Noisily, Angel chomped on a small piece of chicken while Joey and Lawrence ate lunch in the kitchen. They spoke of Lawrence and Hayden’s upcoming five-year anniversary.
“So, what do you two have planned for tonight?” Joey asked as she drank from her glass.
“Honestly, I have NO idea. For the first time, he’s doing all the planning. I’m excited and scared…he’s not the really romantic type,” he poked his fork at the salad in front of him.
Reassuringly, Joey said, “Don’t be scared. He probably has this elaborate, incredibly romantic evening planned out for the two of you.”
“I sense some jealousy in your voice.”
“Well of course you do. I just want what you have.”
“How about Harrison?”
“I haven’t spoken to him since Jared came over,” she left her seat and went over to the sink.
“And why is that?” He followed her.
“I can’t help but to feel a little apprehensive. I don’t how I would be if things between Harrison and I just fall apart,” she turned on the faucet.
“You have no way of knowing if that’s going to happen. Joey, you can’t be afraid to take that leap. What’s holding you back?”
“Nick.”
“Nick, you’re little brother?”
Sighing she said, “He likes Ky but he keeps on screwing up with her. And I’m the one who’s had to clean up his mess. I can’t even imagine what goes through Harrison’s mind whenever Nick decides to act up.”
“Harrison wants to be with YOU, not Nick. So, let him handle his own issues because he’s almost nineteen and it’s about he grew up on his own. Sweetie, focus on your needs.”
“I don’t know if I-.”
“You can,” he dried their dishes. “Trust me.”
She kissed him on the cheek, “I’m so lucky to be your hag.”
He chuckled, “I know.”
Pushing down the faucet, she ripped two papers towel from the dispenser and handed one to Lawrence.
“I think I’m going to call Harrison just to see what’s he’s up to,” she threw her arm around his shoulder.
“And don’t forget about Nick, he needs a verbal ass kicking,” he wrapped an arm around her waist.
“Thanks for reminding me,” Joey said as they went into the back patio.
Covering her lean body with a wool blanket, Anna rolled onto her stomach as she watched television from the pullout bed. Laughter blared from the television speakers causing her to reduce the volume. Putting her hand in the plastic bowl next to her, she took a few chips and popped the potato crisps in her mouth. The sweet taste of sugar and barbeque made her groan in satisfaction and shamelessly, she licked her fingertips.
“Classy,” Ky remarked as she went down the stairs.
“You know it,” Anna replied. “Where have you been?”
“Just showing Nick where the bathroom is so he can change,” she sat next to Anna.
“Did you help young Nicholas change?” She joshed.
“No and you are such a big perv.”
“You didn’t even take a little peek?”
“No! I’m not a peeping Tom-or Betty in my case.”
“Too bad, because he is really built like…swoon worthy.”
“How can you tell?”
“Just from the clothes that he wears. Like his shirts nicely hug his manly pecs and his pants-.”
“Oh God, don’t even go there.”
Giggling, Anna said, “I’m kidding. Besides, his pants are too baggy for me to judge,” she winked.
“I guess I’ll start wearing my booty shorts then,” Nick said while coming downstairs. His arms were brawny and his skin was tanned. The waistband of his boxers was peeking out of Harrison’s plaid pajama pants. It surprised Ky how accurate her dream of his body was.
“Silver ones would really bring out your eyes,” Anna suggested.
“I’ll take that into consideration.”
“You’re both gong to hell,” Ky added.
Nick and Ky looked at each and shrugged.
“I better get to bed,” Anna rolled off the bed.
“It’s only nine,” Ky said with an inquiringly look.
“I want to get an early start.”
“Oh, before you go you left this in the bathroom,” Nick handed her a dog tag.
“Thank you kindly.”
“I should be going too,” Ky got up.
“Really? It’s still early,” Nick said when he crawled onto the bed.
“Yeah, I don’t want to have fight Anna for the bathroom in the morning.”
“I have no idea what Ky’s talking about because I wake up looking this good,” Anna said before doing a sassy spin.
Nick laughed, “You are a piece of work.”
Cheerily, she said, “I know. Night Nick,” she jogged upstairs.
“I’ll see ya in the morning,” Ky said as she gripped the banister.
“Yeah, thanks again.”
“You’re welcome, night,” she waved to him.
“Good night.” His eyes followed her as she went upstairs.
With a baffled expression on her face Ky stared at her bed. It had been stripped of its sheets and comforter. Marching towards Harrison’s room, she knocked on the door.
“Yes?” Anna opened the bedroom door an enough to let her face show.
“What the hell did you do to my bed? My pillow and my body pillow are the only things left,” she asked.
“I did your laundry for you.”
“I washed my sheets last week!”
“Ok I’m lying, I hid them.”
“You hid my sheets?! Let me in!”
“No!”
“Why?!”
“Because for a little Cambodian girl you’re very strong!”
“Just open the door,” Ky pushed her way into the room.
“See! Where the hell does that strength come from?”
