Chapter 11 #2
“Let’s celebrate.” Nell popped open another beer. “At least this guy isn’t a musician, right? That’s already a big step up.”
“Actually, he invited me to a seisiún in Queens tomorrow night, so he’s some sort of musician,” I said. “Although I have no idea at what level. Or even what instrument.”
“Invited you? To a seisiún?” Nell’s voice rose to a squeak.
I squirmed. “Not a date. Just a seisiún. A couple of pints in a grotty Irish bar, and Irish tunes until our eyes cross. A date is a much bigger deal than that.”
“Yeah, like you’re such an expert,” Vivi said. “What bar?”
I stared from one to the other. “Don’t you dare.”
“What bar?” both of my sisters demanded in unison.
“I’m not telling,” I said. “So just forget it.”
“Fine,” Vivi said. “I’ll go through other channels. I’ll call ... let’s see ... Eugene. We’ll tell him you have a hot date tomorrow night, and ask him for a list of the seisiúns tomorrow in Queens. Then Nell and I will make the rounds until we get lucky.”
“Vivi,” I said. “Don’t.”
“And then we will roast you so hard, babe. We will have no mercy. None.”
My face had gotten hot. “Don’t tell Eugene,” I said. “He’s a terrible gossip. I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“So give it up,” Vivi said, her face relentless. “The seisiún. Let’s have it.”
I gritted my teeth. “Malloy’s,” I admitted. “Ten to two. I haven’t decided yet whether or not I’m going.”
“Oh?” Nell’s dark eyes were innocently wide. “Six two, green eyes, perfectly proportional ass? You are so going to that seisiún.”
“Whether or not, it’s my business,” I said. “We’ll see how you like it when I descend onto one of your dates and try to embarrass you.”
Nell’s face tightened. “Like that’ll happen in this century.”
Something in Nell’s voice gave us pause. Vivi hoisted herself up onto her elbow.
“Why not?” she asked. “Why shouldn’t it happen? You’re gorgeous, smart, funny, sweet, creative, amazing. You’re a prize. A total pearl. What’s not to date?”
Nell shrugged. “I think I’m just one of those women who crushes on unattainable men. You know. Protecting myself by making sure I never have to deal with a real relationship, blah, blah.”
“Who?” I demanded. “Who’s unattainable? Why is he unattainable?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Nell looked intensely uncomfortable. “You don’t know him, and you won’t meet him. Ever. It’s just a pointless thing happening inside my own head.”
“Is he married?” Vivi demanded.
“No!” Nell snapped. “I mean … that is to say … I haven’t the faintest idea. He doesn’t talk to me. But he doesn’t wear any ring, so I guess probably he … oh, hell. Never mind. It couldn’t be more irrelevant. It’s just absolutely not, you know … thing.”
But the damage was done, and we had to know more. “Who is he?”
Nell threw up her hands with a frustrated huff. “No one! Just a random guy who comes into the Sunset Grill for lunch. That’s all. I have a monster crush on a guy I serve lunch to. Believe me, it’s exactly as stupid and pathetic as it sounds.”
“Did you write your number on the check?” Vivi asked. “Do you flirt? Look through your eyelashes? Bring him extra garlic breadsticks?”
Nell rolled her eyes. “If I’d ever established eye contact, that ploy might make sense. But he’s never even looked at me. And I mean that literally. He just looks at his laptop. A screen full of code. If he saw me on the street, he wouldn’t recognize me.”
Vivi clapped a hand over her face. “A techie? God help you.”
Nell looked so miserable, I took pity on her and tried to deflect. “How about you, Viv?” I demanded. “Romantic prospects?”
Vivi rolled her eyes. “Nope. I’m making celibacy into a high art.”
“Because of Brian?”
Vivi’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe. Among other things. There’s also the issue of working hard and always being on the road. And besides, the pool of guys who’d be into an oddball like me is pretty small to begin with.”
“Brian was six years ago,” I said. “He can’t derail your life forever.”
Vivi’s mouth tightened. “Knowing it doesn’t really seem to help all that much.”
Something in Vivi’s voice made me back off.
God knows, I wasn’t anyone to judge, with my history of romantic train wrecks.
I studied my sister’s averted face. “I’m sorry,” I said.
“I didn’t mean to be a bitch about it. I just hate him so much.
But I love you. Like crazy. And I’m so glad he’s out of the picture. ”
Vivi waved her hand, brushing the subject away. “Forget Brian. He’s a dull, boring little putz. Your six-foot-two carpenter with his tight belly and his proportional ass is way more interesting. I can hardly wait to check him out tomorrow.”
“Me, neither,” Nell said, with relish.
I let out a puzzled sigh. Somehow, I’d come full circle, and led them both back around to busting my balls again. Ah, the joys of sisterhood.
Moxie started kneading my thigh, claws out. I unsnagged her sharp little nails from my jeans and reached for another beer. “You guys,” I muttered. “Please.”
Nell nudged my arm. “We don’t mean to torture you,” she said earnestly.
“Well, actually, we kind of do, but it’s not malicious, I promise.
It’s just so nice to have something fun and frivolous to talk about, you know?
Be patient. We’ve been so sad and confused lately.
Your proportional-assed carpenter is hard for us to resist.”
I squeezed Nell’s hand. She was right. It was nice to hear my sisters laughing. To chatter and bicker about men, dating, silly crushes, butthead ex-boyfriends, proportional asses. Silly, nonessential things. Nothing earthshaking.
Not that I would characterize that kiss in the rain as frivolous or lighthearted.
And earthshaking was putting it mildly.