As I approached, I heard Viola telling Maggie to act like a lady, to which Maggie rolled her eyes in response.
"Hey Magpie." I stood next to her.
She smiled up to me and then started with the gift bag. She pulled out the two books and stood up to squeeze me tightly.
"How did you know?" She giggled.
"I saw you reading the other day when I got here, so I found the rest of them for you."
Taking her seat, she went through the other gifts – gift certificates for her crazy clothing stores, MP3 download certificates and the simple silver birthstone ring.
"Thank you so much!" She beamed and stood on her tiptoes, kissing me on the cheek.
Once the party was over and the last guest left, I took my leave from the house. Arriving home and getting out of the car, I caught the bright yellow out of the corner of my eye. Reaching into the back seat, I got the book Lilli snuck into my bag before going up to my apartment.
After changing into a pair of pajama bottoms and T-shirt, I collapsed onto the couch. Opening the book up, I shook my head and laughed. She’d written an inscription.
'Here’s to bagging yourself a wife! Oh and to not losing your dates to your friends!'
She’d also drawn a small smiley face with its tongue sticking out, making sure to include an L on the forehead. Tossing the book onto my coffee table, my laughter echoed throughout my empty apartment.
~
Sunday afternoon with the guys is always a highlight, but when you are sitting around listening to them bust your balls about not being able to find a woman, it kind of kills the mood.
"So, what’s the plan now?" James lounged back into the oversized chair in the TV room of my apartment.
"Well I do have a plan, but I have yet to really put it into action," I sighed and then told them my plan to make a deal with someone if necessary.
"Are you serious? You’re going to go as far as to make your marriage a business deal?" Oscar shook his head. James was chuckling.
I tried to change the subject.
"Where the hell is Dixon?" I chugged my beer.
"He won’t be coming." Oscar responded. "He went back to Maine with Lilli."
"Maine?" I pressed for more information.
"Yeah, I guess her dad got sick and he wanted to help her. From what Dixon said, it’s serious. He has a heart problem. Dixon didn’t exactly give me the details." Oscar shrugged as he grabbed the remote and changed to a different game.
I sat there thinking for a minute about what Oscar said. Then other pieces started to click together from the fight I overheard, things Dixon mentioned and small things Lilli actually said to me. There was even the date with Phoebe when she asked Lilli about her dad. Lilli was financially strapped because of her father. She was taking care of him. For a brief moment, an idea appeared in my head.
"When is the food coming? I’m starved!" James interrupted my mental planning.
"It gets here when it gets here. Quit your whining!"
~
Weeks passed before I heard from Dixon. I got a voicemail one afternoon inviting me over after our baseball game on Sunday morning. Come Sunday morning it was raining horribly, so clearly the game was off, but Dixon still was having the guys come over to hang out and watch some games.
Lilli answered the door, eyes rimmed red and swollen. Her hair was loosely piled on her head. Wisps of chocolate brown hang around her face.
"Hey, come in." Her smile seemed forced. "Dixon went to the gym but he should be back any second. He knew you guys would be arriving around this time." Following her path to a barstool, she sat and slumped over a newspaper lying on the counter in front of her.
"Thanks." I said, feeling a little uneasy. "Um, how’s your dad?"
She looked over at me a little confused, probably wondering how I knew about her dad.
"He’s okay," she almost turned back around but hesitated. "Um…thanks for asking."
"Sure."
Before we could engage in further conversation, the apartment door opened.
"Hey fucker!" Dixon walked over, patting my back. "Give me ten minutes to shower." With a ruffle of Lilli's hair, he headed down the hallway.
Stepping away from Lilli, I walked over and sat on the couch. For a couple of minutes I sat in silence watching Lilli. With one leg curled under her and the other crossed in front of her, she looked like a contortionist.
"Lilli, do we have clean towels anywhere?" Dixon yelled. I could hear the water running in the background.
Huffing, she slid from the barstool. Walking down the hallway, she responded."They are in the dryer! I’ll get them!" Just inside the hallway, she turned to me. "You can help yourself to the fridge, tv and all that stuff." Then she disappeared.
On my way to the refrigerator, I caught sight of the newspaper Lilli left on the counter. Black marks circled multiple areas. Leaning in, I saw they were help wanted ads.
Was she seriously trying to get another job? Jesus!
The flash of an idea reappeared in my head. As I was thinking about it and looking over all the black circles, her voice pulled me out of my head.
"You looking for another job?"