Page 30 of The Sky in Summer
“Okay. I’m outta here. Nice to meet you, Van.”
“You too.”
“Glad you’re taking some time for fun,” Ken says, walking to the door. He looks back at his ex. “You deserve it.”
“Thanks. Night.”
And then he is gone. He looked relieved the visit was a short one. I can’t read her face, but I’m guessing our lovefest is over. She is preoccupied and I get it. Intellectually I understand. The physical and emotional part of me isn’t as cool about it though.
“So I guess our plans have changed. You have other things occupying your mind. No worries,” I say, lying through my teeth.
In a surprise development, she looks in my eyes and contradicts my take on things. A smile reappears.
“I appreciate that, but I see no reason to ruin the good night we’re having. Unless you do.”
I fuckinglovethis woman!
“No. I just thought maybe you wouldn’t be in the mood after the interruption. Come here. Let me kiss the last ten minutes away.”
She is in my arms, lips against mine. There is a sweet dollop of comfort mixed into the rise of passion. Her shoulders relax and I feel the Layla I just met tonight return.
“Where were we?” I say half joking.
“Your cock was inside me. Remember?”
“It’s hard to forget. And hard.”
The enchanted night reappears, and we are alone again in this strange new world. Where just the sight of her does things to me. Makes the vision of myself and my life wider. There is a song that says, once told, stories always grow old. Are there exceptions? I want to believe.
8
Layla
This is either the most brilliant way to avoid explaining things or it’s going to be a complete disaster. Either way, the boys will let me know. I hardly get away with any diversionary tactics now. When did they get so mature? Once upon a time I could do no wrong. Now it’s two against one, and I am working with equals when it comes to identifying and calling out questionable behaviors. They get a charge out of letting me know mine.
Suggesting the boys take turns driving will keep their minds off the subject. Their driver’s test is coming up soon, and in all likelihood, they aren’t even thinking of what happened last night. It is a nonevent. When Ken dropped them off an hour ago, nothing was said to indicate they were pissed or confused. Well, in all honesty, I said a quick hello then got on my cell to divert with a call to Barbra. The only reason I got away with that is I talk to her at least three times a day. Plus, they both were on their phones. Maybe I am blowing the whole thing up in my mind.
So just act like nothing has happened and get on with the day. Don’t make a big deal out of the telling if asked. They will understand if I downplay the fact he was there at all. I take a deep breath and jump in. Their voices carry from the next room.
“Hey, you guys want to go to breakfast?” I say, walking nonchalant as shit into the kitchen. “You can drive to the restaurant and David can drive back. Or vice versa.”
They are not buying what I am selling. Four eyes look back at me. Not exactly accusatory but questioning. My personal detectives observing body language and listening for hidden clues. David begins the interview.
“So, you had that Van guy over? Was it a date?”
Crap.
“No! We are friends. Just friends. Remember? I told you a few days ago we should have him and his nephews over for a barbecue sometime.”
They both start laughing at my artless delivery. Don’t blame them. I could hear my own lie, which sounds much less believable when said aloud. A ten-year-old might buy it, but not two sixteen-year-old boys. They both are taller than me now, and look down from on high, literally and metaphorically.
“What? Why is that funny?” I say with a straight face.
I don’t care how transparent I am, I will not admit Van is anything other than a friend.
“Because you invitedonlyhim, whenwewere gone. Didn’t just fall off a turnip truck, Mom.”
Their grandfather’s favorite saying has been picked up by my children. I like that. Even when it’s used against me. David lays out his case while twirling the kitchen towel and snapping it in the air. Tyler doesn’t pretend to be focused elsewhere. I present a calmly delivered rebuttal.
