Page 45 of Pretend You're Mine
I got so into it that I didn’t even notice that the clock on the wall across from me read 6:30 pm. Time to go. Past time, in fact.
Getting up, I laced my fingers together and stretched, giving my tight shoulders a nice crack. Mental note: Book that physio- appointment. Ah yes, now that I was free, the first thing I wanted to do was….
My gaze fell to the drawer where I’d put my phone. Call up Naomi.
I didn’t move yet. I stood there, considering my options, before I took out my phone and dialed her number.
I was in no mood to question it. After workdays like these, which were most workdays, where I put my nose to the grindstone, my brain was basically fried.
She picked up on the first ring. “Round Two already?”
“Now that you mention it….”
“Xander,” she giggled.
“Okay. Do you want to come over tonight?”
“Because?”
“My family’s calling,” I said, “So you’re being there wouldn’t hurt.”
“And that’s it?” she asked.
“Of course not. I want to see you,” I said.
“Okay,” she said. “What time?”
And the smile in her voice was as good as gold.
23
Naomi
Will he be mad when I tell him?
As soon as I got to the door, Walter was a prancing flurry of joy. I crouched down low to the tile, so he could lick my face. I scratched him and he rolled onto his back, his legs still cycling hilariously in the air.
“I’m impressed,” Xander said, “you’ve already been promoted from friend to best friend.”
I scratched my way onto Walter’s proffered belly. “I always wanted a dog when I was a kid.”
“Your parents weren’t dog people?” Xander asked.
“No,” I said, “Worse – allergic people.”
“Damn.”
I nodded. “Me too.” My body shook with the sneezes just in time.
Xander put a hand in front of me as if to usher me away. “You don’t have to keep petting him, it’s fine.” He smiled with the side of his mouth. “If it were up to this guy, he’d be petted nonstop until the day he died.”
But I didn’t move. “I like petting him. Watering eyes and a sneezing nose are a small price to pay.”
Xander eyed me warily as though my nose was turning to Rudolph-red right before his very eyes. “You say that now.”
Just then Walter scrambled up and made for the door. I turned to Xander. “Walk time?”
“He just had one,” Xander said with a chuckle.
But Walter was scratching at the door as desperately as if the last time he’d had a walk had been 2016. “I’m game if you are,” I told Xander.
Xander looked from me to Walter back to me again, still shaking his head. “You two.” He reached onto a hook on the wall and got a leash. “Guess there’s no use in trying to get out of this.”
I looped my arm in Xander’s. “Don’t pretend you don’t like it.”
He only smiled.
Outside, the air was crisp and cool and the maple tree’s leaves were rustling. It was odd being here, repeating my first walk of shame, this time in entirely different circumstances. Hand clasped in Xander’s, with Walter’s leash wound around my wrist, I was in no hurry. The night didn’t seem to be either, fat lazy clouds slid across the sly like slugs.
It was obvious, but I said, “It’s beautiful. You must love living here.”
“I do,” Xander said. “But not as much as that guy.” He motioned in the direction of Walter, who had wandered pretty far ahead. He was now frolicking merrily in some mud. All we could do was laugh. Then, silence descended.
By now, it was too quiet and I couldn’t take it anymore.
“I’ve something to tell you,” I told Xander.
“I do too,” he said, with an infuriating smile. “You first.”
“Fine,” I said. “I have to go in an hour. I forgot that I was seeing a desperate client tonight for work.”
Not really that big of a deal, but I wanted to enjoy the night without worrying about a time limit.
Xander considered this. “You really take your work seriously.”
“I don’t have much choice right now,” I said, “Eighteen is still in its early years. If I don’t make my clients happy, I could lose them easily. And if I lose them, I could lose my entire business, everything I’ve worked so hard for. No way am I letting that happen.”
Xander squeezed my hand. “That won’t happen.”
“I really hope not,” was all I said, then, “Anyway, what did you have to tell me?”
24
Xander
Guess this was it. Like her news, mine wasn’t exactly a big deal, although it was kind of amusing seeing how nervous she was.
“There’s no real family thing I wanted you over for.” I said, “I mean, I was planning on doing the call if we had a chance, but now…”
“We still can. I’ve got a whole …” she checked her phone’s lock screen. “Twenty-five minutes left.”
