Page 26 of Oh Boy!
Sally
“I’m so sorry I’ve been MIA. I just had to follow him, you know.” To be honest, I don’t, and I’ve missed her, but that’s okay. Courtney’s too hyper to interrupt. “Okay, Italy isn’t that far and modern technology brings people closer.” See, her excitement leads her to believe that we’re having an actual conversation when, in actuality, she’s enjoying her monologue about Rocco. Older guy. History professor. Vacationing in Maine. “Ever wondered if what they say about Italian lovers is accurate?”
Does she realize that she’s on speaker? Seated across from me, Rupert has a front-row seat to her adventures, considering the volume of her voice. His mouth quirks up as she recounts their sexual exploits. My former fake boyfriend and forever best friend is fixing our ritual five o’clock Earl Grey. He’s staying in the guest room over the extended Columbus Day weekend.
“I’m telling you, perfect timing! Hold on a sec.” I ignore her cursing about how she needs an E-Z Pass. “I’m sorry: toll. I’m on my way to Freeport.” How did I miss that she’s driving? “So, yeah… I’ve always dreamt of going to Milan: Fashion capital of the world!”
“I beg to differ. Paris is the capital of fashion, Courtney. Anyway, I’m glad that you remembered your old friend! Do you know how many texts I sent you?”
“Potato, po-tah-to!” she scolds me, her words followed by an exasperated sigh. “Will you stop raining on my parade already? I’m having a hard enough time getting used to the weather in Maine. It’s brutal! I’m hanging at my mom’s until my next assignment,sansRocco. He’s stuck in Milan, teaching at hisprestigiousuniversity.” Prestigious being the operative word here, to emphasize his intelligence and standing. “He’ll be back for Christmas break.”
“I’m happy for you, Courtney.”
“Thanks, sweetie!”
“It was so rejuvenating to not use my phone 24/7.La dolce vita!”
“Oh, fluent in Italian in three months? Good job!”
That earns me a loud snicker. “Look, Rocco’s English is… rusty. I learned some Italian, and we managed.” Who am I to judge her relationship, right? “As for yourharassment…” She pauses for effect; it’s great to hear that the relationship hasn’t dulled her penchant for drama. “Girl, you need a life, hitting up my phone nonstop! Where’s Rupert anyway?”
I raise my eyes to his and mouth a silent, “No,” to avoid his comments. He shrugs and mouths a silent, “Love you,” in return before kissing my forehead and exiting the kitchen with a self-satisfied grin on his beautiful face. I can’t believe that Rupert allowed me to reveal the truth to Courtney, since she’s the closest thing that I have to a BFF. The Guitar Hero has yet to come out publicly, but it’s “scheduled,” as he refers to it. It’s strange to see him unaffected by the prospect when he kept it under wraps for years.
The longer the conversation lasts, the less eager I am to confess the latest development in my life. After all, she doesn’t suspect that I’ve kept in touch with Nathan. In truth, knowing that they slept together to scratch an itch irks me. The concept of hooking up is so foreign to me that I chose to erase their July encounter from my memory and never broached the subject with either of them.
I take a deep breath. “Listen, Courtney…” I should have done this sooner, but then again, she didn’t return my calls and texts. “You’re convinced that Rupert is the main man in my life. Well, he kind of is, but not in the way that I led you to believe…” The silence is deafening. “Courtney, you there?”
Grunts ensue, followed by the squeal of her tires. She confirms that she’s okay, but her feelings are hurt. “And you kept this bottled up for years? Thanks for the vote of confidence!”
“It has nothing to do with you.”
“I know, but it still hurts.” She’s calm; it’s so uncharacteristic for her that my heart lurches. “Why? What did you have to gain from this?”
“I had personal reasons.” I give her the shortened version of my tale of woe: an asshole boyfriend who treated me so poorly that I ended up hating myself and retreating from the dating scene. Not a total lie, not the total truth either, but it’s better this way.
“Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
“I’m over it now.” Not the total truth, not a total lie either. “I’ve met someone.”
“Do tell…”
* * *
The following weekend,Courtney’s words linger. She means well, but hearing that I sound like I’ve fallen head over heels for the guy and shouldn’t rush things struck a chord.
She can’t be jealous of what I have with Nathan, can she?
Shaking my head as I enter Nathan’s giant kitchen, I dismiss the question as soon as it crosses my troubled mind. Rupert understands me better because he knows where I’m coming from. I didn’t let her in, so in a way, this is partially my fault.
Upon my arrival, Nathan’s eyes zero in on me; I missed him while he was in Northern California.
Without asking, he gets up and pours a full mug of coffee that he hands to me. “Good morning, baby. Sleep well?” His brow spikes up. Flashbacks of the impetus behind my poor night’s sleep assault my vision. The hairs on the back of my neck stand and I shiver, doing my best to school my features. “I did, thank you for asking.”
“Always so polite and collected.” He engulfs me in a sweet hug, and my breath hitches. “Pretty sure you are in every circumstance, even with your knees in the dirt at your archeological sites. Am I right?” I wait until he releases me to roll my eyes at his comment. He steps back. Just when I’m preparing to counter, he adds, “Well, except in bed, that is… and I enjoy that immensely.”
Again, my eyes roll so far back in my head that I’m afraid they’ll disappear. As much as hearing him discuss my prowess in the sack should bother me, I’m glad that it’s not a taboo subject. We’ve made up for our awkward failed first time and have been going at it like horny teenagers ever since. The man’s seriously mastered a wide range of techniques! Granted, blowjobs aren’t on the table yet; he hasn’t complained and instead goes down on me every chance he gets. And to think that I’ve told him that he comes across as self-absorbed. He’s simply—
Whoa! Am I derailing or what? Maybe Courtney’s right, and that’s why I resent her for speaking her mind; at least, Rupert encouraged me! Focus, Sally!
