Cool, but not trying to be cool.
It included Al y’s green, wraparound top that showed a bit of cleavage, was super tight everywhere and the sleeves were way long and had a little hole in them that hooked on your thumb. This topped a pair of Indy’s jeans that were faded enough not to look like I was being dressy but also not too grungy. We added a bunch of Indy’s silver bangles on my wrist, worn over the fabric of the top and some big, dangly earrings of Al y’s. The kicker was a pair of strappy green sandals that were so sexy, Smithie would have let me break the color code for shoes at work. These were borrowed from Indy’s next-door neighbor who was Denver’s top drag queen. Luckily, he had smal feet (or I liked to think that way, not that my feet were large).
Al y took me home and, as usual, I was running late. I’d need a decade to prepare myself to be a suitable date to Eddie’s lusciousness. I needed an hour just to get ready for Smithie’s. I had forty-five minutes to get ready for Eddie.
I was in my room, finishing my hair when the buzzer went and panic seized me.
“I’l get it,” Mom shouted.
At the thought of Mom letting Eddie in, panic dissolved into nearly uncontrol ed hysteria.
“Tel him I’m running late,” I shouted back.
“Good girl, keep him waiting,” Mom encouraged.
My mother.
I rushed through the final touches, nearly forgot the bangles and went into a mini-freak out when I couldn’t find a suitable purse. I had a ful mental conversation convincing myself that guys didn’t notice purses when a knock sounded at my door.
“Eddie’s waiting,” Mom shouted through the door, obviously thinking that Eddie’d waited long enough.
“Coming!” I yel ed back.
I got over the purse trauma, grabbed the one I normal y used and rushed to the door when I heard the buzzer go again.
“I’l get it,” Mom shouted, outside my door.
Who in the hell?
I walked out and Eddie was lounging in the living room.
Jeans had been a good cal . He looked no different than normal. Long-sleeved, black, thermal tee, worn jeans, black cowboy boots and a black belt with a silver buckle.
No matter how casual he was dressed, he could have been in a magazine.
His eyes changed when he saw me and he came out of his chair.
“Hi,” I said and just stopped myself from slapping my forehead as it came out breathy, like I’d just run a race.
He didn’t say anything, he just smiled.
My insides curled.
“Look who’s here!” Mom cal ed, wheeling in using her foot with Trixie behind her, carrying an overnight bag.
I stared.
Then Trixie started speaking. “I thought to myself, ‘Self?
What are you gonna do on a boring Thursday night?’ and I answered myself, ‘You’re gonna have a sleepover with your good friend Nancy.’ So here I am,” Trixie said, as if she had sleepovers with Mom al the time (which she did not). “You must be Eddie,” She dropped the bag and smiled at Eddie.
Could they be more obvious?
Eddie’s smile didn’t falter.
“Eddie, this is my Mom’s best friend Trixie. Trixie, this is, um… Eddie.”
I kinda wished Slick would’ve broken in at that moment and knifed me, such was my desire for someone to kil me and put me out of my misery.
Eddie greeted Trixie and before it could get any more out of hand, I nearly ran across the room and grabbed Eddie’s hand.
“I was running late so we have to go,” I said.
I tugged Eddie’s hand and luckily he moved with me towards the front door.
“Don’t worry about us, we’l be just fine.” Trixie fol owed us to the front door.
I threw a look over my shoulder which should have turned her to stone. She just smiled at me.
“Stay out as long as you like,” Mom shouted from the
“Stay out as long as you like,” Mom shouted from the living room.
“Thanks Mom,” I shouted back, stopped at the door and looked at Trixie. “You’l take care of her?” I asked quietly.
“Do you need to ask?” Trixie was just as quiet.
“I can hear you!” Mom shouted.
I was pretty certain I heard Eddie chuckle.
Wonderful.
I kissed Trixie’s cheek, shouted good-bye to Mom and pul ed Eddie down the hal .
We were out the front door of the building when Eddie said, “That was fun.”
I didn’t answer and I slowed from my onward charge.
Now that I got him away from Mom and Trixie, I wanted to drag my feet.
Eddie took over and guided me toward his truck. At the passenger door, instead of opening it, he turned to me but he didn’t say anything.
I waited.
Then I said, “What?”
He pushed me against the truck, his body came up against mine and he kissed me, ful -on tongue. When he lifted his head, he had an arm wrapped around the middle of my back, his fingertips resting nearly at the side of my breast and the other hand resting on my hip.
“What was that?”
Dammit, I was breathy again.
“Just wanted to say I like what you’re wearing.”
“You could have just said it.”
“Preferred to show it.”