by Anne Holster
Before I could ask her anything else, she said, “You must’ve played in a band at some point, right?”
“Yeah, back in high school some friends and I had a band, but it was mostly for fun. We split up right after graduation.”
“Well, what about now? Do you have any friends who you play with now?” she asked.
I hesitated a moment before answering. I wasn’t sure I wanted her to know about Hudson-Nash. It wasn’t the music-- she obviously liked the kind of stuff we played; no, it was the crowd—specifically the girls—I was worried about. All I needed was for Amber or some other chick to stare Grace down, or worse, mention how recently we’d hooked up. I didn’t want Grace coming to the shows, but I didn’t want to further complicate the situation with a lie either. So I just said, “Here and there,” then, tried to distract her by gently pushing her back onto the couch.
“You should surprise me like this more often,” I said as I slid my hands just under the waistband of her sweats.
She smiled. “Maybe you could come by and surprise me. You’ve never even seen my dorm room.”
“You’re right about that,” I said as I bent my head down and started kissing her neck. “Maybe I’ll surprise you tonight.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Maybe…but I can’t say for sure cause then it wouldn’t be a surprise.” I had certainly succeeded in distracting her, but I kept kissing her, just to be sure. We were just getting into it when the bonehead came walking in the front door.
“Well, if it isn’t the happy couple,” Scott exclaimed as Grace scrambled to sit up. “How’re ya, Grace? Long time no see.”
“Hi, Scott,” Grace said, obviously embarrassed.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt anything,” he said innocently as he looked from me to her and back again.
“No, actually I was just leaving.” Grace stood up, straightening her t-shirt. She turned to me. “I’ll just talk to you later.”
“Yeah, sure, okay.” I said, but I stood too and followed her to the door. When I opened it, a cold blast of air streamed in, making us both shiver. I grabbed her hands and we just looked at each other for a minute.
“So…maybe I’ll see you later?” She was smiling.
“Maybe…” was all I said, but I was smiling too.
She stepped back and took her iPod out, then put the ear buds in and scrolled through her playlist. She smiled at me and mouthed, “Magic Power,” then she turned and headed down the path that led to the sidewalk. I waited until she broke into a jog before closing the door.
“Do you have to be such an idiot?” I said to Scott when I returned to the living room.
“What do you mean?” he asked, looking genuinely confused.
“You really embarrassed her.”
“Who, Grace? No I didn’t!” He raised an eyebrow at me. “And besides, what do you care?”
“I don’t…it’s just…I mean…” The bastard had caught me off guard. “Well, I don’t actually have the money in my hands yet, so I don’t need you going and being such an idiot, that’s all.”
He shot me an incredulous look, then shook his head and started flipping through the channels. “Whatever, dude.”
“Yeah, well, just be careful.” Then, before I could make an even bigger fool of myself, I went into my bedroom and closed the door.
I had to admit Grace had surprised me. All along I’d just thought of her as some nerd, now I find out we actually had something in common—and it’s the reason I’d started scamming her in the first place. Shoving the guilt to the back of my mind, I decided I was definitely going over to her place tonight. I didn’t know what would happen when I got there, all I knew was that I had to see her again.
©
I got to her place around seven o’clock. As I made my way to her building, I wondered if the bizarreness of this afternoon had worn off. I was about to text her to buzz me in, but then I saw a couple of girls entering the building and followed them. But when I got inside I realized I didn’t even know which room was hers. There was no directory, so I asked the girls if they could tell me where Grace’s room was. As they directed me to the second floor, third door on the left, I noticed one of them checking me out. She was kinda hot, and for a brief moment I thought about chatting her up, but instead I just thanked them and climbed the stairs.
Grace answered right after the second knock, almost as if she were waiting. “Tanner!” she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. Her hair looked wet, like she had just gotten out of the shower.
I slipped my arms around her waist and, pulling her close, I drawled, “Suuuurprise…”
She giggled and hugged me, putting her head against my chest. “I’m glad you came.” She stepped back a bit. “So let me show you around.”
I looked around the tiny room and joked, “This’ll be quick.”
It took her all of a thirty seconds to point out her and Beth’s respective areas, then she offered me a drink.
“Sure, what’d you got?”
“Water, soda or some kind of juice, but I’m not sure what kind since there’s no label on it.”
“I’ll stick with water,” I said. “Where’s Beth tonight?”
She hesitated a second as she handed me the water. “She went out. What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know,” I said, looking around the small room, “how about cards? Do you have a deck of cards?”
“I do, but it’s a really sorry looking deck,” she said as she walked over to the dresser and pulled out a deck of frayed cards held together with a rubber band. She handed the cards to me, saying, “I used to have a really cool deck that I got in Atlantic City. It was one of the decks that was once used at the tables--you know, the ones with the hole in the middle. Anyway, I lent them to a girl down the hall and she lost them at a party. Anyway, this is a full deck—it’s just seen better days.”
“It doesn’t matter what the deck looks like,” I said, now shuffling the ragged cards, “I’ll beat you no matter what.”
