“I already told you. No!” I protested a little forcefully. She turned her head and stared out the window and didn’t say another word.
We turned into my driveway just as AJ was pulling up. I didn’t hear back from him after I’d sent the message, so I didn’t know what to expect from him. When he stepped out of the car he looked as confident and collected as ever. Our gazes met momentarily and to my surprise, Leslie was watching us both, making a few mental notes of her own I assumed.
“Leave it alone, Les,” I stated plainly as she stared at me questioningly.
We all walked into the house together. My parents were on their way out to visit my mom’s cousin across town, so I didn’t have to worry about them witnessing whatever drama was to come. AJ sat on one end of the couch and Leslie took the other. I decided to sit in daddy’s chair in an effort to keep Leslie from picking up on the developing chemistry between AJ and I. None of us spoke. A few minutes later the doorbell rang and I saw Leslie shift nervously in her seat. AJ leaned back appearing to be more comfortable now than he was seconds ago. I jumped to my feet and worked to steady my breathing as I held the knob in my hand. Finally, I’d built up the nerve to pull the door open to let Antonio in.
He didn’t say anything to me as he stepped inside. I closed the door softly and walked back over to my seat. Antonio stood in the entryway to the living room as he prepared himself to monitor my interaction with AJ. I couldn’t just sit there and do nothing, so I got up from my seat again and retrieved our supplies. When I returned to the room nothing had changed. I spread the materials out on the floor and began to work alone. Moments later Leslie reluctantly joined me in silence. Eventually AJ slid down on the floor with us and helped me arrange our visual aids on the poster board. I glanced up at Antonio to find him staring so intently at AJ that he could have bore a hole in the back of his head. I rolled my eyes at him and kept working, trying hard to forget that he was even there.
Before I knew it the mood had lightened a little. The three of us, Leslie, AJ, and I of course, were talking amongst ourselves and even laughing a little. Antonio seemed to be getting angrier and angrier as the minutes went on, but I wasn’t sure why. Was he having a hard time watching AJ and I together?
“Does anyone want something to drink?” I asked.
“Sure,” AJ and Leslie said in unison.
“Ok, be right back.”
I arose from where I was seated on the floor and walked toward the kitchen. I was only gone for two minutes, but when I returned Antonio had left. Both AJ and Leslie watched my face as I stood in the foyer staring at the closed door. Regaining my composure, I fixed a smile on my face and served them their drinks before sitting back down on the floor.
The hours passed by quickly. Surprisingly, when I looked out the window I’d found that the sun had already set. I looked at the clock…..7:45.
“Well, I think that was enough for one day. You ready for me to take you home, Leslie?” I asked.
“Actually I told Terrence that we’d be done around 8 or so; he’s coming to get me in a few.”
“Oh. Ok,” I replied.
“Yeah, I guess I’d better get going too.” AJ added.
I didn’t want him to leave me yet, but I had to let it appear that way to Leslie. Unfortunately, I hadn’t realized that Leslie was watching me as I stared at AJ. When I glanced at her, she was squinting suspiciously. AJ got to his feet to move toward the door just as Terrence blew the horn for Leslie.
“That’s my ride. I guess I’ll see you two on Monday,” she said as she shot me another look.