she continued taking an interest in the community and was enjoying retirement.
“How’s the golf game these days, Dad?”
“Good. I bet I might even be able to keep up with you the next time we play,” Brett chuckled.
I didn’t get the opportunity to play golf with my dad as often as I would have liked. My life had become so busy with the circuit and lessons that it felt like a long time since I’d seen them, much less played a round with him.
My mom automatically started telling me about the book club she had joined and the group of ladies who would sign up for golf lessons at the country club. We chatted a while longer until a distraction caught my attention and caused me to fade from the conversation. It was my mom that interrupted my thoughts.
“Parker, are you listening?” She laughed as I tried to refocus.
“Sorry, Dad. Mom. I think I’ve spotted a friend of mine. Will you excuse me, please?” They smiled, never wanting tointerfere with their adult son, and said they’d see me at the table for dinner.
Involuntarily, my body felt nailed to the spot where I stood, not moving. I gazed at a pair of long brown legs and an ass that I’d know anywhere, I was sure of that. Liv’s face wasn’t visible, hidden by another guest I assumed to be conversing with her. I grew warm as I cleared my throat and started in her direction. I stopped in my tracks when her friend walked away and our eyes locked. A slow-burning smile reached her plump lips as the corners turned up. We met in the middle, me not taking my eyes off hers.
“Hi. Fancy seeing you here. How do you know Derrick?” she asked.
My voice seemed to have escaped me as I cleared my throat once again. I put my hands in my pockets and rolled onto the balls of my feet, trying to keep it cool. “He’s, my brother-in-law. How do you know him?” I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she spoke.
“My friend Elliot invited me. I’ve met your sister and brother-in-law a few times at his house.”
I asked the bartender for a gin neat and looked over to Liv, raising my chin to ask if she wanted anything. All the while wondering who this Elliot was to her.
“Oh, no, I’m good. Thanks.” Feeling as if my throat was so dry it might close altogether, I took a strong swig of gin. I felt it burn to the tips of my toes as the warmth wrapped around my body.
“Well, it was nice to see you again.” I felt like such an idiot; what happened to my cool, confident self, I wondered.
“Nice to see you too. I’m sure I’ll see you around.” She turned and walked away with such grace that it momentarily made my heart skip a beat or three. Swallowing a few times and catching the breath I’d been holding, I went back to the table to which I was assigned.
I was relieved I knew most of the group at the table from the golf club. I watched as Liv joined Elliot and sat at a two-person table. My mind reeled as I wondered if this Elliot was her boyfriend or just a friend. From the intimacy they shared, I guessed at least friends with benefits, if not more. A stab of jealousy ran through me, wanting to share a couple of tables with her instead of this guy.
After some small talk over dinner, I excused myself and left the room. I splashed some cold water on my face in the men’s restroom. Resting my fists on the sink, I looked in the mirror and straightened some hair that had become unruly. When I opened the door to the exit, I ran into Elliot coming in.
“Sorry, man,” I said and was about to turn and leave.
“Hey, aren’t you Liv’s new neighbor?”
I looked up at him. “Well, I’m not new there. She must have just moved in.”
“Nah, she’s lived there her whole life. She and her mom lived there while she grew up. She just came back, that's all.”
I’m sure I looked shocked when he said she’d grown up there. Surprised I’d not seen her there in two years, then I remembered that my realtor had told me her mom had passed away a couple of years ago. With that on my mind, I nodded to Elliot and turned to leave.
Once I returned to my seat, I realized all the food had been cleared, and the DJ had started to play. It had occurred to me that I wasn’t very friendly with that Elliot guy back there in the bathroom.
Everyone was in good spirits as I walked over to the corner bar and ordered another drink. Taking a swig as I looked around, I almost choked when she came into my line of vision; I couldn’t remember a time a female had this effect on me. I slowly lifted the glass to my mouth as I watched her being waltzed around the dance floor by none other than Derrick. Embarrassed by the jealousy that entered my thoughts, I felt heat creep up my neck and looked away. I downed my drink and replaced it with another at once. If I wasn’t careful, I’d be drunk before the night was over.
Olivia
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. F. Scott Fitzgerald
