Strangely Normal

chapter 11


I sat in bed reading, waiting for Finley to wake up. I could still hear voices downstairs as if people were just sobering up enough to leave. Her knock came earlier than I’d expected.

She raced across the floor and jumped into my bed reminding me of my little sisters. “So much fun last night.” She flopped back and brought her hands to her heart. “He’s just as awesome as ever.” She sprang up to sit. When she was excited about something, she tended to move quickly and without warning like a hummingbird. “I hope you weren’t too bored. I didn’t see you much.” She grabbed my hand and her eyes went wide. “Supposedly Jude had to come to some girl’s rescue last night in the garden. The guy he kicked out is a real jerk. Everyone was happy to see him go. Did you see any of it?” she asked.

“No. I got hit with a nasty headache, so I turned in early.”

“Your eyes do look a little swollen. How are you feeling this morning?”

“I’m feeling a lot better, thanks.”

She slid off the bed. “Well, Becky will be here in an hour to do our tattoos, so I’ll meet you down in the kitchen.” She skittered across the floor like an excited little kid. It was fun to see her so happy, but there was always that unnerving feeling that her mood could change instantly. “Jude drew me the cutest picture of Some Pig. I can’t wait to have Becky put it on my shoulder.” She flew out of the room.

Several pairs of unfamiliar bloodshot eyes peered up over the back of the couch when I stepped into the kitchen. They didn’t look terribly pleased with the clamor Finley was making. It was obvious she was being extra noisy on purpose. Even Some Pig seemed to be snorting in his food with extra loud zeal.

“Eggs all right?” she asked.

“Yep.

“Maybe we should add some onions and anchovies,” she said loudly in the direction of the couch. Groans of nausea followed the lingering party guests out of the room. “Ta ta and don’t let the door hit you on your sorry ass on the way out.”

“Uh, you were just kidding about the onions and anchovies, right?”

“Heck yeah. That would be gross even without a hangover.”

We sat to eat, but Finley just picked through the eggs and daydreamed with starry eyes.

I picked up a forkful. “You look like you’re stuck in fairy tale land.”

“I am. He’s just as funny and dreamy as ever,” she said. “And I’m pretty sure he likes me too.”

“Pretty sure? You two sat and talked together as if you were completely alone. An entire party went on around you, but neither of you were aware of it.” Momentarily memories of the horrid night flashed through my mind, but I pushed them back out of reach. Finley had been so absorbed in her evening with Max, she’d only heard vague rumors of what had happened, and I planned to keep it that way. It wasn’t anything she needed to hear about, and I definitely didn’t ever want to talk about it.

Finley stretched up and pulled a folded paper from her pocket. “Here’s the sketch for my tattoo.”

I looked at the drawing. Jude had captured the very essence of Some Pig in the simple drawing. “He’s truly talented.”

Finley smiled with admiration at her pig who was vacuuming up the rest of his food. “Yes, yes he is.”

“I meant your brother.” I thought about the bet and posing for him and wondered if I could endure it. I’d become absurdly self-conscious in his presence. And then there was the annoying trembling and fidgeting whenever he looked at me for longer than a second, which seemed to happen a lot. Standing for one of his paintings would definitely be nerve-wracking.

“Oh, of course. He’s definitely talented. He really wanted to go to art school, but my dad wasn’t very supportive. He wanted Jude to run the construction company. They had a huge fight about it, and Jude threw his fist through a wall. He broke three fingers. For a while it seemed he would never paint again.” She shook her head. “Jude has always been his own worst enemy.”

Tilly announced Becky’s arrival through the intercom.

“She’s early,” Finley said excitedly. “Do you want to go first? I have to warn you, it does hurt a bit.”

“I figured it was a little harsher than the rub-on ones I wore on Halloween. Why don’t you go first. I’m not completely sure I’m going to go through with it yet. I mean tattoos are really permanent.”

“What tattoo?” Neither of us had heard Jude walk into the kitchen. He looked at me. “You’re getting a tattoo?” I sensed some disapproval in his tone.

“Maybe.”

“Not that it’s any of your business,” Finley said, “but she’s going to get a spray of stars on her shoulder.”

“Maybe,” I repeated.

Finley looked a bit disappointed by my lack of commitment. “My tattoo is going to take a few hours, so you have plenty of time to decide. But I think it would look awesome. Do you want to watch me get mine?”

“I’m pretty sure that would make me decide against a tattoo. I’m sort of squeamish about needles.”

“Good, then you can pose for a painting while you’re waiting,” Jude said. “I’ve got a canvas ready.”

Finley looked at me with round eyes. “You’re going to pose for him?” It was hard to read if she was horrified or intrigued by the news.

I opened my mouth to answer but Jude spoke for me. “Yep, she is. Let’s go, Valley, while the light is still good.” He headed out.

Finley was uncharacteristically silent as I carried the plates to the sink.

“If you don’t want me to pose, I won’t.”

“Huh?” she looked up at me as if she had been deep in thought. “No, no. I think it’s great.”

“Really? Because there’s nothing in your tone that says great.”

She sighed loudly and I knew her true feelings were about to pour out. “I just don’t want Jude to scare you away. He has this way about him. Girls end up obsessing and then they get heartbroken. And it kind of seems—”

“I’m just posing for his painting, Finley. Besides, I’ve never obsessed about a guy in my life. He’d have to be pretty damn spectacular to get that kind of commitment out of me. It’ll be fine. Plus, your brother still treats me like I’m an annoying pest who has landed here to upset his life.”

“That’s the problem,” she said. “Attention from Jude, no matter which kind, is a rarity.”

“Look, if you don’t want me to pose for him, I won’t. But I promise I won’t be scared off.”

My little pep talk seemed to have done the trick. The worry disappeared from her face.

“No, go ahead and do it. I’ll see you in a few hours.” She hugged me as if we were parting ways for years instead of hours. She walked out of the kitchen and Some Pig followed. I took a deep breath and headed out to the pool house. My confident speech had helped convince Finley that I could keep my head. Now I just needed it to work on me.