The mutt collapsed into the passenger seat, where he rolled himself into a ball and closed his tired eyes.
“Long day, huh, boy?” Billy asked, pulling out of the lot.
Jimmy yawned, but kept his eyes closed.
Laughing, Billy looked at his cell phone. There was a text from Vicki. His heart rate sped up. I’d love to see you guys after work, she wrote. Come over as soon as you get out.
⁕
Cruising along on cloud nine, Billy swung by Vicki’s house—with Jimmy playing the napping co-pilot—and shut the wailing clunker down.
Vicki hurried out into the driveway and went wide eyed when she spotted the old dog. “Bring him in,” she said excitedly, already scratching Jimmy’s neck.
“Are you sure?” Billy asked, while the mutt sprang to life.
“Of course I’m sure,” Vicki said. “He’s beautiful.” She kissed Billy.
Getting his second wind, Jimmy craned his neck out of the passenger side window and sniffed Vicki’s hand. He immediately gave his approval with a whipping tail.
“See, I told you she was awesome,” Billy whispered to the dog.
Jimmy’s tail was going so fast, it nearly knocked him off the seat onto the passenger side floor.
Billy laughed. “I get excited when I see her too,” he whispered, stealing a glance at Vicki’s round behind, “but you don’t have to overplay it.”
From the moment they sat together on the living room floor, Jimmy was very attentive to Vicki and she was eager to return every ounce of it back to him.
“I think he has a crush on you,” Billy told her, looking at Jimmy who was lying on his back and waiting for his belly to be rubbed.
“Do you blame him?” she teased, petting the dog’s undercarriage.
“Absolutely not!” Billy said seriously.
“I was joking,” she said.
“I wasn’t,” Billy said, getting to his knees to hug her.
Within the heat of the embrace, Vicki whispered, “I love you, Billy.” It was the first time either of them had said it.
It was so unexpected, so pure and magical, that he got choked up and couldn’t speak for a long moment. I love you too, Vicki! he screamed in his head. I love you with everything inside of me. But the words were wedged sideways in his throat. He coughed once, twice, but still nothing came out.
While Jimmy whined, Vicki pulled away just enough to look at Billy. There was panic in her eyes. Clearly, she was expecting to hear an immediate response—a confirmation that her feelings were matched and mutual. But when she gazed into his eyes—which were swollen with tears—her eyes lit up and she smiled.
“I love you too,” he finally managed. “I really do.”
She collapsed back into their hug. “I know,” she whispered. “I can see it in your eyes.”
He squeezed her tight. “I love you more than I could ever say.”
“I know,” she repeated. “Me too.”
Jimmy whined louder.
Vicki kissed Billy and kept right on kissing him until Jimmy began to howl for having to share her attention. Vicki returned to rubbing Jimmy’s belly and told Billy, “Sorry, but it looks like Jimmy’s my new boyfriend.”
Billy looked down at his best friend. By now, Jimmy’s eyes were shut tight and his tongue was nearly dragging the floor. “You big bum,” he told the spoiled mutt. “You’re killing me.”
While Vicki giggled, Jimmy couldn’t have cared less; one of his hind legs quivered in ecstasy. “Does Jimmy do any tricks?” she asked.
“Sure. He’ll do anything for a treat. He gives his paw, sits, lies down and he used to play dead.” Billy shrugged. “But now it takes him so long to get back up that you’d need to bring him a T-bone steak to see that one.”
She laughed.
“And he has a beautiful smile,” Billy added.
“He can smile?” Vicki asked excitedly.
Billy looked at Jimmy. “Let Vicki see those pearly whites, buddy.”
On cue, Jimmy’s lip curled into a snarl and he bared his teeth.
“Oh my God,” she squealed, “how did you…”
“When he was a puppy,” Billy explained, “he used to show his teeth as a warning. It was so funny that our family started to make a big deal about him having such a pretty smile.” He shrugged. “And as you can see, Jimmy’s an attention junkie, so it caught on and became a habit after that.”
“And kisses?” she asked. “Does he give kisses?”
