Page 3 of Constantine: Britain's Story: Part 2
Britain
“There you are!” I’ve only heard Georgia use that high pitched voice maybe five times in my life. It surprises me. She sounds…delighted.
“Yeah, sorry. Just needed to use the restroom.” I sidle up to her in the pavilion that’s now teeming with people. The picnic went from 0 to 60 while I was helping Mr. Blue Eyes. The sight instantly activates my all-too-familiar anxious dread of socializing.
“Come on, there’s some people I’d like you to meet.” Georgia slides her arm into mine, and I look down at the seemingly foreign attachment. Georgia doesn’t seem to think twice about it, though, just winding us through groups of people who are all chatting and laughing together.
“Do you really work with all these people?” I ask as we weave and bob through the crowd.
“Well, yes, and no. About half of them work at the office full-time, the other half works on-site, but I still have to work with all of them.” I just nod along to her answer. I honestly don’t knowwhat my mom does for a living. I’m pretty sure she’s a secretary, but a high-level one. The only thing I know for certain is that she works for Connie, the co-owner of the MS Group.
We reach the far end of the pavilion, closest to where the makeshift bar is, and when we get to where we’re going, the group of people part for us like the Red Sea. Like Georgia belongs.
Connie is instantly recognizable with his thick black hair set against his tan skin. He’s wearing a white polo with khaki shorts, a watch that probably costs more than my car, and boat shoes. I don’t know much about wealthy people, but if I were to imagine a rich, middle-aged man, this would be pretty damn close to what I’d picture. The moment he sees us, Georgia and me, his entire demeanor and attention shifts, falling on us. He straightens, and his face turns up into the brightest smile.We should find out who his dentist is.
Constantine is a good man. On the few occasions I’ve met him, I've always remembered how kind he was. He always asked me questions about school and what sports I was playing, or what books I was reading. My dad was never in the picture as a child, and Georgia didn’t date, so my only interactions with grown men in my adolescence were, ironically, the dentist and Connie.
Georgia leads me straight to him, a smile on her face. I can’t figure out why, honestly, because she rarely smiles. It’s then that I realize I’m seeing a different version of Georgia today.Work Georgia, not “mom Georgia” or “home Georgia,” this is a woman I don’t know.
“Britain! My god, you’ve grown so much since the last time I saw you!” Constantine beams at me. He moves to set down his beer, then opens his arms wide for me to step into a hug. I’m trying so hard not to be awkward so I move in closer and return his embrace. I wasn’t really expecting a hug as a greeting.I'd expected maybe a handshake, at most — perhaps even just a polite smile.
While his hug is warm and kind, I do think it lasts a moment longer than it should. You’d think I was a long-lost relative, not his secretary’s daughter.Weird. When he finally relaxes his embrace, he holds me away from him, refusing to relinquish me completely, and I blush.
“Hi, Mr. Scala. It’s so nice to see you again.”
“Darling, please call me Connie,” he says gently. I smile at him and nod my head. He slowly drops his arms, picking his beer back up. And I take that as my cue to fade to black. I check behind me before I can take a step away, but I don’t get the chance.
“Georgia told me you’re staying local for school, going to State?”Oh, okay, he wants to talk…to me.
“Oh, um, yes. I’ll be staying in town.” I smile, trying my absolute best to be the polite human Georgia raised me to be.
“Georgia also mentioned you got into Stanford, but you’re not going.” My cheeks heat uncontrollably; I hate talking about myself.
“I did, but I think I’d rather stay here. No use spending all that money when I haven’t even decided what I want to do yet.” I laugh nervously, “Also, I sort of like it here.” I shrug my shoulders, but it’s the truth. I know most people are itching to ditch this place, but I’ve never really had that same drive. I like the valley surrounded by majestic mountains with hidden lakes and the ocean just a stone’s throw over the coastal range. I like the rolling hills and driving by the ranches with my country music turned up to ten. I don’t even know why I bothered to apply to any collegesbesidesState other than my counselor advised me that I should.
“You know, my son, Matt, just graduated from Stanford?”
“Oh, I didn’t know that. That’s awesome.”Lie.I did know that, but I don’t want to seem like the weirdo who knows everything about these people even though I’ve never met them.
“He really loved it there. You should talk to him about it. You know, it’s not too late to change your mind.” Connie gives me a wink and a smile.
“Oh, I’m sure he’s busy, and I’d hate to bother him-” Connie cuts me off.
“He’s not busy at all. In fact, he’s right…” Connie looks around the group of people Georgia and I just entered, which has now splintered into several smaller groups, “here.” Connie rests his hand on the back of a tall man’s shoulder, and when he turns in Connie’s direction…holy crap. He’s fucking gorgeous.
Tall, dark, and gorgeous turns and joins our small group that I’m just now realizing is just Connie and me. That’s it, that’s the group. Well, nowMatt, too.
“Matt, I’d like you to meet someone,” Connie says to him.
Before Connie can continue, Matt speaks up, “You must be Britain.” He smiles when he’s done. And oh mygod.Heknows whoIam? It’s like his movements are in slow motion when he reaches a hand up to push a piece of black hair up and off his forehead making me salivate.
“Hi, yes, I’m Britain.” I extend my hand to shake his, and when our hands meet, it feels electric. Not in that corny romantic way though. It feels unnatural, new…different. It feels like something that wasn’t supposed to happen did. Now I know I’m blushing again.Stupid pale skin always failing me.
“Matt,” he replies in his deep voice. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Honestly, I’ve heard so much about you, I feel like I practically know you!” He laughs.What in the actual fuck?This drop dead gorgeous man knows about me? I laugh nervously in response, I mean what am I supposed to say to that?
Connie pats Matt on the back in a loving gesture, and for a second, I feel jealous. Not because Connie is touching Matt but because Matt gets to have Connie as a dad. It’s irrational, but I wonder what it would have been like to grow up with a father like him.
“Matt, I thought maybe you could talk to Britain about-”
