Page 23 of Mixed Connection
Senseless, hm?
I’m having a girls’ night, lol. But yes, completely senseless.
Jameson
I’m free this week.
I would love to see you again this week.
Can we talk about it tomorrow?
The girls and I promised each other to put our phones away since it’s the last weekend Janelle is here.
Jameson
Of course! Tell J-Dog I said hey.
I will, Bulldozer.
Jameson
*winky face*
I wait a couple of beats to see if he sends anything else, before placing my phone back down on my nightstand and rejoining the girls.
I wave my hand when I catch sight of the newly-filled pitcher of sangria set on the coffee table. Janelle is the one to speak up this time, “Babe, I love you, but you need more wine. Also, never say late-night romp again.”
Paloma snickers in the corner of the couch and I snap my eyes at her before laughter tumbles out of my mouth. Why the hell did I call it a romp? It felt right at the time. “I’m never living this down, am I?”
“Absolutely not!” they both shout just as I plop down next to Paloma, pulling Janelle down with me. “I’m so glad to have you two. You’re both staying the night,” I state, not wanting either of them to leave. “Besides, tomorrow is a pool day, so there’s no point in leaving.”
“Sounds like the perfect night, just like old times,” Janelle agrees.
Lo pushes herself to the edge of the couch, pouring each of us a refill of the deep-purple wine, and nods into a cheers.
“First choice.”
“First choice,” we echo back to her.
Three more glasses of wine later, the ending credits to one of my favorite nineties witchy movies plays in the background, and we pull ourselves off of the living room rug. The couch was putting us to sleep, so the genius that I am, figured we could all try to make one another levitate. Just like they do in the movie, except we were all tipsy and couldn’t seem to get the saying right, no matter how many times we watched the film in our teens—the wine working against us. Paloma and I must have chanted “light as a feather, stiff as a whore” until our fingers cramped up and giggles echoed off the walls. By the time we caught our breaths,we couldn’t feel our butts from sitting on the floor for so long. Things go numb!
“Okay babes, though it pains me”—Janelle clutches her hand to her heart in a false expression of agony—“I have got to get some sleep! Point me to my palace of slumber so I can pass the fuck out.”
Pulling myself up from the couch, I grab Janelle’s hand and lead her to the guest room. She halts her steps in the hallway, causing me to stop and look back at her, trying to see what made her stop.
Still holding my hand, she levels her eyes with mine, catching me off guard with her next words. “Take it from me, Cass. I know him a lot better than most after being friends for so long, you are never going to be second place or a fling for Jameson.” I nod my head in understanding. I know she’s right about that bulldozer of a man, but having been second choice so many times before rallies my thoughts. But I know it to be true, somehow; I can feel it in my bones, in the way he pays attention when I speak and how he looks at me.
We make it into the room and she throws herself on the bed. I make myself busy by grabbing her a t-shirt and shorts from the dresser. Once I turn around, clothing in hand, I notice she’s already sound asleep. I swear, she and Lo can fall asleep anywhere. It blows my mind and pisses me off. I laugh at no one but myself, knowing that it takes an act of God himself, to help me fall asleep.
Silently I mouth the wordwowand flick the light switch off, making my way back to the living room to check on Paloma. I find her in the kitchen, throwing away the empty boxes of takeout and putting our wine glasses in the dishwasher. I could waste time and tell her she doesn’t have to clean up but this is how she shows love, and I appreciate her for it. Besides, if I were to say anything at all she would wave away my concerns.So instead, I squeeze her bicep a bit and say, “You’re the best. Thank you, Lo.”
“I’m going to crash out here.” She smiles at me before walking to the couch and launching herself into the pillows. The guest room is technically her room on the rare occasion she stays over. She loves the couch more than the pillow top mattress that Janelle is currently snuggled up on.
“You know where everything is! Night, Lo.”
Her goodnight is muffled by the pillow she’s smothering herself with, and I pad my way back to my bedroom.
Maybe Janelle was right because when I pull the covers over me, popping one foot out to keep me cool, I have a goodnight message waiting for me from the bulldozer himself. He was definitely the hot topic of the night and seems to be within my dreams as well.