“Oh yeah. You can get as many of those as you want just by asking.” Billy chuckled. “We’ve always figured he might have a touch of French poodle in him because Jimmy’s a big kisser.”
“Just like you?” she teased.
Billy searched her eyes. “Well, I hope I’m a little better than he is.”
She laughed. “I’ll let you know,” she said and leaned into Jimmy’s face, prepared to meet the slobber.
Billy sat back and watched in awe. Jimmy’s falling in love with Vicki, he thought, unlike his terrible behavior toward my first crush. Billy remembered how the young, jealous dog had jumped on Olivia Reney—which he’d never done to anyone—and covered her pretty dress in enough dirt and mud to guarantee she’d never return. After Olivia had stormed off, Jimmy got yelled at and then went off to pout in the corner. In the end, life returned back to normal, which was clearly what the clever mutt had wanted. I was all his back then, Billy thought. This time, Jimmy seemed to better accept the natural course of things. Either that, or he’s more interested in Vicki than he is in me. Billy laughed, as the dog lapped away at Vicki’s wet cheek. And I really can’t blame him.
Jimmy quickly glanced at Billy before slathering Vicki’s face with another coat of spit.
While Billy allowed them their time to bond, he took account of his relationship with Vicki. I feel high whenever I’m around her, he thought, and everything else just fades away when we’re together. Billy watched her play with Jimmy and smiled. She’s become my best friend. The smile quickly faded when, somewhere deep in the back of his mind, Billy realized, But it’s only temporary.
Interrupting the love fest between her and Jimmy, Billy mentioned it. “I’m so bummed we’re not going to the same school in the fall. I’ll be away at UMASS in Boston and you’ll be at Quinnipiac all the way in Connecticut.”
“I know,” she said, grabbing his hand, “but we have right here, right now…together.” She kissed him. “Besides, we’ll stay in touch through texts and Skype, right? And I plan on coming home every vacation…if you want to spend them with me?”
He nodded. “Of course I do,” he said.
“Okay then,” she said and kissed him, quickly changing the subject.
Billy kissed her back, while Jimmy wailed his disapproval and pawed at them both to be included. When Billy finally surrendered Vicki’s attention to the whining mutt, he took a few minutes to look around the room. Amongst other family photos, he spotted a framed picture sitting on the fireplace mantel, a much younger Barry and Vicki smiling from the glossy photo. There was also another boy—their age—smiling in the picture. Billy thought about it and immediately felt every ounce of joy drain out of him. It must be Dalton, he thought, a wave of guilt crashing into him and wrenching his stomach sideways.
Vicki broke free from Jimmy’s kisses for a second. “Do you want to watch a movie?” she asked.
Billy instinctively nodded. “Sure,” he said, “but your parents?”
“They’re out for the night. And my brother’s never home, so we have the whole place to ourselves.”
Something in Billy’s loins stirred at the possibilities. Still, he was reluctant to accept the offer.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I’d love to stay,” he said, “but Jimmy hasn’t eaten.”
“Does he like steak? We have leftov
ers in the fridge.”
“Are you kidding? Jimmy could eat his weight in steak,” Billy said.
“Well, we don’t have that much, but there should be enough to hold him over.”
Billy nodded.
And how about I make you and me a quick meal?” she suggested.
“You don’t have to do that,” Billy said, thrilled he was going to eat too.
“I know I don’t.” She got up, leaned into his face—until he could inhale her—and kissed him hard. “I want to.”
“Thank you,” he said, his loins filling with a surge of hot, rushing blood.
She grinned like an angel. “I love breakfast food any time of the day. Are you up for some eggs and bacon?”
“It’s my favorite meal,” he said.
She kissed him again. “Give me ten minutes and we’ll eat.”
“Can I help?” he asked.
She shrugged. “You can keep me company in the kitchen if you want.”
Billy got up and went into the kitchen with her, with Jimmy scratching across the tile behind them.
Jimmy devoured his steak within seconds.
