"Hmmm...I'm not above hearing about these techniques." Dixon wiggled his eyebrows.
"Don't fucking encourage him, Dixon!" I laughed out. "Why don't you help me with Lilli?"
"Yeah, you know her better than anyone else in this room –" James added, getting up and going for a refill.
"Dude, I’m not helping you seduce my best friend. That is just...no." Dixon shook his head and cringed.
"You're shit out of luck, Mister." Oscar chuckled out. "Stock up on lotion." Everyone’s laughter rang throughout the room.
"Hey, wait...she'll have to sleep with you eventually. I mean, you guys are supposed to have a kid, right?"
I nodded in response to James’ question.
"Yeah, but she's got that one figured out too. Invitro."
"She’s smart." Liam blurted and then took in the look on my face. "Sorry." He smiled with a slight shrug. "Honestly, Aidan, perhaps you should try backing off and just being friends. It may take awhile but at least you won't go four years with...well, with nothing."
I sighed and sat back.
"She offered to let me have a mistress, said she would play the girl off as her friend." I blurted, still in disbelief that I didn't take her up on the offer.
"Seriously?" James sputtered. "And you didn't take her up on that shit?" I shook my head. "You're insane." He plopped back down into the chair he had been sitting in.
I sat up and reached for my glass. Out of the corner of my eye I caught Liam looking at me.
"What? You think that I’m crazy too?"
"I’m just honestly surprised that you...that you didn't do it." He eyed me up a little.
I shrugged.
"I'm not going to risk getting caught and losing everything I’m trying to gain and protect."
"Are you sure that's all it is?" Oscar gave me a scrutinizing look. "That sounds a little rehearsed."
"Of course I’m sure." I furrowed my brow at him and headed toward the bar for a refill.
"Well, assholes, I need to get home so that I’m looking fan-fucking-tastic tomorrow at the wedding." Dixon stood up, running his hands through his hair like he was James Dean.
"See you tomorrow." I shouted from the bar.
"You know what time to meet us here, right?" Liam yelled after him.
"Sure do. The evil lawn gnome sent a damn itinerary to my phone." He laughed. "I swear to God, Liam, I don't know how you've handled her and Viola doing all this shit."
"Son, you will soon learn that you will do a lot of things for that special woman. Mine happens to be my wife." He smiled proudly and I felt a twinge of jealousy.
"Or you’ll do a lot for some kick ass *! How did that rubber dick come in handy, Liam?" Dixon laughed out loudly.
"Don't answer that!" Shooting Liam the death glare, I stalked around the bar. "Dixon, I’ll kill you!"
Dixon hurried out the door laughing boisterously.
"I think I’m going to retire as well. In fact, we all should." Liam stood up.
"Yeah." Oz agreed and walked up stairs with him.
James downed his drink and ran upstairs behind them.
"I'll be up in a few." I shouted out.
"Getting cold feet? Do I need to block the doorway?" James yelled from upstairs before slamming the bedroom door shut, obviously not expecting an answer.
Chuckling, I started to walk around the apartment. I noticed one of those hair bands women used to pull their hair up. Picking it up, I put it to my nose and inhale. It smelled like cherries, like Lilli. Groaning slightly, I silently cursed myself for sniffing a headband like a stalker.
No, James. There won’t be any need to block the doorway.
After finishing my drink I decided it was time to head to bed. Reaching the top step, I found myself drawn to her door. There was an unexplainable pull toward her. Pressing a hand against the door, it opened and I walked in.
Looking around the room, I saw some books she seemed to read over and over again. It was an unusual collection, anything from Steven King to Jane Austen. Her taste in music taste was eclectic, as well. Hell, she had music ranging from Johnny Cash to Marilyn Manson to 3oh3!.
I found myself drawn to the few pictures she had around. Pictures of her and her father, her and her mother, her with a group of very large dark skinned men on a beach (I wasn't a big fan of that one) and a picture of Her, Dixon and Phoebe together. This picture caught me off guard. Not that it was bad, it was clearly playful, but the three of them were outside and the leaves around them were brown, orange and red. Dixon was crouched down on the ground with Lilli on his back and Phoebe was on hers, all of them wearing the largest smiles. I longed to know her like that.
~
The next morning I woke to someone shouting my name.
"Aidan! Where the hell are you man?" Rolling over, I buried my head in the pillows. Cherry. Mmm...it smelled cherry and floral. My eyes shot open and looked around at Lilli's room. I must have passed out on her bed last night. "Here you are. What the hell are you doing?" James looked at me with an evil grin.
"Nothing, I'm coming." I responded curtly.