“If that’s a challenge, you’re on,” she said as she hopped onto the bed, folding her legs Indian-style. “What’re we playing?”
“Poker, of course,” I replied, still shuffling. “Have you ever played?”
“I know the basics, like you have to get pairs and three or four of a kind, but I’ve never played for real.”
“Well, you’re in luck,” I told her, “‘cause you’re about to get a lesson from one of the best.”
“Really?” she exclaimed, but it was hard to tell whether she was mocking me or not.
I felt my face get a little hot. “No, not really. Actually, I’m a pretty pitiful poker player, but I could show you the basics so we could play a few hands.” She laughed when I said that, and for the first time I realized I loved the sound. My face getting hotter, I sat across from her on the bed and started dealing.
“Okay, show me your cards.”
She laid her cards out on the bed and I told her which ones to keep and which ones to toss. We played a few hands like that, then she said she was ready to try it on her own. She was awful; I beat her at every hand.
“It’s a good thing we’re not playing for money,” I commented, “‘cause you’d owe me big time.” I glanced over at the clock at her nightstand. “Hey, can you do me a favor and flip on the TV? I want to catch the score of the basketball game.”
“Sure.” She reached for the remote and turned it on while I leaned back on the abnormally large pile of pillows she had at the head of her bed.
“What’s with all the pillows?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve always liked to surround myself with pillows when I sleep.”
“My, my…I learn more and more about you every day; now c’mere and join me on your pillow pile.” I grabbed her hand and gently pulled her over to me.
> She poked at the pillows, making herself comfortable, and then she lay down with her head on my chest and her arms around my waist. I ran my fingers through her still slightly damp hair, then bent my head down to inhale that all-too-familiar scent. We watched the rest of the game like that, then she looked up at me and asked, “Do you have to work tomorrow morning?”
Work. I didn’t even want to think about it. “Yeah,” I sighed, “so I should probably get going.
I was surprised when she said, “Stay a little longer.”
“Hmm…make it worth my while, and maybe I will.”
I threw her a wink to show her I was kidding, but she sat up and through one leg over my body so she was straddling me. When she leaned down and kissed me, I really didn’t want to leave, but then she abruptly stopped, sat up and looked at the clock. “Beth should be home any minute.”
I groaned. “Roommates suck.”
She giggled, then reached down to touch my hair. “It’s so silky.” She ran her fingers through my hair, pushing it away from my face. “Where did you get this?” she asked as her index finger inched along the scar just above my right eye.
“It’s nothing,” I muttered, as my hand shot up and moved hers out of the way.
“I’m sorry,” she said, stung, as she dropped her hand to her side. “You don’t have to tell me.”
“No, it’s okay. I’m sorry,” I said. “I better get going. It’s getting late.”
She reluctantly moved off me, her eyes averted. “Okay, then, I guess I’ll talk to you over the weekend.”
“Yeah, I’ll give you a call,” I said, then I lightly kissed her and made my way out the door.
Chapter 35
Grace
I closed the door behind him, then leaned my back up against it. What just happened? Pushing myself off the door, I went back over to my bed and sat down on the edge of the now-rumpled bedspread. Everything had been great until I mentioned his scar. Of course his reaction made me all the more curious about how he had gotten it – not that I planned on ever mentioning it again.
I wondered if I should tell Beth about Tanner’s strange mood swings lately; she always seemed to know just what to say. Like when I told her that Tanner and I loved all the same music and she said, “It’s like you guys were just meant to be.” I certainly liked the sound of that.
I glanced at the clock again; Beth should have been home from Adam’s by now. I wondered what Tanner would think if he found out that my roommate, who had a boyfriend, was out with another guy. It wouldn’t be good, that was for sure; Tanner didn’t strike me as the kind of guy who thought running around was okay. I didn’t want him thinking badly about her, and I didn’t want him to think that I would do the same—you know, the whole “birds of a feather” thing. On the other hand, maybe he wouldn’t care at all.
Just then I heard the doorknob turn. The door slowly creaked open and Beth hesitantly looked in, as if afraid she’d walk in on something. When she saw it was just me sitting on the bed, she pushed it open and sauntered into the room. “He didn’t show?”
“He showed,” I said smiling.
“Oh, that’s great, Grace! And…?”
“And what?” I asked nonchalantly.
“And…your usually neat-as-a-pin bedspread looks a bit unkempt,” she put her hands on her hips, “so let’s hear it.”
“Nothing happened,” I told her. “We played cards for a while, then we watched a basketball game on TV.” I paused for just a beat, but it was long enough to draw a raised eyebrow from my roommate. “And then something kind of weird happened.”
“Oooh, weird. Go ahead, I like weird,” she said, smiling as she rubbed her palms together.
“Well, not really weird… well, yeah, actually, it was weird.” I told her how he’d freaked out a little when I asked him about the scar. “It was like I’d asked about some deep dark secret.”
“That is weird, Grace. Maybe the scar’s like the result of some crazy traumatic incident that he had as a kid.”
