11. Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Lis
I eye Spencer suspiciously, but he just sits there, patiently waiting for my decision. On the one hand, snuggling with him while watching a movie feels very much like date territory. On the other hand, I’m still cold and he is very warm and I know that blanket is as well. I chew on my lip and then slide over the couch, snuggling into his side. His arm wraps around my shoulders and he tucks the blankets around me. His heat seeps into me, casting away the worst of the chill that had clung to me. I realize I haven’t felt this warm since Monday morning before I told him we couldn’t date.
He hands me a mug of hot chocolate and a plate with my melted Havarti and prosciutto on brioche . I lift the sandwich, Spencer watching me expectantly. I take the first bite and it tastes as delicious as it smells. He’s grilled the bread to a perfect golden brown, the cheese melted around the prosciutto.
“Mm. Spencer this is so good.”
He grins and eats his own. “The secret is to cook it on a low temperature.”
I snort. “Really? Tell me more about the secret to cooking.”
He laughs, his arm tightening around my shoulders, pressing me against him. I’m flooded with the desire that I want to stay here forever, tucked into his side, listening to him laugh.
We finish our sandwiches and he removes the plates, replacing them with the bowl of popcorn, which he sets in his lap before turning on the movie.
“So what is this about?” I ask, taking a sip of hot chocolate.
“I’m not telling you anything. Just go into it blind.”
I look up at him, about to call him a weirdo or a nerd or something, but when he smiles down at me, I lose my breath. I’m all too aware of the fact that I’m wearing his clothes, wrapped in his blanket, and him. He completely surrounds me, and his lips are right there.
I suddenly wish I could go back to Sunday morning and just spend some more time in ignorant bliss. It occurs to me that if I’m wishing, I could wish to go all the way back to Saturday night and not meet him, but just the idea of not having the memories of that night is enough to break my heart.
The movie starts, breaking the moment and I turn back to the television. It’s weird. Spencer quotes a few lines under his breath in time with it, including one that he says with so much sadness I can’t help but turn to him, but he doesn’t look at me as he says it.
“We may meet again in another life, but not again in this one.”
I tell him how much I love the character Aughra and he laughs, a rumbling sound I can feel from my place pressed against his side. We drink our hot chocolates and eat our popcorn, our hands brushing occasionally in the bowl. But just like when he held my hand Sunday morning, the touches feel natural and neither of us flinch away. I pull my feet up onto the couch, and he moves his arm to wrap around my legs, pulling my knees into his lap. It’s so comfortable, I don’t complain, just burrow into the blanket and his warmth and enjoy the movie.
When it’s over, I give him an appraising look.
“ This is your comfort movie?” I ask.
He grins at me. “It was one of my mom’s favourites. This one and Labyrinth . The one with David Bowie. Not Pan’s Labyrinth , the Spanish one with the creepy vibes, though that’s a good movie, too. Anyway, we used to watch it together all the time. Whenever she let me choose, I would choose this one.”
“That sounds nice.” I hesitate, noting the past tense and wondering if I should ask about it. I want to know more about him. But I don’t want to pry.
He looks back at the television as the credits roll and offers the information without my having to ask, his smile slipping away.
“She died when I was fourteen. Lymphoma.”
My heart aches for the pain I can still hear in his voice.
“Vic mentioned your families were close before, but she didn’t mention before what.”
He nods, confirming my unspoken question.
“Will you tell me about her?” I ask softly.
“She probably spoiled me a little too much. She was always baking. Muffins, cookies, cupcakes. She always had something sweet for me. We read together a lot. When I was little, she would read me any book I brought her. No matter what she was doing, she would stop and read to me. When I got older, we would read the same book and then talk about it. She got me to watch all these weird and cool movies. My father hated a lot of it. He thought I should be focused on more serious things.” He laughs a humourless laugh. “He still thinks that.”
I’m about to say something—maybe something about how his mother sounds like she was wonderful, maybe something about how his father is wrong—but then the front door opens and I’m prevented from saying anything.
“Hey Vic,” Spencer calls. “Come meet Cerberus. He’s got the shortest legs you’ve ever seen.”
Except it’s not Vic who comes down the hall from the door first. It’s a regal blonde woman with cold grey eyes.
“Well, aren’t you just the picture of hetero bliss,” she says.
I would move away, except Spencer’s arm tightens around my legs, keeping me in place.
Vic trails after the blonde woman, a contrite look on her face. She and Spencer exchange a look loaded with meaning. Her eyes are begging him. His fill with annoyance and then resignation.
“Emily. It’s so nice to see you again,” he says.
“Don’t lie, Spencer,” Emily says. “We all know the truth.”
Vic steps around the other woman and smiles at me. “How are you, Lis? Did you have a good hike?”