“Forget about it! I’m sleeping in here tonight.”
“There’s not enough space,” Anna lied.
“It’s a king size bed!”
“I know what you’re trying to do and it’s not going to work.”
“Fine. Don’t you need to get your pillows?”
“Nice try, but I know the minute I leave you’re going to lock me out.”
“You are just too quick for me. But you know what else you are?”
“What?”
“Extremely ticklish,” Anna said before tickling her friend’s midsection. Piercingly, Ky laughed.
“Stop, this isn’t fair!” Ky yelled out when she was in the hall.
“HA!” Anna slammed the door shut and locked it.
“You are such a b****!” Ky shouted.
“I will gladly accept your thank you in the morning,” Anna retorted.
Irately, Ky got her things and went downstairs. Nick sat up when she threw her pillows on the bed.
“What’s happening?” He asked.
“I have to sleep down here tonight because Anna thought it would be funny to strip my bed of everything and lock me out of Harrison’s room.”
“Oh.”
“So, it looks like we’re going to sleep in same bed tonight.”
“I could take the floor if you want.”
“No, you’re the guest that would be rude of me.”
“All right,” he moved over.
Placing her body pillow between them she said, “This is the chastity pillow, don’t even think about crossing it.” She tried to keep her composure when she noticed how little space was between them.
“That’s right, because I’m going to fondle you in your sleep,” his voice was cynical. “Ky, I would never try to do that to you.”
“I didn’t say that. It’s just I don’t know your sleeping behavior and I don’t want hands ending up where they’re not supposed to be. I tend to move around a lot in my sleep, so this isn’t all about you.”
“That sounds logical.”
She slid under the covers and rested her arm on the body pillow. An expected calm overcame them. Her close presence comforted him and vice versa. He brought his head down to his pillow and admired her.
“Ky?” He said.
“Yeah?”
“Since I’m the guest, can I make myself feel more comfortable?”
“Go ahead.”
He removed his shirt revealing to her his sculpted torso. An image from her dream came into her mind. Carefully, he positioned himself on his side.
“Do you always sleep shirtless?” She asked averting her eyes from his body.
“Actually, I sleep in the nude but I think that it would be awkward and indecent if I did that over here.”
“I understand and good choice,” she fought to keep her voice steady.
“Why does Anna wear that dog tag?”
“It has personal value to her. Nick?”
“Yeah?”
“I almost forgot to tell you, Harrison’s letting you make up your work.”
“I know, Anna told me during the dinner. I interviewed her too, she’s going to be the main focus of my article.”
“That’s good. Can I ask you something else?”
“Sure.”
“Won’t your parents be worried about you?” He didn’t respond immediately. “Nick?”
“They won’t. To be honest, I’m lucky if I see them once a week. They’re not around much, actually they’ve never really been there for me at all.”
“Oh..I’m sorry I didn’t mean to bring them up.”
“No, it’s ok. I’ve grown up with Joey, Banks and Felicia mostly, I’ve almost gotten used to it. But there are times when it gets to me. I can’t even remember the last time either of my parents went to one of my games.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, you didn’t do anything wrong,” he was touched by her unnecessary apology.
“I know but it’s just sad.”
“It is but don’t take the blame for them. Sometimes, I just think that they had Joey and I just for show. Ya know, they have the perfect jobs, the perfect home, why not throw in a family while they’re at it.”
The angst in his voice pained her.
“How do you deal with it?”
“I try not to think about,” he sighed. “It’s weird, I have everything but not anybody to share it with. I just want to know what it’s like to have someone care about me no matter what. I just want that strong connection with someone that I genuinely feel for.”
“You’ve never felt that way before?”
“No, not until now,” he watched her with yearning eyes. Cautiously, he rested his arm next to hers on the pillow. This simple gesture paired with his lingering gaze exhilarated her. “Am I breaking the chastity pillow rule?”
Gently, she scoffed, “No, you’re on the line as long as you don’t cross it I’ll be fine.”
“I won’t,” he smiled at her.
“Good.”
“Ky, what happened between you and Chris?”
“What have you heard?”
“Many things, but this being high school it’s probably just all bulls***,” he shifted closer to body pillow.
“Can you just talk? When you’re not screwing it up by saying something stupid, your voice is pretty comforting.”
“Thank you. I’ll talk if you want me to. What do you want to know?”
“Tell me about your childhood, you and Joey. I bet you had some fun times there.”
“Believe me, there are.”
He told her several humorous stories of his childhood endeavors. Closely, she listened to him and absorbed every word. His unique styling of storytelling kept her fascinated and she struggled to keep her eyes open. Two hours passed before he noticed her weariness.
“You should go to sleep, Ky.”
“But you’re not finished.”
He whispered, “Just close your eyes and listen then.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, you need to sleep.”
Yawning, she said, “All right,” she closed her eyes. “Keep talking.”
A half an hour later she dozed off to the sound of his voice. The deep, rhythmic sound of her breathing cradled him into a deep slumber.
