Page 135 of Girls Will Be Girls
“I can’t believe you’re having dinner with his parents already.” She laughs.
I half roll my eyes. “It’s only because of a misunderstanding.”
She shrugs, smiling to herself.
The minutes tick by faster than I want them to. I’m still running around in nothing but my underwear when my phone rings.
“Hey,” I answer a little out of breath.
“Hey,” Lou says. “I cannot work out your intercom system.”
“Oh.” I laugh. “Yeah, it’s confusing. You need to press the call button and the number at the same time, and then don’t let go of the call button.”
“High tech.” He mumbles. “Okay, did that work?”
The buzzer starts sounding, and Frida yells out from the living room that she’s got it.
“You’re in.” I beam.
“Finally.” He laughs.
“But wait!” I shout. “Don’t be too fast. I’m not wearing any clothes yet.”
I hear him switch hands. “That’s not a way to deter me from being fast.”
“Just-” I start. “Just be slow.”
“Okay.” He laughs. “See you in a bit.” He hangs up.
I throw a flowy dress on quickly, going for a casual, New York summer,I just threw this onlook, then comb out my hair again, checking my reflection more than I ever do. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I know he knows what I look like. He saw me two days ago, for Dolly’s sake.
I hear the door open and Frida greeting him in the loudest,“Lou!”, he’s probably ever heard.
“Shit,” I whisper to myself, laughing at how on-brand Frida always manages to be.
I check my reflection one more time and then run out to see Frida hugging him close. She’s practically his height in her heeled boots, and she always uses that to her advantage. She says the best test for a guy is if they’re intimidated by how tall she is, because the good ones wouldn’t be.
She holds him at arm’s length. “You smell nice.”
Lou laughs, a real laugh, and grins at her. “Thank you. You too.”
“It’s a vintage Britney.” She wafts at him.
“Deodorant.” Lou points at himself.
“Respect.” Frida nods.
I catch Lou’s eye, and his smile widens.
“Hey, baby girl.” He says.
“Ugh, you two are adorable.” Frida gags. “I’m going to work.” She grabs her bag off the couch. “Don’t fuck in the public areas, I beg of you. I eat here.”
“Frida.”I cover my eyes, willing the blush away.
She comes over to kiss me on the cheek. “Bye, Lou.” She walks over to the door and hugs Lou again. “Bye, Lou.”
“Ha!”She lets out a hearty one-syllable laugh. “This is going to be so fun.” She grins.“Bye, kiddos.”She calls down the hallway.
