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“Ya think? Oh, and your dad came by your apartment and left you a note. It’s on the coffee table.”
“Did you see him?”
“No, thank God. He got here sometime before I did and stuck the note under your door.”
I scooped up the piece of paper, noticing not for the first time that my father had the handwriting of a serial killer. In a tight, angry scrawl he’d written: Come home. Now. And turn your fucking phone on. You’re giving your mother an ulcer.
“Oh man, I’m dead,” I murmured, and put the note back on the table.
“Did you seriously leave a message on your dad’s cell phone telling him you were dating a felon, and then shut your phone off?” Jess asked, hands on her hips.
“Um…yes.”
“Shame on you.”
“I know,” I said. “I was being a chicken shit. I just couldn’t quite deal with my dad right on the heels of telling Mike Halpern about Dmitri. But Halpern was going to call Dad within the hour, so I wanted to call him first.” I went over to the couch and rattled one of the shopping bags, trying to change the subject. “Come see what I bought. And don’t worry, I didn’t pick out anything on my own. I found a gay guy to help me.”
“Like that’s reassuring. You’re a gay guy, and you think Hawaiian prints are the height of fashion. You single-handedly shatter that whole gay fashion sense stereotype every time you leave the house.” Despite herself, her gaze strayed to the bags.
“Oh my God!” I exclaimed suddenly. “I almost forgot to tell you my news!”
She guessed what I was about to say immediately, and crossed the room to me and grabbed me in a big hug as she said, “Holy shit, Jamie! When? Last night?”
“Yup.” I grinned happily.
“Why didn’t you call me first thing this morning? This is huge. It’s not every day that you lose your virginity!”
“I’m sorry. I should have. But I got focused on the idea that I had to tell my department I was seeing Dmitri, and my whole morning sort of spiraled out of control from there.”
“I don’t have to ask how it was. That goofy smile says it all.”
“It was epic. That’s all I’m going to say.”
“Well, I’m happy for you, Jamie. Even though I wish it had been with someone else. I don’t trust Teplov, and I’m totally pissed off at him for bringing all this grief into your life right now.” Then she said, “Speaking of grief, I’m going to call Maureen back. She’s worried about you.” She and my youngest sister were good friends.
“Go ahead.” I pulled my own phone from the pocket of my short-sleeved plaid shirt as she went to locate hers in the kitchen. I turned my phone on and oh, here was a surprise, the message icon was lit up. I dialed voice mail and was told it was full. I had twenty seven messages. Christ. I got as far as my dad screaming, “God damn it to hell James Ryan Nolan, what’s the meaning of that message? If you don’t call me back right now I’ll–” before I hit the off-button and tossed it on the couch.
A tentative knock on the door made me jump. But obviously it wasn’t my dad. He’d probably bring along a battering ram next time he came here. I looked through the peep hole and was surprised to see Dmitri out in the hall. I swung the door open with a big smile and a, “Hey baby.”
He looked worried as he stepped into the apartment and took my hand. “Why didn’t you call me back? I left you a bunch of messages.”
“You did? My phone’s off.”
“Yeah, I noticed. Why?”
“Because my dad’s on a rampage.”
“Because of me?”
“Well…yes.”
“Shit.” He pulled me into his arms and held me as he asked, “Why didn’t you tell me you were doing this today, Jamie?”
“I figured you’d try to talk me out of it, and this was something I needed to do.” I kissed him and then asked, “Out of curiosity, how’d you know where I live?”
He waved his cell phone. “I have a scan of your driver’s license. Remember?” He slid the phone back into the pocket of his black suit jacket. “I hope it’s ok that I dropped by like this. I was worried about you.”
“Of course it’s ok. And you have excellent timing. I just got home a couple minutes ago.”
“I know. I’ve been driving past every few minutes, and finally saw the Hyundai parked out front.”
“That’s so sweet,” I said with a smile, and then jumped when I heard a low growl behind me.
Like a ninja with a throwing star, Jess hurled her cell phone at Dmitri’s head. Equally ninja-like, he caught the flying phone effortlessly and shot her a big smile. “Hi,” he said pleasantly, as if she hadn’t just tried to put a dent in his skull. “You must be Jess.”
