Hope(less) (Judgement of the Six #1)

“I’m going for dude. It’s safe, right? What guy is going to want to hit on a guy? Even if he knows that underneath, it’s a girl. Guys get weird about that stuff.” I thought I looked pretty authentic. Any curves I had safely hid under my layered clothes.

“You know what’s going to happen?” she demanded as she moved to sit in the middle of my bed. “All the guys are still going to be attracted to you like usual. Only they’re going to freak out because you’re going to make them think they’re gay and you’re going to get your ass kicked tonight.”

Clay let out a yowl that sounded like, “That’s it,” and ran from the room.

Rachel stared after him with a concerned frown mumbling, “I love that dog, but he creeps me out sometimes.”

“Yeah, I guess I shouldn’t be trying to teach him to say ‘No way’.” I hated lying, but Clay had just acted much too human. “I thought it’d be cool to train him to say it to guys, but I guess it’s encouraging him to make other sounds too.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you were doing that. Still weird.” She smiled and got up from the bed.

Earlier she told me she planned to stay in. I had a feeling Peter would knock at the door anytime now. Like magic, a knock sounded on the back door.

Rachel bounded out of the room with an, “I got it,” tossed over her shoulder.

Shaking my head, I checked myself one last time and looked at the clock expecting Nicole shortly. Not as close as Rachel and I, Nicole still seemed to genuinely like me despite the attention I usually received.

We’d decided I would drive in case fate smiled upon her and she managed to hook up with the guy she liked. To make it easier to keep an eye on her, I’d suggested she drive here. That way I could see when she came home like a nosey friend should do.

“It’s for you Gabby!” Rachel called from the kitchen a hint of laughter in her voice.

As I moved to the kitchen, I thought it odd that Nicole had gone to the back door. When I saw who stood just outside waiting, I stopped abruptly.

Remaining motionless in the yellow glow of the porch light, a two legged friend of mine wore blue coveralls with the name Clay sewn on. The getup looked far from new with a smattering of grease stains and a slight tear in one arm. I’d never seen coveralls before, but didn’t give it much thought as I stared at his face. I could actually see it. Well, sort of.

He’d pulled back his hair into a ponytail, fully exposing a broad forehead, nicely shaped eyebrows, and thickly lashed brown eyes, for the first time. His beard covered most of his cheekbones, but everything above his upper lip, he trimmed shorter. Our eyes met and I couldn’t look away.

Stunned, I said nothing in greeting. I could feel Rachel’s curious gaze flicking between the two of us. His eyes crinkled at the corners and I knew he smiled at my reaction. It warmed my stomach and set my heart fluttering.

Thankfully, Nicole chose that moment to knock on the front door. Rachel broke the spell his sudden appearance had cast with another, “I got it,” and rushed from the room.

Breaking eye contact, I looked at his uniform and muttered, “You have some explaining to do, I think.” My heart still fluttered as I turned away from him and headed for the front door.

Rachel’s gushing praise about a costume told me whom she welcomed before I turned the corner. When I did, I smiled in awe of Nicole dressed as a mermaid in all its shimmering beauty. The modified silky green body-hugging evening gown included a tail-like train, which I anticipated would be stepped on repeatedly before the end of the night. A heart-shaped neckline adorned the sleeveless top, which she’d altered to make it appear as if she wore a bikini top. When she turned to give Rachel the requested full view, I also saw a cute fin strategically placed on the back just above her butt. A tasteful dusting of glitter decorated her sleek straight hair.

“You’re gorgeous Nicole.” I said in way of a greeting. “Are you going to be warm enough?” Both she and Rachel laughed at me. “Hey, it’s a valid question. It’s the end of October for Pete’s sake.”

“I’ll be fine.” She looked at Clay and smiled warmly, “Hi, I’m Nicole.”

Clay nodded and stuck out a hand, which she clasped, waiting for a name.

“Uh, this is Clay,” I said for him. “He doesn’t talk much. And this is Rachel my roommate. Are we ready?” I asked not wanting to give Nicole or Rachel a chance to comment on Clay’s quiet presence.

“Sure. I parked on the street.”

“Great. Let me grab my keys.” I turned in time to see Clay already striding into the kitchen.

Because of his head start and longer stride, when I got to the kitchen, the storm door was just closing behind him. The car keys I’d wanted to grab no longer rested on the counter. An engine started outside. I peeked out the window and saw him sitting behind the wheel of my idling car, waiting.