Page 20 of The Cannon
When I picture bringing Bristol here the place fails miserably. For a million-dollar property it should at least be presentable. It wouldn’t be smart to bring a woman like her to a boy’s playground.
Maybe the housekeeper needs to come more often. It pained me to hire Blanca in the first place. I don’t like people touching my shit. I like to know I can find it where I left it. But this is out of hand. I’ll call her tomorrow and book her once a week.
As I pass the coffee table, I toss the keys and they slide across and hit the pile of mail stacked haphazardly. It shivers but stays upright.Call her.
The words play in my head. I’ll just grab a Coke.Call her.
Maybe when I get in the bedroom. Naked me would be primed for the sound of her voice.Call her.
Just to shut myself up, I grab my cell from my pocket. Scrolling through my contacts, I tap her name.
I need to use the bathroom. My roommate in Fort Worth used to call the phenomenon “the instants.”
“Hello?” she says softly.
“Hi. It’s me.”
“Who’s me?”
“The guy that just kissed you an hour ago.”
“Oh, that guy.”
I’m smiling like a teenager. Think she is too. I head for the bedroom.
“How come you’re not at the hospital?”
“I’ve been and gone. So how did the rest of the meal go? Did you get the Swift treatment?”
“Don’t know what you mean. We had dessert and then I left.”
“Uh huh. Sure. Just so you know, my parents, my grandparents, my siblings and their wives, all busybodies. They don’t speak for me.”
I flop down on top of my bed.
“Maybe they just care.”
She’s silent for a moment. So am I.
“I was thinking about the way you kissed me and I wondered if you’d like to do it again?” I say breaking the quiet.
“I kissed you? Think you’ve got that twisted. Pretty sure it was your advance.”
“Maybe. But you kissed back. I’m certain of that.”
A little giggle escapes her lips.Remember that sound when I get to heaven, God.I’d like to be greeted by it.
“Your parents’ Spring Nights Party. I’d love for you to be my date. Proper like. We wear something fancy, I pick you up and we get to know each other a little better. What do you think? Shall we begin?”
There are a few moments of silence before she speaks.
“I do like the way you talk. I like what I see. And yes Sawyer, you’re fine. But I want you to know I’d mostly be doing this to get my family off my case. If you’re agreeable to that then my answer is yes.”
“I’m agreeable. But I have a request too.”
“What’s that?”
“Tell me about the other reason.”
