Page 37 of Crash

Luke surprises me when he turns the water on in the sink and washes the dishes. After he finishes, he walks over, takes my empty water glass, and washes that too. When he’s done with that, he wipes down the table.

“Thanks again for dinner,” he says, finally looking at me again.

“You’re welcome.”

He nods at me, and without saying another word, walks away and out the front door.

Relieved to be alone again, I make my way to the living room, turn on the TV, and plop myself on the couch. As I channel surf, I hear the front door open again.

Luke comes back up, drops an overnight bag on the floor, and sits next to me.

“What are we watching?” he asks as he snatches the remote from me. He puts on ESPN, and I snatch the remote back.

“Not that,” I announce. “Anyway, don’t you have plans with Zoey or with friends?”

“I told you I didn’t. Why don’t you have plans with your gay boyfriend?”

“Um, he’s not my boyfriend and he’s not gay. And we have plans tomorrow.” We don’t have plans, but he asked to see me tomorrow. I hadn’t given him an answer yet, but I will now.

“I’m pretty sure he’s gay. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he be here with you right now?”

I look at him, surprised by his words. “Be careful. That almost sounded like a compliment.”

I wait for him to say I’m taking his words all wrong, and for him to deliver an insult, but surprises me again. “Come on. You must know you’re attractive?”

I blush at his words. My aunt and cousins have always told me that, but they are family and aren’t exactly objective. I’ve had boys tell me I’m pretty, but I’ve never paid much attention to it. Luke saying that, though, awakens my entire body.

“It’s not something I think about. That’s not important to me.”

“And that makes you even more attractive.”

Neither one of us speaks after that. I know he’s looking at me, but I have my eyes on the TV. The local news is on, predicting snow for Sunday into Monday. I know he’s still staring, but I pretend to be engrossed in the forecast.

“I mean, your personality leaves a lot to be desired, but if you keep your mouth shut, you’re attractive. You’d make a good mute.”

I grab one of the pink decorative pillows and throw it at his head. He catches it before it makes contact.

“Well, I will never be silenced. Get used to it, Lucas Clark. Vivienne Chateau will not keep quiet for you or any man.” I throw another pillow at him, and he catches it too and puts both behind his back.

“I am woman, hear me roar.” I throw another pillow at him, and he catches. “Now, I have all the pillows. All part of my master plan.”

“You’re not smart enough to devise a master plan,” I counter.

He leans back and lets out a contented sigh. “Says the one with no pillows.”

“Seriously, why aren’t you out? It’s a Friday night. You seem to only hang out with your brothers and Zoey.”

“I just prefer family. And I don’t hang out with Zoey that much.”

It sounds like there’s a story there, but I don’t pry. Our truce is new, and I don’t want to overstep. Before I can change the subject, he speaks. “What about you? Why aren’t you out with girlfriends?”

“I have a small circle, and my good friend Terry Ann is visiting family in Barbados for the winter break. She does this every year. But, like you, I prefer family. Nothing is better than being with Tash, Sandy, and Steve. They’re my circle.”

“You should have gone with your friend. Barbados is nice.”

“Yeah, well, that’s hard when you’re broke.” I roll my eyes at him. Of course, he has no idea what it’s like to not have money to do things. “And I don’t have a passport either.” My parents would only go to Canada and when my passport expired four years ago, it never got renewed. Now, they won’t let me into the house to get my things. Despite my aunt calling my father, he wouldn’t relent.

Auntie is not the type to roll over, though. She had Chris drive her to my parents’ house a few days ago and demanded they give her my things. My father gave her some of my clothes but would not give them my birth certificate or expired passport. From what Chris says, my father went on a rant and accused my aunt of stealing me away. He even went so far as to say he regretted letting them have a relationship with me, and he was coming over here to give Sandy a piece of his mind.

---