Chapter 4: Early

It was hard not to think about what would happen the next day. I was distracted about what I would make, what they would think of the house, but most of all, what the three of us could ever possibly find to talk about. Me, Green O’Donnell, the self-conscious Irish/Italian struggling intellectual and writer who had a problem with trusting men, hanging out with two real boy’s boys who had a silver spoon in their mouths who were God’s gift to women. It was almost comical when I thought on it too long. I tried to remove the thought but there it was, in lights flashing, because they’d be at my Mom’s apartment by 1:00 the next day.

My mother took my mind off the impending visit for a while. We had some catching up to do as the two of us sat on her deck and she smoked a cigarette and I sipped on hot chocolate. I had a blanket draped about my arms and I felt the warm feeling I got when I talked with my mother. She yawned at about midnight and turned in, kissing me on top of the head. “Goodnight, Green.” She said and patted me on the shoulder. “And don’t worry about tomorrow, you’ll be fine…I know you.”

I stayed outside a while longer, wondering if they would even show up. Then, I wrapped my blanket tighter around me, picked up the 16 year old cat who lounged in my lap, and went into the living room to the pull out couch to get a good night’s rest.

My mother was not quiet when she woke up the next morning at eight sharp. The cat meowed for the same Ocean and Whitefish food she had eaten since I’d gotten her as a child. Mom fed her and then she went out, wild about the new birds and lizards she could play with in her new home. Even at 16 she still gave them a run for their money, being a natural hunter, a quarter raccoon. Mom drank he coffee and applied her make-up meticulously, then read circulars or paid bills or listened to the morning show on the radio.

I yawned and awoke, knowing I would have to make another trip to the grocery store and then prepare lunch, straighten the house and try to make myself look presentable. Mom kissed me good-bye and wished me luck as I watched Little House on the Prairie, just as she had done when I was three and she was leaving for work in New York City. I chewed on my piece of toast, mesmorized by the Laura Ingalls and told my mother to have a nice day. She wished me luck and locked the door behind her.

*****

Nick looked at his watch as the Mercedes sped down the road toward Big Pine. It was 12:15 already, they were 15 minutes late. He was having second thoughts and didn’t really want to go at all, but Aaron had been defiant, telling Nick he was selfish and under-handed. Nick wondered if Aaron knew what all that meant. So, he had loaded the 14 year old into the Mercedes with a pie the house keeper had baked to bring to their little play date and they head out to Big Pine at about five minutes to twelve.

At a stop light, a blond with big breasts was staring at Nick and he turned and looked back, pursing his lips just in the right way so that he sent chills up and down her spine. Women were a puzzlement to him, but he could play them like a guitar, it was just that simple, had been for years now. She licked her lips and he was tempted to just drop Aaron off at this Green girl’s house and try to find the blond somewhere downtown where she was heading. But the light turned green and she sped off and Aaron was staring at him with anger. “Get a move on.” He commanded his big brother. “We’re already late.

Nick sighed and stepped on the gas, peeling away toward the Island Bay apartment complex.

*****

I heard the knocking as I blow dried my hair. My heart stopped. It couldn’t be them already. It was only 12:30. They weren’t due for another half hour.

I looked out the curtain and saw the large hand leaning against the wall near the front door.

“God damn it.” I said aloud and yelled, “I’ll be right there.” I looked at myself in the hallway mirror and contemplated running to change for second. I swung the door open, out of breath. “Hey,” I said. My hair was wet and I had no make-up on. I was wearing a tiny tank top, no bra, and men’s boxer briefs.

Aaron looked me up and down, gulping and then smiling. Nick just smirked. “We’re late.” He said simultaneously as I said, “You’re early.”

Once again at the same moment I said, “One o’clock” as he said, “Noon”. Then we both started laughing. Aaron was still looking at me. I held the door open. “Come on in, guys.” I said as they stepped through the doorway. Nick walked behind me, but I felt his eyes on my back. And I saw him look me up and down through the mirror. It gave me light chills and I rubbed the back of my neck to make myself warm up and for them to go away. I turned back toward them.

“Uh, this is the living room. There’s not really much to it. Take a seat and let me make myself beautiful.” I walked into the bathroom, still feeling a bit shocked.

“Won’t be too tough.” Nick said under his breath. But I didn’t hear him.

*****

We had plenty to talk about, but it was probably because Aaron dominated most of the conversation. He asked question after question about me, my family, my friends, my job, Orlando, college, even my opinion on fashion and music. I was already drained when we finished our lunch. The three of us sat around the bar that separated my mother’s kitchen and living room.

“This is a nice place your Mom has here.” Nick said in between bites of his strawberry covered cheesecake, which was his second helping. He hadn’t really said all that much but had listened to Aaron and myself jabbering quite contentedly. He was glad he hadn’t just dropped Aaron off. He wasn’t sure why, but he just was. Plus, that would just be too weird, Aaron hanging out with a girl who could have given birth to him. She would have been young, but could have just the same.

“It’s small.” I stated. “But she likes it.” I was clearing the plates off the bar and Nick stood with very good manners to help me. I held my hands off to block him from doing so and touched his broad chest very slightly. It would have been nice to press them into him a bit more, feel what it was like, but I refrained. “Sit back down, I’m serving you today.” I paused and grabbed a wet sponge to wipe off the counter. “Now, I’m sure YOUR house is large. And I bet it’s beautiful.”

Aaron didn’t let his brother answer as Nick sat back down on the stool, leaning on his hand. He opened his mouth to speak, but Aaron’s voice came out. “Nick’s got a mansion. But we just have a 6 bedroom ranch.”

I laughed. “A six bedroom ranch is a mansion to me, after living in places like this my whole life.”

“It’s nice, though.” Nick said earnestly, standing up again. “It feels all homey and comfortable. It don’t really matter how big a place is, you know? As long as it feels like home.”

I smiled at him, a silent thank-you. He was sweet and it surprised me a bit.

“Now, the least you can let me do is the dishes.” Aaron almost fell off his seat when he heard Nick offer.

“No way.” I answered immediately. This time, I did press my hands into his shoulders to sit him back down. He felt good. “You’re not lifting a finger. We’re gonna throw these in the dishwasher, and just chill. This is my vacation. You guys too, right?” They nodded in unison and Nick leaned on the stool and rubbed the hair on his chin. He was trying to figure me out. Trying to figure out what he liked so much about me.

“You been to Key West yet?” He asked. “I got a little shopping to do this afternoon. Why don’t you come along?”

Aaron chimed in and told me that it would be great. “And then afterwards, you can come back to our house. We’re having a barbecue for dinner tonight.”

I should have said no. It wasn’t really my place. The three of us had really just met. “I’d love to.” I said with a smile.