Chapter 3: Invitation

I washed my hands with the bright pink bathroom soap and pulled out a paper towel to dry them off. As I threw the towel in the garbage, I opened the restroom door, and shut off the light, exiting into the cool air of the gas station convenience store. I sauntered to the large glass fridge and grabbed a V8 Splash and proceeded to the line to pay, starting to dig in my purse for a twenty for the drink and gas. I looked up to an award winning smile greeting me.

I was a little taken aback and color crept into my cheeks just slightly. This was the boy who I would have been in love with in Junior High. His teeth were perfectly straight and he had tiny dimples in each cheek. His eyes were large and brown and sparkled with a certain mischief as his eyebrows lifted. A small “hi” came out of my mouth and I looked back down at my wallet, trying to find a card that I didn’t really need.

His voice was the mid-range voice of a young man who had just gone through the major parts of puberty. “Pump 4 and 5”. He told the man behind the counter who was wearing a blue gas station attendants jump suit. Before I could realize it, the attendant was telling him that it was “fifty three dollars and 46 cents”. The boy handed him a 50 and a 20.

“Wait,” I spoke up. “I’m at pump 5.” There must have been some kind of mistake.

The boy turned again and flashed that grin. “Really?” His eyes seemed to get wider. “Guess you made out, then!” The attendant handed him his change. I smiled back at him, beginning to see what was going on. It was a small, knowing smile and my eyes sparkled. I felt truly complimented.

I set my V8 on the counter and the attendant began ringing it up. “1.27” He said to me.

“I got that, too.” The blond boy threw two dollars at the man and motioned for him to keep the change.

I looked back at the boy shaking my head a bit. “Thanks a lot. That’s really sweet.” Wait, was I flirting with this kid?

“No problem.” He responded and opened the large glass door for me. “Please….” He motioned. I stepped out into the sunshine in front of him and we began to make our way towards the cars.

“Whoever said chivalry was dead?”

The blond boy laughed. “So,” He picked up the conversation as if we had been friends for years, “Are you here for the Holidays?”

“Yeah.” I responded, opening up my V8. “I’m actually visiting my Mother who manages one of the outlets in Key West.”

“Cool.” He replied. He looked at me directly. “That’s where I live. Where you from?”

“Oh, up in Orlando.” It was beginning to get a little chilly and I got small goose pimples on my arms.

“I’m actually from Tampa originally myself.” He added.

Wait. My mind suddenly focused and jumped out of its complimentary haze. This was not just any other adolescent boy… This was Aaron Carter. And we were totally walking toward his big brother’s white Ford Expedition that was parked in front of my jeep. Nick sat on the bumper of his car, concentrating on his I900. He had obviously been spending a lot of time in the sun because his hair was bleach blond that had grown out of its cut just slightly and his skin was smooth and tanned. He licked his lips in concentration on the small electronic device he was playing with.

My heart skipped a beat. He was a face from the past, a face I had loved unrequitedly and then simply let go of, weening myself, as if from a drug or nicotine. And most thoughts of him were gone. At least I thought they were. His brother stuck out his hand as we approached. “I’m Aaron, by the way.”

“Oh,” I snapped out of it, hoping Aaron didn’t see the way I was staring at his older brother. “I’m Green. And thanks so much for the gas!”

Somehow, I had to make it to my car. I prayed that I wouldn’t have to talk to Nick, although something from deep within me also prayed that I would. I snuck a glance. His arms were perfect. Tiny blond hairs covered the tan skin that was a bit calloused but mostly smooth and shiny and well taken care of. I’m sure he didn’t think to take care of them, they just were naturally so. His muscles were sculpted and flexed just a tiny bit as he moved his fingers along the keyboard of the baby blue I900. It was tempting to run a finger just slightly down one of them, just to be able to feel what it was like, the thick softness of it. I gulped. He was still luscious, perhaps even more so than I remembered.

“So, uh, how old are you?” Aaron blurted it out quickly as if he had been waiting to say it. Aaron was asking as we slowed down a bit, almost to the Expedition. I looked at him, smiling into the sunshine.

“Oh, I’d estimate about 8 years older than you.” I told him, but I was laughing. The kid was definitely flirting hard.

Aaron kind of smirked. “I thought so, but it was worth a try, right?” He poked my arm playfully and I found myself pinching back. It was not like me to do so, but the kid was so charming, it was hard not to. And then we were standing right there, right in front of Nick and he looked up and checked the two of us out, quite amused, grinning.

“Hey, Nick.” Aaron said. “This is my new friend…uh, how did you say your name again?”

“Green, like the color.” I answered, used to the question, but not really explaining.

I stuck out my hand naturally and Nick took it into his own, shaking it perhaps just a second too long before letting it go. My stomach jumped in excitement. Those eyes were amazing, having an air of playfulness just like Aaron’s, yet a small wave of sadness and experience and even a bit of maturity. He seemed amused by Aaron’s actions and my reactions to them.

As we shook hands, Aaron told me, “This is my big brother, Nick.”

“Great Jeep.” Nick nodded toward the bright green Wrangler.

“Thanks,” I responded, “It’s a rental. Not quite like the Accord at home, but it’s fun for my vacation.” My cheeks were flushed, but it looked like I had been running and was feeling exhilarated. My eyes were bright with excitement. It had never even occurred to me that I would run into Nick down here. I had almost forgotten that he lived here, and barely knew if he would be spending his holidays on the Keys.

He just smiled back, his eyebrows raising. Neither of us really knew what to say.

“How cute.” Nick thought.

Aaron broke the slight pause. “So, Green. You wouldn’t happen to want to get together for dinner or something tomorrow?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Listen to him.” I said outloud to myself, but Nick and Aaron both answered with laughs.

“S’worth a try…” Aaron pleaded.

“Well…” I thought about my plans that I had made for the week. To walk on the beach and read and watch movies. I had it all mapped out, what I would do on each day, where I would go. But I was intrigued by the duo, and I didn’t want to just drift in and then out of their life. I was tired of doing that with people. “Well…I’ll tell you what. Since you two gentlemen so obligingly paid for my gas and juice, the least I could do is make the two of you some lunch tomorrow.” It was an earnest response. It hardly occurred to me that most people were too intimidated to ask them something like this.

For the simple fact that the offer was an unprecedented one, Nick responded quickly to the invitation. “That sounds great.” He thought he would have denied it, make up an excuse as to why they couldn’t come. But every bone in his body told him that it would be cool to hang out with someone who hardly knew him, and didn’t seem to care who or what he was. She just wanted to feed him, and that sounded good to Nick.

Aaron looked as if you could blow him over with a feather. I was surprised for a minute as well. I also figured he would make up an excuse not to come. “Uh, well, let’s say 1:00 pm, then? I’m here in Big Pine, over at Island Bay Condos, Apartment 17. You know where it is?”

Nick and Aaron both nodded in unison. “We drive by there to get home.” The younger stated.

“Alright then.” I said, backing away. “I’ll see you two then. And bring your appetites, OK?” They both just nodded and waved. I turned and got into the jeep and drove away. Excitement ran through my veins as I honked and the two waved again, their blond hair falling gently about their sweet faces. Genetics had treated them well. And after years of having no dates at all, I suddenly had one with two brothers.