Chapter Nineteen
NATE
A woman stands in Ria’s doorway with her arms wide open, smiling broadly as Ria just simply gawks at her.
“Mom?”
I freeze on the spot, not knowing what to do.
“Motek, I’m so glad you’re home,” she says.
I don’t understand what she has just said, but I’m assuming it’s some sort of term of endearment as she rushes down the stairs, taking Ria into her grip, and kissing her from cheek to cheek.
“Mom… Mom… stop! Where’s Patrick?”
“He’s by the pool… relaxing.”
“He’s here? Oh my God, you should have told me you’d be coming.”
“We wanted to surprise you, darling. Come in. We have so much to talk about.”
“Mom, Nate’s here.”
Her Mom turns, finally noticing me, smiles, and looks me up and down. “Nice to meet you, Nathaniel, but my girl and I have some talking to do. You’ve had her for two months, you understand?”
“Mom!” Ria’s eyes open wide as she glares at her mother.
Feeling about as small as an ant or maybe smaller, I fake a smile and nod. “Sure… you guys have a lot to discuss, I’m sure. I’ll, ah, see you tomorrow, Ria?”
She struggles with herself by taking a step toward me and then stopping as I place her luggage at the bottom of the stairs. She mouths, I’m sorry, to which I nod and turn, heading back to my car with a sinking chest and an aching cock.
It’s been two months, you idiot.
What’s one more night?
Getting in my car, I look back to see Ria being dragged inside by her mother. She glances back at me with a quick wave, and I smile before she’s gone.
With a deep breath, I try to ignore the weight settling in my gut and start my car.
The drive feels long and difficult. Pulling up to my house, I walk in, and Matt looks up at me, raising an eyebrow as he spoons a mouthful of ice cream into his mouth. “Um… Israeli goddess at your beck and call, and you chose me? I’m flattered.”
I smirk. “Her parents were there… at her house.”
He nods and moans in acknowledgment. “Ah, yes, the good ol’ parental cock block.
Especially after having no sex for two months and listening to Ryan and Tillie, and Danger and Lunar, going at it like fucking rabbits all the time.
I’m guessing right now, blue balls don’t begin to describe the feeling? ”
I chuckle. “Well, at least I’m not the only one with blue balls, right?”
“Oh no, brother, that’s just you. There are plenty of execs and groupies on the road for me in between stops. Just ’cause it’s not happening on the bus doesn’t mean it’s not happening.”
Groaning, I pluck the spoon from his hand and shovel it full of Ben and Jerry’s. “Goddammit.”
“Maybe she just doesn’t like your ice cream, brother?”
“My ice cream is great… very, very creamy.”
Matt laughs and grabs the spoon back from me. “Full of creamy goodness, hey?”
“Not for lactose intolerants, that’s for sure.”
“Okay, this got officially weird.”
“Yeah, I need sleep or sex… probably both, but I’ll have to survive only on the former tonight.”
“What’s one more day?”
“Exactly.” I squint at him. “Why are you eating ice cream? You only eat that when you’re depressed?” I ask, and he sighs.
“Ah, alas, nothing gets past you, little bro.”
“So you are depressed?”
He shrugs. “More like feeling nostalgic.”
Raising my brow, I cock my head to the side. “Matt, are you high?”
He laughs. “No, it’s seeing all you guys with women and happy. It’s kinda making me wonder…” He pauses and shakes his head like he’s being stupid and spoons another mouthful of ice cream.
“Matt!”
He swallows and exhales. “Well, it makes me wonder if I should be looking to settle down. You know… find a girl. A nice girl. Not some groupie or some skank, but someone respectable, someone modest, a real lady. You know, classy and elegant, sophisticated and shy.”
“So she’s a shopping list?” I scrub my hand over my head. “Matt, you can’t find a woman with every quality you want. They don’t exist. You’ll be looking forever.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right. I should give up now. Back to groupies and sluts it is,” he says, shoveling in another spoonful.
I pat his shoulder. “Matt, your girl is out there, and one day, she will appear in your life out of the blue, and it will be the least expected thing ever.”
“Yeah… maybe.”
Suddenly, the doorbell rings, and I glance up, furrowing my brows, wondering if this is some weird sign or just a coincidence.
“You expecting someone?” I ask as Matt places his spoon into the tub and walks toward the door.
“Yeah… needed a pick me up.”
“So you rang dial-a-slut?” I chuckle, and Matt snorts.
“More like hire-a-hippie,” he replies.
I open my eyes wide as he opens the door, and I peer around the corner to see Whisper standing there, smiling obnoxiously wide in his usual monk attire.
“Namaste, you sexy boy! I missed you,” he says, rushing in and hugging Matt tight, swaying him from side to side.
