Chapter 10 #2
“What?” His head swiveled as if he was looking for answers.
“The grill’s ready, so can you hand me the plate with the burgers?” I pointed at an imaginary plate on the long counter.
“This plate?” Aldridge gestured tentatively in the same direction.
“Yep.”
Complying, he pretended to grab hold of a heavy plate and handed it to me.
“Do you still like your burgers medium well?”
“Yes.” He stared dubiously at my sudden game of make-believe.
I shook imaginary salt and pepper over the grill, pointing to the lush backyard. “Looks like your mother started the electric slide.”
“She did?” Aldridge squinted into the space beyond the covered patio.
“And your Uncle Sully is hitting on my sister.”
“He needs to abort that mission right now.”
“I think it was smart to go with the slide on the pool because your niece seems to love it.”
“Yeah, I’m … glad … I listened to your advice.”
“You should always take my advice.” I tossed a smile over my shoulder.
Aldridge pointed to the ghost guests on the grass. “Who invited Dante?”
“Well, you know Anika and him are practically sharing a shadow now.”
“Wow shit is moving fast.” Aldridge canvassed the space. “Where’s your dude at?”
We traded a glance. “You know very well I don’t have a dude. Can you pass the hot links?”
“Why is that?” We pretended to trade a platter.
“Because I’m busy, dating is similar to dancing on hot coals, and men are dumb. Just take your pick.”
“Men are dumb?”
“Yeah, just a plastic bag for a brain floating around in their head.”
“Harsh.”
“Not all men. But most.”
“You might want to flip the burgers.”
“Good looking out. There’s cold beer in the fridge.” I pointed to the refrigerator a few feet away.
“I don’t drink.”
“Since when?” Aldridge could drink most men under the table in college. Mostly because of his massive size.
“Since … we have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Well there’s also ginger ale. The brand in the glass bottle that you like.”
“You remembered?”
I remembered everything about this man. To the cloud-shaped birthmark on his back, his aversion to walking barefoot, and the curve of his dick. Aldridge’s hand moved across my waist as he passed behind me to check out the fridge. And I was acutely aware of my heartbeat.
“Wait, there’s actually drinks in here.” He pulled out the ginger ale bottle.
“I offer an immersive experience.”
Opening two bottles, he said, “Let’s make a toast.”
I accepted one of the ales. “Okay go ahead.”
Aldridge tilted his head back and licked his lips. “To the past catching up to the present and shaping the future.”
I raised a disbelieving eyebrow. His toast seemed to capture the moment. The past was definitely bleeding into the present. “To the past, present, and future.”
He took a long sip. “I can’t believe you found these.”
“When you submit a contract on a house, I’ll buy you a case.”
Aldridge downed the remaining ale and waved his hand over the grill. “Why are you manning the grill by the way?”
“Because men don’t know how to grill any more. Back in the day someone’s daddy or uncle would be in his brown sandals cutting up but times have changed.”
“Well I’m here and the grill is man’s work so you can go take care of the potato salad or something.”
“You’re not going to burn them like last time?”
He narrowed his eyes. “That was years ago and my song came on.” He casually tossed his arm over my shoulder. “It’s nice to have our families all in one place. We should do this more often.”
Aldridge’s cognac eyes locked on to mine.
What started out as make believe was beginning to feel real.
In another reality this could’ve been our lives.
Cookouts with the family. Me wrapped in his arms next to the grill.
Laughter as Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince filled the air.
I knew Aldridge well enough to know he was holding back.
There were words on the tip of his tongue that would remain unspoken.
In leu of speaking, he leaned in and kissed me on the top of my head.
To be honest, the sweet gesture wasn’t enough.
What a sick and twisted world to be this close to Aldridge and unable to experience him fully as God intended.
Backing away, I pretended to be engrossed in picking the next song.
Breathing was difficult and my mind released memories of the weight of his body overtop of mine, my legs wrapped around his waist, his dick so deep it made me lightheaded.
Each memory was a little serotonin boost. It hit me like a ton of bricks.
Anika was right, partially anyway. When it came to Aldridge, I didn’t know what the fuck I wanted. “So is this place a contender?”
“I like it. But the gas fireplace and lack of a pool is a deal breaker.”
“You never once mentioned a fireplace.”
“True, but if the home has one it needs to be real.”
Mental note, real working fireplace. “Got it,” I said through gritted teeth.
I’d probably shown him over twenty homes and every one he took issue with.
In one home the closets were too small, the next home they were too big.
Another house had an outdoor basketball court which was a no because he couldn’t use it year-round.
Then when I showed him one with an indoor court, he complained of a weird smell. He was like a six-foot-five Goldilocks.
“This is close but no cigar. The grass … I don’t know, is it just me or is the color off?”
“So the grass needs to be greener?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“I’ll add that to my extensive notes.”
“Sounds like you’re suggesting I’m difficult?”
“Did I do that?”
“Yeah Urkel, you kind of did. There was a tone.”
“I had a tone?”
“Okay so you’re leaning into the innocent real estate agent bit.”
“I’m just here to help you find your perfect home.”
He pointed and snapped in my direction. “There it goes again. The way you emphasize the word perfect.”
“I do not know what you are talking about.”
He flashed me an okay signal.
“In other news I reached out to the moving company. They located your items, and they should be at the drop-off location by midweek. I emailed your assistant the details.”
“Really, just like that.”
“Well, I did drop your name and told them if the moving truck wasn’t in Vegas by Wednesday we would take to social media and drag them for filth. And if one item was missing their little family-owned business would cease to exist.”
“You threatened to ruin a mom-and-pop business for me?”
“I did.”
“Wow, you are the most gangster realtor I’ve ever met.”
“Sometimes you have to crack some eggs.”
“Dirty dozen.”
“What does that mean?”
“Uhm, eggs come in a dozen. You’re not playing nice. Shit … I don’t know, I just wanted to contribute to the badassery.”
“Nice try. A for effort.”
“So as a thank you for getting my belongings squared away, what about tickets to the first home game of the season?”
“I don’t need to be compensated.”
“No, I know. Honestly this is more for me than you. It would be nice to have a familiar face in the crowd.”
“You want me to be your cheerleader?” I teased.
Aldridge claimed hold of my hands. Yes, whatever he wanted …
it was a swift yes. He wants a gas fireplace; I would rip out the old one and build anew.
He wanted me among the throng of twenty-thousand fans cheering him on, consider it done.
If he wanted to rub the tip of his dick over my clit until we both exploded. Sure, I’m game.
His tone was earnest and his voice a bit shaky. “I want you to be there as my friend.”
“Of course. Yes.” How could I say no when he was being vulnerable? If he needed to see my face to help him acclimate, I would be front and center with a huge smile and a number four jersey.