Billy looked down at the mutt and shook his head, embarrassed. “He’s already been fed once today,” he said. “You’d think…”
“He’s just a hungry boy,” Vicki said, dishing out the last of the beef to the dog. “He worked hard today.” She patted the mutt’s head.
Billy laughed. “Yeah, he worked hard today, all right. Jimmy hates that place.”
“He does?” she asked.
Billy nodded. “I’m pretty sure he does.”
Vicki petted him again, while Jimmy took his final bite and began vacuuming the smudged floor. Laughing, Vicki finished cooking the eggs and bacon. She and Billy then sat at the kitchen table, eating in silence like some old couple.
Billy couldn’t remember feeling more content. After a second glass of orange juice, he pushed his empty plate away and smiled. “Thank you, Vicki,” he said. “That was great.”
“You’re welcome,” she said. “You should try my pancakes for lunch sometime.” She stood, grabbed the plates and headed for the kitchen sink.
Billy couldn’t help it; he stared at her rear end and nodded. “I’d love to.”
She looked over her shoulder and giggled, knowing exactly what he was thinking.
With the DVD player loaded and a bowl of popcorn filled to the brim, Vicki snuggled between Billy and Jimmy on the couch, picked up the remote control and clicked it once. The opening scene to Dumb & Dumber began to play.
Billy looked at her. “Are you serious?” he asked, delighted with her film selection.
“Dead serious,” she said, kissing him. “It’s one of my all-time favorites.”
Side by side, they laughed at every stupid joke and physical prank. Billy laughed so fiercely his stomach hurt. I’ve never laughed this hard, he thought and looked to his right to find Vicki bent in half, holding her side. He laughed even harder, until he couldn’t breathe. While Jimmy watched on, Billy and Vicki held each other and rolled around on the couch in sheer hysterics.
After settling down and finally controlling themselves, Vicki pulled a throw blanket over them both and snuggled in closer to Billy.
The heat of her body made Billy squirm with anticipation. He wasn’t laughing as hard now. Instead, he was completely focused on the source of the heat.
Long before the movie credits began to run, they were making out, passionately. Billy’s breaths were short and quick; he recognized Vicki’s breathing matched his—with the occasional groan thrown in. With his tongue buried in her mouth, he reached up and placed his hand on her right breast. She moaned and squirmed at his touch, moving in toward him. While Jimmy began to whine, Billy massaged her heaving chest and tried not to pass out from the oxygen overload.
Vicki finally threw the blanket off them and jumped up. “Whoa,” she gasped, trying to catch her breath. “We have to stop before…”
“I know. I know. I’m sorry,” Billy said. “I couldn’t help it. I just…”
She dove back into his lap. “Don’t you dare be sorry,” she said. “I wanted it as much as you did.” She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Still do,” she added.
Struggling to be a gentleman, Billy stood and escorted Jimmy to the front door. It took forever to say goodnight to Vicki. “Thanks for dinner and the movie,” he whispered between kisses. “I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much in my life.”
“Me too,” she said, kissing him back. “I’m glad you’re not turned off by my stupid sense of humor.” She shrugged playfully. “It’s not my fault my dad raised me like a boy.”
“A boy?” Billy said, kissing her neck. “You’re the furthest thing from a boy I’ve ever known.”
She moaned again, making him feel like he was ready to explode. “I’ve never wanted to be with someone as much as you, Billy,” she whispered.
He took a few deep breaths to get his feet under him. “I should go before…” Grinning, he raised his eyebrows.
She laughed and nodded in surrender. Going to one knee, she gave Jimmy the final kiss of the night. After wearing some heavy dog slobber, she asked the mutt, “Can you please give me a smile before you go home, Jimmy?”
The dog curled his front lip and bared his teeth.
She laughed. “Good boy,” she said, scratching his neck a few more times.
On the way out, Billy caught a quick glimpse of the photo that stared back at him—judgmentally—from the mantle. No matter how good things get, Dalton’s never going to go away, he thought. One way or another, he’s always going to be around. Billy’s mood plummeted from ecstasy to depression in one single breath.
