27. The Present
The Present
Carla
“Carla Evans,get your ass in this apartment and tell me where you were last night!”
I bury my face in my hands as I hit the top step. “Mal, it’s early. Can you take it down an octave, or seven?”
“I most certainly will not. You spent the night with someone and I need to know all the details.”
“Coffee first. Talkie later.”
She thrusts a steaming mug into my hands and guides me to the couch. “You are not leaving for class until you tell me everything.”
I gulp down half my coffee. “Before I say anything, you have to promise to remain calm.”
“I promise.” She makes an X over her heart.
“Okay.” I take a deep breath. “I spent the night at TJ’s.”
I’m stunned by a sound that I’m sure can only be used by bats to communicate with one another.
“You promised to stay calm. I think you just achieved a higher octave than Mariah Carey.”
“I wouldn’t have promised that if I’d have known what you were going to say! I knew you were into him. I knew you guys were hiding something.”
“We’re not hiding anything. We were hanging out and it got late. He didn’t want me driving home so I stayed the night. No big deal.”
Mal’s face contorts. “You had an adult sleepover with the hottest man on earth and all you did was sleep?”
“Yes. Now can I please get ready for class?”
Her head shakes. “I’ve never been so disappointed in you.”
“Good. Considering we just met, I don’t want to set the bar too high. Better that you’re disappointed now.”
She flings a pillow in my direction as I scurry to the bathroom.
I’m not lying to Mallory. All TJ and I did last night was sleep. But my gut tells me it was so much more than that. He opened up to me. He trusted me enough to let me in. And the way he held me while we slept wasn’t platonic.
I’m entering into uncharted territories. Joe is all I’ve known. The only one I’ve ever dated. We were kids when we met. It was innocent and we fell in love. Everything was simple.
This thing with TJ isn’t comparable. But what is it?
As I step into the shower, I make a mental list of the concrete facts.
I’m attracted to TJ. He’s attracted to me. We enjoy spending time in each other’s company. That much is clear. Things start getting confusing when I think about the way TJ makes me feel.
Joe gave me butterflies, but TJ is a runaway train that’s headed straight for me. I don’t know if I should jump on or out of the way. I kissed Joe and saw fireworks, but TJ’s kiss could burn the whole world to the ground. My relationship with Joe was once comforting and familiar. When I’m around TJ, I don’t feel like myself. I can’t think straight. It’s scary and exhilarating and confusing all at once.
Maybe it’s not fair to compare the two. They’re vastly different men. Could I see myself with TJ the way I saw my life with Joe? Is that even an option? TJ filled me in on his past, but he never talks about the future. After everything he has been through, is settling down with a wife and a family something he wants?
Questions swarm my mind for the rest of the day. By the time I get to work, it’s like an anvil was dropped on my head.
“You okay?” Kimmie asks.
“I just have a headache.”
“I have Tylenol if you need it.”
“Already exceeded the dosage of ibuprofen for the day.”
Her eyebrows lift. “Yikes. So maybe now’s not the best time to ask you for advice.”
I perk up. “Advice? Of course. What’s up?”
“A boy at school asked me to this dance we’re having on Halloween.”
“And do we like this boy?”
A smile spreads across her face. “We do.”
I clap excitedly. “That’s great. So what do you need advice about?”
“Everything,” she whines. Her head drops to the counter and she buries it with her arms.
“Let’s make a list of everything we need to do before Friday.” I tear a piece of paper from my notebook. “We’ll need to get a costume and shoes. We need nails, hair, and make-up. What else?”
“I need to magically learn how to dance by Friday,” she mumbles from her cocoon.
“Girl, don’t you worry. Your fairy godmother is at your service.”
“Girls,this is my friend Kimmie. Kimmie, this is Charlotte and Mallory.”
Charlotte squeezes Kimmie’s shoulder. “We’ve all been where you are. Don’t be nervous. We’re going to help you.”
Kimmie’s shoulders slump. “I feel so pathetic. I don’t know how to be girly and pretty like you guys.”
“You’re already pretty,” Mallory says. “And you don’t need to be girly. Just be yourself.”
I nod. “That’s the most important lesson tonight. Don’t try to act like someone else. If this boy asked you out, it’s because he likes you.”
“I think I got your iPod synced,” TJ says. He’s letting us use the training room in his gym. It has wood floors and wall-to-wall mirrors. It looks like a dance studio. It’s perfect.
“You’re going to leave now, right?” Kimmie asks.
TJ grins. “You sure you don’t want me to stay? I’ve got some pretty killer dance moves I can teach you.” He grabs the back of his neck with one hand, and holds his ankle with his other hand while jerking his knee back and forth.
Kimmie looks horrified. “I never want to see that again.”
I laugh and shove TJ toward the door. “Go. You’re scaring the poor girl.”
“I’m going. I’m going.” He winks before closing the door behind him.
Mallory leans in to whisper in my ear. “It’s like his wink is directly linked to my vagina. Every time he does it, I feel a zap in my pants.”
“TMI, Mal. I don’t need to know what happens in your pants.”
“Don’t act like you’re unaffected.”
I bite my bottom lip and crouch down by the radio. Oh, I am so affected. “Okay, ladies. Let’s dance.”
I press play on my iPod and the best club songs from the early 2000’s blare through the speakers for the next hour. We teach Kimmie some simple steps, like moving from side to side. Then we add in a swaying of the hips. Mallory even shows her what to do when a horny teenage boy tries to bump and grind behind her. We end up doing a lot more laughing than dancing, but that’s all Kimmie needs to know: How to have fun and not take this dance too seriously.
“Mal’s going to do your make-up,” I say. “Charlotte will do your hair, and tomorrow night I’ll take you to the mall so we can pick out a dress. Our nail appointments are already set for Friday afternoon.”
Kimmie shakes her head with watery eyes. “Thank you, guys. Seriously. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
We all hug, and I walk the girls to the exit.
“You coming home tonight, slut?” Mallory asks.
“Yes, I’ll be home. I just need to close up here. I’ll see you in a little while.”
I make sure the front desk is in order and peek inside TJ’s office before I leave. “Do you need anything? I’m heading out for the night.”
“No, thanks. I’m good.” He leans back and rocks in his chair. “Thank you for helping Kimmie. It means the world to her, you know.”
“It’s no big deal. I don’t mind helping.”
“It is a big deal. She doesn’t have the best support system at home. You’re doing more for her than her mother ever did.”
“Well, I’m glad I can help.”
“You’re amazing, Carla.”
“You’re pretty amazing yourself.”
I turn and leave, putting distance between me and the freight train that’s barreling straight toward my heart.