Chapter 10
TEN
I’m lying in bed fully dressed when Maverick sticks his head in my room. “Time to stop touching yourself and go get fondled by the elderly instead.”
I sit up and swing my legs onto the floor.
“Was that Mariah I heard while I was playing Xbox with Rauthruss?” he questions, dark eyebrows raised and a playful smile on his lips.
“It’s weird when you listen in, man.”
“Just looking out for you.”
“How thoughtful.”
We meet the rest of the team at the assisted living home.
Coach’s mom lives here. As such, this is where a good portion of our community service hours are done.
At least once a semester, he drags us out here.
Today we’re doing some outdoor landscaping.
Manual labor shit that sucks balls, but in truth, I enjoy it more than going inside the place.
It smells like old people, which makes sense, but I don’t need reminders that we are all going to die and, if we are lucky, get to stink up the world on our way out.
I learned that lesson the hard way when my dad died at forty-one.
He didn’t even get a chance to enjoy that mothball and shit stench.
He’d gone out looking fit and healthy and smelling like Acqua di Gio.
I was fourteen and thought he was invincible.
Desert Rose is a massive place. So many residents that I have to wonder if there are any old people left in Valley who aren’t living here. The grounds are well cared for, flowers and shrubs trimmed to make Mother Nature look like a Monet painting.
We’re probably more of a hindrance than a help to the crew since they clearly have it under control, but the old people enjoy watching us work hard.
The old men come to sit outside in lawn chairs and regale us with tales of their youth, sleight-of-hand reminders at the end of every tale to enjoy being young and stupid.
Done and done.
Scott and I are spreading rock with rakes along a pathway to a gazebo. I’m tired and a little hungover. It’s hot work, no reprieve from the sun blasting down on us.
“Rhett said Ginny got locked in the bathroom last night,” he says, breaking the silence.
I’m really not sure how much to say. She was in a full-blown panic, but I don’t want to freak out Adam. However, it sounds like Rauthruss filled him in.
“Yeah, she got in there with no light and couldn’t get the door open to get out.”
“Oh shit.” He stops raking and stares at me with wide eyes. “Ginny’s got a thing with the dark. She okay?”
“It took a few minutes to calm her down, but she seemed all right when she went to bed. I put a fresh bulb in, just in case.” She was gone this morning before I woke up and she hasn’t answered my texts.
“That must be why she left so early this morning. I’ll check on her after we’re done here. Thanks, man, I appreciate you looking out for her.”
I swallow thickly and nod. His request to look out for her wasn’t even a factor in it or really any of the times I’ve hung out with her.
I like her. I like being with her. She makes me be in the moment more deeply.
I’m not looking for hookups or to get drunk, I want to sit beside her, pull her hair, and tease her.
Basically, I’m five again. I was thankful that I was there last night when she needed me.
Last semester me wouldn’t have been. He’d have been wasted or with a girl.
I take my shirt off and tuck it in my back pocket. It’s so damn hot out. It’s nice not to have the material sticking to my sweaty back, but now I can practically feel the sun turning my back into a barbeque grill.
Adam looks past me. “The old women at six o’clock are not so subtly undressing you with their eyes.”
I pause and lean against the rake. Sure enough, three ladies with snow-white hair are walking toward us in monochromatic cotton ensembles and thick Dr. Scholl’s sole-type shoes.
“Take it off. Scott, give the ladies something to live another day for,” I taunt him. “I get it if you don’t want them comparing our bodies and finding you lacking.”
“Good morning, ladies,” he says as they approach. He stands straight, lifts the hem of his shirt, and wipes his face. The ladies pause, taking in his abs, and when he drops the material, he tosses me a smirk. Fucker.
“You boys are doing a wonderful job.” The one in the middle drops her gaze. As she brings it back to my face, I wink.
“Just trying to make this place as beautiful as you,” Mav appears out of nowhere. The guy has a freaky ability to find the center of attention.
I hand him my rake. “I’m going for water. Make yourself useful.”
I take my empty water bottle inside to the water fountain and fill it.
Burt’s in his usual spot sitting in front of the TV watching CSI or ESPN.
I only know his name because someone is always yelling at him.
He’s a grumpy old prick, always sitting alone, and always pissing someone off.
He’s beating the remote on the arm of the chair, cursing under his breath.
No one pays him any attention. A nurse walks by and sighs.
I can’t really blame her for not rushing to his aid.
I’ve only been here a few times and even I’m tired of his shit.
“Goddamn remote.” He tosses it across the room and it skips along the white tile floor, coming to a stop in my path back outside.
I lean down and pick it up and walk it over to him. He frowns as I hold it out.
“Trouble with the remote?”
“Trouble with everything,” he grumbles as he punches at the buttons with his thumb.
“Maybe it’s the batteries.”
“Already changed them out, twice, to be sure they weren’t dicking me around. That Sharon’s got it out for me.” He twists his body in his chair and hollers over his shoulder. “Are you sure this is the right remote?”
Sharon, I presume, doesn’t even look up as she calls back. “Yes, Mister Thomas, I’m sure. I’ll send Louie over to help as soon as he gets done with bedpans.”
Burt snarls. I wouldn’t want Louie’s nasty hands on my remote either.
“I could give it a try if you want,” I offer.
He holds it out with another sigh as if I am the last person he really wants to put his trust in.
Again, can’t say that I blame him. But a man should at least have TV if he’s going to sit around in this depressing place all day.
I test it out, pressing the channel up button with the same result Burt had.
“It’s on the wrong input,” I tell him and hold it so he can see. I press TV and then the channel button again, this time with success.
He keeps frowning as he takes it back in a liver-spotted hand and tries it for himself. I don’t get a thank you or even an acknowledgment before I leave him to CSI.
If the options are going out young and unaware or old and hating the world… I think I’m in favor of the first. Live hard and die happy.
Desert Rose treats us to lunch after we’re done. The guys are all in good spirits. Everyone’s talking and laughing as we go through the buffet line set up for us. We’re starting to get a nice camaraderie among the group, and I hope it translates to the ice when we get out there.
We spread out under the pavilion, sweaty and dirty but so hungry. Mav and I sit across from one another. The place goes silent as we eat. Even Mav barely speaks as we devour everything on our plates and then grab seconds. I finish and then guzzle what remains of my water.
“You want to grab a beer after this?” Mav asks.
“Nah, not today.”
“Xbox?” he asks as we stand to leave.
I shake my head and we walk to his car. I need a shower and to find Ginny. She still hasn’t responded to my text from earlier.
“Movie?”
“No.” I slide into the passenger seat and Mav opens the driver’s side door and gets in.
“Running out of options, buddy.” He starts the car and taps his thumb on the steering wheel as he thinks. “Girls?”
“Now you’ve got it, but just one girl.”
“Sharesies?” He seems surprised, but dare I say a little excited about the idea.
I lean back against the headrest. Tired laughter slips out. “Really, man?”
I don’t have an exact plan. Find Ginny, make sure she’s good, then convince her to spend more time with me.
“You wouldn’t share with me? What if I sing Mariah and promise to keep my hands to myself?”
I don’t know if he’s kidding or not, but I wouldn’t put anything past Maverick.
“Absolutely fucking not.” I don’t want to share one second of my time with Ginny. Not with anyone.