Page 95 of Unmasking Love
“That’s the most surprising thing I’ve ever come across at a listing,” I tell them as I wipe my mouth before continuing. “Are you thinking weirdest, like strange or sexual?”
“Strange,” Bryson says.
At the same time Duncan says, “Sexual.”
“Ha, okay, I’ll give you both. Sexual, there was a house where they had sex toys on the mantle.”
“What?” Duncan says with a laugh. “Like over the fireplace, where you put birthday cards?”
“Who is sending you birthday cards?” Bryson teases.
“Fuck off man, my family sends greeting cards for all sorts of shit. Birthdays, anniversaries, National Talk Like a Pirate Day.”
“Wait, is that a real holiday?” Crosby asks. Honestly, I could sit back and just let their conversation flow. I don’t know much about hockey but by the way these guys interact you can tell they get along well and I can imagine that translates to their play on the ice.
“Yeah man! Double F, let’s celebrate it when it comes around next.”
“Aye.” Felix growls and I giggle. It’s such a dad joke and so on brand for him.
“You guys get distracted too easily,” Emmett says as he points his fork around at his teammates, “Harper,” he turns to me. “What’s the weirdest non-sexual thing you’ve seen.”
“Well, the thing that creeped me out the most was the reptile house.” I shudder remembering walking into a dark basement lit by heat lamps.
“Like at the zoo?” Aiden asks.
“Kind of, I walked into the basement ahead of my first showing of this house and it was dark, which, fine, but when I turned on the lights only red lights came on.”
“Oh shit, I got the shivers,” Crosby says and he rubs his arms.
“It was really weird, so then I moved slowly down the stairs and thought maybe it was a photography dark room or something but when I turned the corner,” I pause for effect. “Bam!” The boys jump around the table as I jilt forward and bang my fist on the table. “Snakes.”
“Fuck!” Bryson curses into his napkin. “I don’t want you to stop telling this story but I freaking hate snakes.”
“Me too,” I tell them. “And so in this man’s basement were eighteen snake tanks stacked up along the walls. In the middle of the room was a cage full of mice he would feed them.”
Felix gags and stands from the head of the table, “Okay, that’s enough story time from you Harper. Who wants dessert?”
The boys all stand and help to clear off the table.
Every time I pick up a dish to bring it to the kitchen one of them intercepts it from me. Eventually Aiden tells me to sit down and places a kiss on my cheek. I swirl the red wine in my glass and watch the six of them start doing the dishes and put leftovers in tupperware.
The doorbell rings and Emmett turns to me from the sink, “Harper, could you get that?”
“Uh, sure.” I wonder who else could be coming over.
I pull open the door to find a grandmother holding a sleeve of red party cups.
“You must be Harper. Hello dear, let me in, I’m freezing my tits off out here.” I huff out a laugh as I step to the side and let this firecracker of a womaninto the house. “I tried to dress sexy and not wear a coat, but that was a mistake. I guess I just haven’t accepted that I’m 86 years old, not 26 like you.”
“I’m 28.” Like she cares.
“Close enough dear.”
“Granny!” Emmett grins as he opens his arms and wraps her into a hug. “How was your date?”
“I’m here early aren’t I?” Granny turns to me, “Dating doesn’t get any easier.”
“Easy now” Emmett says. “Harper is very happy with Aiden, let’s not spew your views on romantic relationships to new people.”