I smile because even though I’m in two minds about Whisper’s seemingly weird methods and whether or not they actually work, the guy somehow has me liking him. After a couple of months of not seeing him, he’s been on my mind, and it will be good to catch up.
“Hey, Whisper! How are things?” Matt asks as he follows Whisper to the kitchen. He spots me and smiles, tilting his head.
“Oh, there he is, sexy boy number two. Hahaha. You boys, I miss you so much, like sand misses ocean at end of King Tide, you know what I saying? Come here, let me squeeze demon from you, Nathaniel,” he says, rushing to me and grabbing my cheeks, squeezing them tight while he squints at me and makes a kissy face.
This guy is whacked! I smile and shake my head at the thought. I have to admit, I was feeling like crap after having to leave Ria, but within thirty seconds of Whisper arriving, I feel lighter.
I don’t know how he does it.
He looks around the house that hasn’t changed since he last rearranged it and shakes his head.
Putting his fingers to his chin, he sighs, slumping his body.
“Oh, boys, this qi in here all wrong for your ju-ju now. Your energy all different since I last here. This Fung Shui all have to change. It all have to move to create good flow for you, yes? And I get sage out too. So many bad demons in both of you this time. Matthew, you feeling so negative, it wash over you like a storm cloud eating you up like a mouse nibbling moldy cheese. It bad, bad, ju-ju. I clear it right up! You not even know I here,” he says while frantically pulling a sage stick and lighter from a pocket in his monk suit.
He lights it up before we even have a chance to say anything.
I shake my head, looking at Matt, and he smiles. I think he knows we’re wasting our money on this. It doesn’t change the qi—whatever the fuck that is—of the house, but having Whisper here does change our moods, so that’s good enough.
He runs around the house, waving his sage and singing, “Hava Nagila” again, making me chuckle as I look to Matt and start chanting, “Cool, calm, collected.” Whisper glances at me and smiles so wide, like he’s mega proud, and continues to wave the sage over every inch of the kitchen and living room.
I turn to Matt, seeing him finally smiling, and I’m glad.
Walking in from Ria’s and seeing him eating Ben & Jerry’s had me concerned about him.
I didn’t like seeing him that way. Matt’s always the happy go-get-’em type, and for him to be failing emotionally has me more than a little worried.
So if paying to have Whisper here is going to make him smile, then hell, I’ll pay it myself.
It’s not like we can’t afford the $399.95 price tag.
Whisper finishes “Hava Nagila” and comes back over, placing the sage stick on the kitchen island. He takes a deep breath, puts his hands into the prayer pose, and bows in front of us.
“Namaste, sexy boys.”
“Namaste, Whisper,” we both say back.
“Matthew, I worry for you. You eating lots of dairy. Bad for your inner Buddha. You stop eating dairy and relax your chakra, okay?”
Matt smirks and nods. “Okay, but how does one relax their chakra?”
I smirk. I can’t wait to hear this answer. It will probably be something outrageous and cost another $399.95.
“Well, I not only Korean Fung Shui master but internet dating guidance guru. I help you on your path to seeking perfect ten.”
I open my eyes wide, and so does Matt as we look at each other, wondering how the fuck Whisper knows Matt is concerned about being single.
“You know I’m looking for a perfect woman? And I’m concerned about being single?” Matt asks.
“Whisper know everything… everything, Matthew. I one with the wind, I hear and know all. I speak with nature. It speak with me. I am Korean guru, remember?”
Shaking my head, I bump into Matt’s side and let out a small laugh as he stands there stunned.
“You think about it, sexy boy. I be here when you need my dating services. And in meantime, I Fung Shui your house,” he says and rushes off to the coffee table and pushes it back to the other side of the room, right back to where he moved it from the first time he was here.
I shake my head and chuckle as he moves the artwork and vases back to where they were the first time he moved them, and I look to Matt, who still looks dumbfounded.
“You okay, bro?”
He shakes his head slightly and clicks his tongue to the roof of his mouth. “Maybe…” he pauses for a second, “… I should do internet dating?”
I raise my eyebrow and tilt my head. “Matt, really? You’re gonna try finding your shopping list on the internet?”
He shrugs. “Yeah, maybe you’re right.” He picks up the spoon in the tub of ice cream and shoves a spoonful into his mouth.
“Relax your chakra, sexy boy. No dairy!” Whisper calls out, not even looking at Matt, but somehow knowing he’s eating ice cream. Matt swallows and drops the spoon to the counter with an almighty huff.
I smirk as Whisper moves the ficus to the other side of the staircase. Rolling my eyes, I give my head a small shake.
Whisper walks back over to us and nods. “There, flow all better. You see improvements in your lives now. You mark my words.”