Page 17 of The River in Spring
Nobel looks at me. “Shall we be bad?”
I feel my own horns rise. The server waits and watches our dance.
“Let’s.”
This time I twirl my own hair.
Answer! Answer. I need her take on the latest news. Come on Deborah, I know you’re there.
The click of the connection lifts me.
“Hey gurl,” she says. “How was the house tonight?”
“Quit thinking like a manager and start thinking like my best friend. God, I thought you were missing in action. This is the third time I’ve called this facacta landline.”
“I’m coloring my hair. Didn’t hear it. What’s up? Nobel?”
“It was one date. It’s not like that.”
“What the heck does that have to do with it? I know you. Do not forget who caught you and my brother with your pants down. Maybe that’s when he figured out he was gay!” She laughs hysterically at her own joke.
“There is the small part of the story you’re leaving out. We were five.”
“Details. He’s still a horn dog. You’re still the same girl. Me too. We don’t really change from our young selves.
“True. He was checking out the guy in the front row tonight.”
“Of course he was. They probably already did it. So how was the date? Did you have fun?”
I kind of melt into the memory.
“Oh, it was really, really, really fantastic. He’s such a cool guy, Deborah. Smart, and nice. Sexy as hell.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear. How come you’re home so early?”
“It was a long day. Besides, Nobel has a sick dog and she needs medicine at certain intervals. The dog is terminal.”
“Ohhh. That’s so sad.”
“They’re best friends. I kinda love that he’s that way.”
“Did he try to hookup?”
“There were signs he wanted to. But desires were controlled.”
“Why? Boom chicka boom,” she sings.
“I can’t put it in words. Except to say it’s like it was too important to rush.”
I hear the intake of her breath. “God. Did you see something?”
My friend knows me well.
“Maybe. But I may have been wanting it so much that I created the vision.”
“I’m not buying it. You have never misread things before.”
She’s got a point.