“We did. We got caught in the rain at the end, but otherwise, it was a nice trek.”
“Is this Cerberus?”
My dog has gotten up and stretched at the sound of the extra people. He pads over to Vic who crouches down to greet him.
“Hey, pup,” she says, giving him the required head scratches. He sniffs her pants and wags his tail as she continues to scratch him.
I notice that Spencer and Emily are still staring at each other with open hostility.
“Spencer?” I say, trying to diffuse the tension. “I should probably take Cerberus out and then get home. Daze will be wondering where I am.”
He turns to me, the hostility disappearing in a second. “I’ll walk you out. Come on. Let’s get your things.”
He lets me go and I stand, following him to gather my clothes from the dryer and bathroom. I’m about to get changed when he says, “You can just wear those. Give them back later.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. They look better on you, anyway.”
“Oh, gag,” Emily says. “Can we please go to your room, Victoria? These two are revolting.”
“Emily,” Vic protests. “Stop it.” But her voice is small. Not at all like the smart, decisive business woman I know her to be at work.
“Come on, Cerberus,” I call and he trots over to me so I can connect his leash. As I do, I tell him quietly, “Let’s leave the mean lady alone.”
Spencer helps me get my things into the backpack I’d used before, and as we’re about to leave, Vic comes over.
“I’m really sorry,” she says.
“Don’t be,” Spencer replies, holding up a hand with his pinkie extended. “When I come back up, I’ll stay in my room.”
Vic links her pinkie with his, grimacing. “I’ll see you Friday, Lis.”
I nod to her and we leave the apartment. Once we’re outside, he opens an umbrella and holds it over us both, linking our arms together so we’re both covered. The weather has eased from a downpour to a regular, heavy rain. We cross the street to the park between his apartment and the beach.
“Mean lady?” Spencer asks when we’re outside.
I shoot him a look as Cerberus sniffs around the grass finding a place to do his business. “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
“Trust me. I’ve called her worse.”
“What was that pinkie thing about?” I ask.
“It’s kind of like a secret handshake. It started when we were kids. I can’t remember what the secret was, but she told me something and I pinkie swore not to tell anyone. It kept going and eventually evolved to what it means today. I got your back, no matter what. Even if you fuck up. And we have both done our share of fucking up.”
I smile, my heart warm from the story. “I’m glad you have someone like that in your life. Daze and Sophie are like that for me. What is the deal with Emily, anyway?”
He heaves a huge sigh. “I don’t know. She’s very controlling. I’ve hated her since about a week after she and Vic started dating the first time.”
“The first time?”
“Yeah. They break up and get back together. Sometimes they don’t get back together and just hook up. It’s toxic and awful, but Vic keeps taking her back.”
“Why? She’s an awesome woman. She doesn’t need to put up with that.”
“You tell her that. Maybe she’ll listen to you. Anyway. I think Emily might be a little bit jealous of me and Vic. She’s always rude, but she doesn’t antagonize Derek and Adalie like she does me.”
“Why would she care? If Vic is gay, you’re not exactly her type.”
He tilts his head to the side. “She’s bi, actually. And I live with her. So, to Emily, I could be. It’s ridiculous. If we were going to get together, there were plenty of opportunities. There’s nothing there between us.” He shakes his head. “I don’t want to talk about Emily. How are your feet?”
“My feet?” I blink at him, confused by the sudden topic change.
“Your shoes are still wet. You want to get back to your car so you can go home? I don’t want you getting sick keeping you out here with wet feet.”
We stand there for a moment, turned toward each other. I wish I didn’t have to go anywhere. Wish I could just keep walking with him forever.
“I probably should.”
We get back to my car and he waits for me to get Cerberus settled in the back.
“Maybe next week we can do another hike,” he says. “The Grouse Grind should open soon.”
“Ugh. The Grind? Please tell me you’re not one of those masochists who like climbing that thing.”
He grins. “I most certainly am. When it’s open, I try to go once a week. Though transiting out there sucks.”
I make gagging noises. The Grouse Grind is a two and a half kilometer hike up the side of a mountain. Practically all stairs. Absolutely awful.
He laughs at me.
“You will never get me to climb that thing. I refuse. However, if you want to do another hike next week, we could go out to Maple Ridge and do the easy one in Golden Ears Park. Then Cerberus can come again. Though I should warn you, if I go out to Maple Ridge, I am contractually obligated to stop in at my parents’ house.”
“Deal.”
He leans in like he’s about to kiss me. My breath catches in my chest. Then he pulls back, smiles, and steps away.
“Have a good night, Lis. See you Friday.”
“Bye.” I get into my car, trying not to think about how breathy my voice is or the fact that my lungs still haven’t figured out how to work right.