Page 42 of Georgia: Britain's Story: Part 1
I hear another voice, a female’s.“Why’d Liam block out his whole night? He have a hot date?”Fucking hell.
I’m not surprised when I get a call on the drive home.
“Hey, man,” I answer.
“Hey, so uh, Bambi, huh?” he asks.Jesus christ.
“What about it?”
Matt just laughs in response to my avoidance. “Alright, so you’re not ready to talk about it. That’s how I know this isn’t a joke. If it was any other chick, you’d be all,‘ya, I got a fucking date tonight. Name’s Lisa, she breeds French Bulldogs, celiac disease, so gotta go somewhere with a gluten-free menu.’” He mimics my voice terribly. I burst into laughter.
“Is that what I fucking sound like?”
“Yeah,” he deadpans.
“Alright, well, yeah, I don’t want to talk about it because it might be serious.”
“Yup, and that’s the real reason you’re wanting to bump your move-in date, right?”No shit.
“Yeah, I mean, that’s part of the reason. No bull shit, how bad do you need me there?” I ask.
“Well...” He’s hemming and hawing. “No bull shit, is she worth it?”Abso-fucking-lutely.
“Yes.” That’s all I’ll say to him about that.
“Then I guess I'll be good a bit longer. All alone. Just me and myself.”
I laugh. “I think there’s a good chance I’ll be able to move out there in June.” I think, but I sort of hope not, which begs a lot of other questions to deal with.
“Alright, man, but this is how it always starts. Next you’re asking me to buy out your side of the business.” He pauses, “This isn’t a midlife crisis, right? I mean, Bambi?” I burst out laughing.
“Yeah, sounds kind of suspect when you put it like that, but uh, no. Not a midlife crisis.” Changing the subject, “Did you get the updated blueprints Dom sent over?”
“Yeah, yeah, we got em’. If you’re not gonna give me anything else, I’ll talk to you later,” he says.
“I’m not.”
“Alright, bye asshole.”
“Ha! Right back at you,” and I end the call. Matt’s more like a brother than a business partner to me. Our dads were business partners, and when William Sr. passed, I took over for him. And when Constantine retired two years ago, Matt took his place.
Matt’s comment about a midlife crisis comes back to me. This isn’t a midlife crisis though, right? I did just realize that I missed the boat on having a family, but what I feel for Britainisreal. It’s way different than anything I’ve felt before, and I was with Nancy for five years. This is why I’m not ready to tell my work family yet. I don’t want any outside influence over what happens between the two of us.
I feel like a tween getting ready for a first date. I’ve been agonizing over what to wear for a half hour now. This is the stupidest thing. Britain is casual. She’s not expecting me to be in dress pants and a tie for dinner at my house.Keep it simple, I remind myself, oxford shirt with rolled up sleeves and jeans. Gina gave me unsolicited dating advice once that women’s weaknesses are bare forearms and the hair that curls up at the neck of a dress shirt. I’ll have to settle for bearing my forearms since my hair isn’t going to grow three inches in the next 20 minutes.
Downstairs is mostly ready. I have three different kinds of wine chilling, the flowers are set out. I’ll get the playlist going in a minute. I have a fire going indoors, and I’m prepped with blankets and wood if we want to do a fire outside. Food is in the warming drawer and I need to chill the fuck out.
She’s already my girlfriend, right? It somehow doesn’t feel real, though. Like it could all go away in the blink of an eye, which it could. I want her at my house. Not staying in my garage apartment. I mean, it’s nice in there, I designed it, but it’s not my house.It’s not with me.
I hear her gentle knock and head for the door. I open it, anddamn. She looks stunning. I don’t even bother with a ‘hi,’ I’m just on her the second I see her. Grabbing her face between my hands, I’m kissing her like I’ve been wanting to do all fucking day. I let her go, remembering it’s probably cold out and she’s still standing outside. I grab her hand and pull her in, closing the door after us.
Britain
“Wow. I’m pretty sure your house is on one of my Pinterest boards,” I say as he laughs, but I’m not joking. I’ve seen the inside of this house before. I think it was inArchitectural Digesta while back.
“Liam, your house is…beautiful.” I can’t stop looking around at every detail. It’s organic, but modern, and clearly says mountain home, but not in the same way Sandy’s house did. Liam’s is subtle.
“Who designed it?” I legit want their info in case I ever decide to do a mountain or lake house.
