“Nope. Then a few days before homecomin’, he told us she dumped him, and he wasn’t goin’. Mama got so upset, she almost cussed.” Vickie puts a hand to her heart in exaggerated shock. “She ended up makin’ Charlie’s favorite dinner that Friday night. I didn’t mind since he stayed home and played video games with me. He didn’t act heartbroken either. He never mentioned her again.”
Violet stares at me, and I shrug. She laughs and shakes her head.
“First of all,” I say to the table. “Staci was a real girl at my school, not the so-called good school. She also had no idea who I was.”
“Well, maybe Colt is right. Maybe this girlfriend is made up too,” Violet says.
“I don’t think so.” Vickie chimes in. “He wouldn’t lie, and he’s been spending nights with her. If she doesn’t exist, where has he been all night?”
I groan and shake my head.
“You guys spend way too much time thinkin’ about me and what I’m doin’," I tell them.
“I’m not so sure, Queen Vee. You make up a girlfriend once, you’ll do it again,” Colt says.
“Where have you been spending the night?” Violet asks. I stare into her eyes, and she gives me a mischievous grin. I nearly jump out of my chair when I feel her foot on my crotch. My body immediately wakes up, and I almost groan when she rubs her big toe around my dick.
“Haven’t you been listenin’, Violet? I’ve been spendin’ the nights out with my girlfriend,” I announce to the table. Colt snorts, and Vickie swoons.
“He won’t even give us her full name,” Colt says.
“Oh? What’s her name, Charlie?” Violet practically sings. “Unlike your brother and Vickie, I don’t have a dog in this fight, so you can tell me. I won’t tell anyone.”
“I’ve told them her name. Her name is Lettie.” Because Colt and his wife aren’t looking at me, I wink at Violet.
“Lettie?” she asks. “Interesting name, but it does kind of sound made up,” she teases. “I’ve never met a Lettie in New York.”
“See, that’s what I’m sayin’,” Colt says. “This Lettie only exists in Charlie’s head.”
“I like the name,” I say to Violet. Then, I address the table, “I promise you all, she’s real.”
“Since we’re meeting her next weekend, I guess I can wait,” Vickie says. “I hope she’s a good fit for us all.”
“For us all? When did we become a cult?” Colt says. The kids ask for more food, and Colt leaves the table to serve them.
“I hope you like her too,” Violet says to Vickie. She rubs her foot on me again before slowly pulling it away. All I want to do is put it back and caress her ankle.
The dinner conversation changes from my dating life to other things, and when the kids start throwing food at the table, Vickie and Colt declare that dinner is over.
“Evan, why don’t you go take a shower?” Vickie says. “Your dad will help you. I’ll get these two in the tub before Jasmine gets picked up.” The kids, who are now filthy, run to the back of the apartment.
“I’ll help clean up, and then I’ll go. Thanks so much for inviting me, Vickie. And Charlie,” she says, turning back to me, “Dinner was delicious. Lettie is a lucky woman.”
“And she’s beautiful too,” I add, and Violet blushes.
Colt and Vickie leave to help the kids, and I’m left alone with my girlfriend for the first time since this morning. She looks tothe back of the house, and once it’s clear, she slowly walks to me. She puts her hand on my chest and tilts her face up. I lean down and give her a soft peck on her lips.
“I’ve always been Violet,” she says. “Not Vee or Vi, just Violet. Now, I learn that I’m Lettie and no one told me.”
“Do you like it?” I ask.
“I love it,” she whispers.
I lean down, and instead of giving her a chaste kiss, I wrap my arms around her and pull her to me. I give her the same kiss I gave her this morning before leaving her apartment. She opens her mouth for me, and her fingers slide into my hair like she does every time we kiss. She moans in my mouth, and I rub myself against her.
We kiss like this for what seems like an eternity. We kiss as if we’re not keeping our relationship a secret from the people in this very house. I lose myself in her, giving in to her taste, sound, and smell.
“No!” I hear. Violet jumps out of my arms and puts a hand to her chest. Johnny is standing in front of us, naked as the day he was born. Violet giggles, and I shake my head at him. He always does this when it’s time for a bath. He thinks it’s a game, and we have to find him.