“Or maybe,” I said, “it has to do with a girl. Perhaps an old girlfriend or something. Maybe he broke up with her and she came at him with a knife or a razor or something.”
Beth laughed. “Oh, Grace, don’t be so dramatic. He probably just fell off his bike or a jungle gym when he was little. Maybe he doesn’t want you to know that he used to be a klutz.”
I thought about what she said. She could be right, but she hadn’t seen his reaction. She hadn’t seen the look in his eyes. There was definitely more to the scar than a childhood fall. I decided to let it go for now and file it away in the ever-expanding file cabinet in my head labeled, “Tanner Mysteries.”
“How was your date with Adam?” I asked, happy to be questioning her for a change.
“It wasn’t a date,” she replied. “We were just hanging out.”
“Oh, well, don’t worry, I didn’t mention it to Tanner.”
“You didn’t mention it to Tanner? What does that mean? I don’t care if Tanner knows.”
“Well, he does know that you’re seeing Thomas so I wouldn’t want him to think you’re sneaking around.”
Beth snorted. “Sneaking around? Grace, you’re living in this fantasy world of perfect boyfriends and perfect relationships. I’m not ‘sneaking around’ and besides, who cares? Nobody cares what anyone else is doing. He probably doesn’t even remember Thomas. He only met him once and, if I recall, it was very brief.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” I said. “I guess I just feel like I finally have Tanner all to myself now, and I just can’t imagine being with anyone else.”
“Well, you’re lucky that you have a boyfriend who’s here and not hundreds of miles away,” she commented.
I couldn’t help it, but a grin slowly spread across my face when she referred to Tanner as my boyfriend.
“Oh, give me a break,” she said, laughing as she threw a pillow at my head.
I laughed too. “I can’t help it. I love hearing you call him my boyfriend.”
“Oh, brother.” She grabbed her pajamas from her dresser drawer and a clean towel from the closet. “Shower,” she said, holding up the towel, “then bed.”
“Yeah, I think I’ll turn in too.” I changed into my blue flannel pants and a t-shirt and climbed into bed, slowly sifting through the events of this roller coaster day. When Beth came out, I jumped into the bathroom to brush my teeth. She had just turned the lights out when I whispered, “Beth, it just doesn’t get any better than this…”
And with that said, I was promptly hit by another flying pillow.
Chapter 36
Tanner
It was a short drive from work to my apartment, but on that Saturday afternoon it felt like hours. I’d slept for a total of twenty minutes the night before, and while I told myself it was like any other sleepless night, I knew better. My head was buzzing with every detail of the time I’d spent with Grace yesterday.
Her mentioning the scar had yanked me back to reality, reminding me that I didn’t do the girlfriend thing for a reason. But then I’d think about how much fun it had been, first hanging out at my place, then playing cards at hers.
What were the odds? A hot girl who was into my music and who I liked hanging out with. Wait a minute – did I just say hot? When did Grace become the hot girl anyway? I pulled into my driveway and shut my car off. I sat there for a while, staring out the front window at nothing in particular, just thinking.
I finally decided that it wasn’t worth the risk. What if I started to really care about her, only to find out she was just like any other nutty chick? Stick to the plan, Tanner. Just hang with her until the money comes through and then end it.
My decision made, I headed into the apartment, feeling clearheaded for the first time all day. I found Scott lying on the couch as if someone had poured him there. I walked over and
nudged him with my work boot. “What’s up for tonight?”
He mumbled something about going over to Mick’s place for a while before we hit the bar. I looked at the clock. Five-fifteen, still early, so I decided to lie down for a while. I was almost to my room when I heard Scott say, “Hey, do you want to order a pizza later, before we go?”
“Yeah, sure. Wake me up when it gets here.”
I was doubtful that I would fall asleep, but I must have, because the next thing I heard was a sharp rap on my bedroom door.
“T, pizza’s here.”
“Okay, be right there,” I mumbled, already reaching for the crumpled sweats and t-shirt lying next to me on the bed. When I got to the kitchen, Scott had already started eating. I didn’t speak as I pulled out one of the stools, sat down and grabbed a slice.
Scott was quiet for a moment, but I felt his eyes on me. “What’s with the mood?” he said finally. “Trouble with the woman?”
I didn’t feel like dealing with Scott’s bullshit tonight, but I knew better than to let it show. If he thought he was getting to me, he’d never quit.
“No trouble, everything’s on track,” I said, then I casually changed the subject. “What’s up at Mick’s tonight?”
“I don’t know. He called this afternoon and said a bunch of the guys were going over there to hang before going out.”
I just nodded and continued eating.
“Well, Mr. Chatterbox, on that note I think I’ll go take a shower.”
After he left I finished my slice, wolfed down another, then went back to my room. I didn’t even feel like going out, but since staying home wasn’t appealing either I eventually got myself into the shower, hoping to revive myself. When I appeared in the living room a half-hour later, Scott was already waiting. “Ready, sunshine?” he said with a sarcastic grin.