Page 20 of Every Inch of You
Chapter Six
VIVIAN
My whole bodywas so sore, but it felt like it was already changing even though my brain was the same old squishymess.
Aubrey had my dainty bridesmaid dress shipped to me. I hung it on the outside of my bedroom closet door as inspiration, but I hadn’t tried it on since I knew it wouldn’t fit yet and also because it would have physically hurt too much to attempt to get my body into it. At home I was exclusively wearing baggy elasticized clothing that was easy to slip in and outof.
I’d texted my sister to ask if there was anything she needed me to do as maid of honor, and she told me to get healthy, get laid, show up to the bridal shower and the wedding and then go home without getting drunk and embarrassing her. She asked if I’d boned Fat Hot Brad yet. I told her I was working on it and I would not leave her wedding until I had embarrassed her to an epic degree, but that I would look great doing it. That is—if I could actually move my body bythen.
I was trying to stretch, on the floor, my legs splayed out in a V shape. I was strangely hungover even though I had only had two glasses of wine the night before. It was the first time I’d consumed alcohol since the last Sunday night and I had planned to go longer without it, but that was before I got theletter.
I received a letter, in the mail, from Connor. I had recognized his handwriting before I saw the return address—his office in Seattle. It was such a thin envelope, I thought maybe he’d sent me an old receipt of mine that he’d found or something, but it was just a hand-written note on his company’sletterhead.
Dear Vivian,
I know that you have heard about my engagement bynow.
I didn’t call you, because I didn’t know what tosay.
But you know now,so…
See you at your sister’swedding.
I hope you’re doing very well,Viv.
Tell JT I misshim.
-- C
ItoldJT that his former housemate missed him. And then I told JT that his former housemate was still a stupid idiot asshole who wasn’t coming back. And then I told him that it had nothing to do with him, because he still loved him even though he’s not here. Then I crumpled up the letter and threw it in the recycling bin, and then I poured myself a glass of wine and stared at the picture of Sexiest Man in Portland Brad on the local newspaper site and the rest of the activities of my night had stemmed fromthat.
I could not stop thinking about the fact that I had kissed his lips so many times. I still remembered exactly what it felt like. One thing I had forgotten about until this past week—I made him touch my boob! I hadn’t understood it at the time, but the poor guy came in his pants. It wasn’t until I was in college that I realized how much I’d tortured him with those make-out sessions. He must have had blue balls all through junior year. Now he was giving me a serious case of blue bean. What goes around comesaround.
I was dying to see him. I knew that he took Sundays off, so there was no point in going to the gym. He didn’t reply to the photo I’d sent him of the high fiber muffin, protein smoothie and fruit salad I’d had for breakfast. I took that to mean he had no comment. I was thinking of taking a picture of something ridiculous, like a car tire, and telling him it was for lunch, but my phone rang and his name and number came up. I figured he was butt-dialing me but I answeredimmediately.
“You miss me, don’tyou?”
“Hi. It’s BradMitchell.”
“Oh hello Brad Mitchell. You miss me, don’tyou?”
“So I have a…little situationhere.”
“You miss me and you’re dying to seeme?”
“I’m in my garage. At my apartment…Shhhh. It’s okay, I’m staying right here.” He was talking to someone else in a hushedvoice.
“Brad? Are youokay?”
“It’s a kitten. I was going to go buy groceries and I found a feral kitten in our parking garage, and it won’t let me pick it up, and there’s no mother cat around, no other cats, and I asked everyone in the building and the neighbors if it’s theirs and it’s not. It looks hungry, but it keeps hissing at me and Idon’t…”
“I’ll comeover.”
“I didn’t know who else tocall.”
“I can come over. I’ll bring JT’scarrier.”
“Do you wantit?”