⁕
On their way home, Billy caught some flashing blue lights in his rearview mirror, quickly closing in behind him. “The police can’t be pulling me over,” he told Jimmy. But when the cruiser got inches from his rear bumper and blasted its siren, Billy’s heart jumped into his throat. “No. No,” he said aloud, “this isn’t good.”
Although Jimmy tried to jump up to investigate, it took him a moment or two to get to his haunches. A low growl began to rumble in his diaphragm.
“Shhhh, Jimmy,” Billy said, quickly pulling over to the shoulder of the road. He shut off the ignition, silencing the earsplitting clunker. With trembling hands, he leaned over the passenger seat—pushing the big mutt out of the way—and grabbed the car’s registration from the glove box. Just then, the cop pounded on the passenger side window, making both Billy and Jimmy jump.
The dog began barking his head off, his nose pressed to the passenger’s side window and his teeth bared.
“No, Jimmy,” Billy reprimanded in a strained whisper, leaning over again and trying to roll down the window. “You’re going to get us into more trouble.”
The cop’s silhouette disappeared from the window, while Jimmy continued to snarl and yap.
A moment later, there was a knock on the driver’s side window. “License and registration,” the police officer demanded.
By now, Jimmy was losing his mind.
With the blinding spotlight flooding his rearview and side mirrors, Billy fumbled to slide his license out of his wallet. “Yes, sir,” he mumbled. It was the first time he’d ever had to speak to a cop, making his breathing shallow and his heart thump hard in his chest. As his sweaty hand passed the license and registration over, he spotted the legal inspection sticker in the corner of the windshield. At least I’m okay there, he thought, not feeling as much relief as he’d hoped.
“Any chance you can get the dog under control?” the cop asked.
Billy half shrugged. “He’s just scared, that’s all.”
The cop shook his head and peered at Jimmy, who was wailing away. “Do you know why I pulled you over?” he asked in a deep, authoritative vo
ice.
Billy shook his head. “I know I wasn’t speeding…”
The man nodded. “No, you weren’t. But I’m sure that folks in the next town over can hear you driving around within the speed limit.”
Billy swallowed hard, making Jimmy growl.
“Stay in the car, both of you,” the cop said. “I’ll be right back.” He disappeared, lost in the blinding light.
Billy turned to Jimmy. “Are you crazy?” he asked the incensed mutt. “You’re going to get us both locked up.”
Jimmy’s barks were reduced to whimpers.
“Shhhh,” Billy told the dog through gritted teeth.
Jimmy finally calmed himself.
They sat in relative silence, Billy’s window cracked enough to hear the police radio squelch a few times followed by garbled voices, their messages unclear. Minutes—or what seemed like days—later, the cop reappeared in the driver’s side window, startling both Billy and Jimmy again.
While Jimmy started in on his tantrum again, the cop handed back the license and registration to Billy, along with a ticket.
“Oh no,” Billy said aloud.
“Your driving record’s clean so I’ve only issued you a warning this time,” he yelled over the dog.
“Thank you, sir,” Billy stammered.
“Get the exhaust pipe patched up,” he yelled. “Nobody wants to hear all that noise.”
“I will,” Billy yelled back, while Jimmy nearly frothed at the mouth.
The cop peered at Jimmy again. “He’s not very well behaved, is he?”
Instantly, Billy’s nervousness was replaced by the instinctive need to defend his friend. “Actually, he’s a very good boy. You’re just scaring him.”
The cop shook his head again. “The next time you get pulled over, it’s a seventy-five dollar fine,” he promised.
“That’s a half week’s pay,” Billy blurted.
Jimmy barked his objection.
“Just get it fixed,” the officer said. “I’ll be watching out for you.” Without another word, he disappeared back into the bright light.
“Great,” Billy said under his breath, as the cop headed back to his cruiser, “just great.” Then it hit him. “No more iced coffees or frozen lemonades,” he told Jimmy, who was just starting to wind down. “I can’t afford them and get the car fixed too.” He shook his head. “Unreal.”
The Changing Season Page 18