Chapter 19 Cordelia – Sure Jan
Love sought is good, but given unsought, is better
Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare
“Well, Sunday night was awkward, but Harrison looked very tired the next day, so I think it was worth it,” I said to Miranda over our carbonara.
Cam was busy shoveling pasta into his mouth but grunted his approval.
Thankfully, the loved-up couple were at Alvin’s parents’ house for dinner.
I wonder what they thought of her new boyfriend.
“I can’t believe you didn’t shag him,” Miranda replied. “You had a hot guy in your bed, and you chose to catch some shuteye!”
“We’re not a real couple. He’s an awesome friend and I really love his company.”
She said nothing but reached down to play with her phone. A split second later, I saw a text from her on my screen.
I laughed, pushing my phone to the side. The front door swung open, and a second later Harrison entered the kitchen like a thunder cloud, nearly tripping over Alvin/Marta as he came in.
“Home so soon from dinner, Captain Commitment? Maybe her parents will finally approve of you when her prefrontal cortex is fully developed.” Miranda always had the best greetings for Harrison.
“What the fuck did you do to get all those cats to come?” He shouted at the Miranda, slamming his phone on the counter. “Move,” he shouted at Alvin/Marta as she pressed her body against his shins.
Cam stood, swallowing his huge mouthful of pasta. He chested up to Harrison.
“Who the fuck are you talking to asshole? Because I know it’s not my girlfriend.”
Harrison backed up, moving his hands in front of him in a placating gesture.
“No, all good, man. All good.” He continued to glare at Miranda until Cam pushed his face directly into Harrison’s line of sight, meeting his eyes with a deadly glare. “Careful dickwad. Be very, very careful,” he warned in a deep voice.
Harrison walked backwards out the door, bumping into a confused human Alvin in the doorway. “Let’s go to our room babe,” he said, grabbing her hand and walking away.
“Ah, my savior!” Miranda rose from her chair and kissed Cam on the lips. He smiled. “My pleasure. Been waiting for that opportunity.” He returned to his seat and began inhaling pasta again.
She grabbed the phone Harrison had unwittingly left behind in his fear. “What’s the douche’s passcode Cordy?” she asked.
“2121, if he hasn’t changed it,” I replied, knowing full well he’d had the same passcode since he’d had his first phone.
“Bingo,” Miranda uttered under her breath as her fingers expertly worked his screen.
“What are you doing?” Cam asked.
“Just some minor autocorrect changes. Nothing important,” she responded, lifting one hand to shush him.
She placed the phone back in its original spot.
Her timing was perfect. A second later, Harrison rushed in and took his phone without making eye contact with anyone.
As he left, Miranda called out to him over her shoulder.
“Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask. Is your parents’ address still 31 Wren Way, Moreton?”
“Yes. No. Why? Leave them out of this?” he stammered.
“No reason, just wondering,” Miranda replied sweetly. Harrison shuffled nervously out of the room.
“Randa,” I said. “Leave his parents out of it. They’re sweet people. It’s not their fault he turned into such as ass.”
“I wouldn't do anything to them. Just upping his paranoia level. That man will be looking over his shoulder when he’s 60 by the time I’m done,” she replied with a smile. Cam looked at her adoringly.
It was the first night in a while that I hadn’t seen Damon.
I missed him. He was kind and gentle and I was finally laughing again and feeling happy with myself.
We had plans to go out tomorrow night. It was our first time on an external “date” and I found myself ridiculously excited about it.
I'd borrowed Miranda's black dress and Juliet’s black strappy heels. Jules was coming over in the afternoon to curl my hair. She said if I was heartbroken, I should at least feel pretty at the same time. Sisters were true blessings. They fight for you, get sad on your behalf, cry with you, and face life’s challenges beside you.
I finished my pasta feeling somewhat settled. Life was different and living with my cheating ex was not on my bingo card for the year, but all things considered, things were okay. I laughed a lot, cried only occasionally, and enjoyed my job.
__________________
“Perfect,” Jules stated, stepping back to admire her work.
Juliet was a master of hair and make-up.
When we were teens, she was our official stylist, experimenting with new looks and creating masterpieces.
I felt a little self-conscious. Damon had mentioned the restaurant to me, and I knew it was a bit fancy, but I still worried that I was overdressed.
Turns out, I needn’t have worried. He came to the door in a suit holding a pink gift bag.
His gifts and flowers were very sweet touches, but he was spending too much money.
I’d have to offer him some to make up for his financial outlay.
This wasn't his battle, and he was being too kind putting his money on the line for my benefit.
Harrison stood by morosely like a stunned corpse until Emma pulled him away into the living room. She looked almost sad.
“Thanks, Damon. You really are too kind,” I gushed, opening the gift bag. It was full of seed packets. I’d mentioned that I wanted to start a vegetable garden from seeds rather than seedlings but was nervous because I’d never done that.
“It’s my pleasure. The guy at the garden store said these vegetables were easy to grow from seed, so you can’t fail. Plus, there’s a lot of cat shit fertilizer in this neighborhood.”
I laughed, putting the gift bag on the hall table and grabbing my handbag.
“Bye Jules,” I called out to Juliet, who was in my room packing up her hair and make-up kit.
The car ride was pleasant. Damon loved the same kind of music as me, and he was really interested in my job.
“So, Joanne quit huh? You said she'd be a lifer at that company.”
“Yeah, I think she was sick of the grooming standards. She said she was going to start a chicken farm and sell free-range eggs,” I replied.
By the time we arrived at the restaurant, I’d heard all about Cam’s (Damon’s Cam, not Miranda’s Cam) legendary fight with his sister over a turkey and Damon’s parents vacation plans.
Damon was easy, relaxed company. If we were dating for real, I’d let nerves infiltrate me and make the night awkward, but in this case, there was no pressure.
The restaurant was gorgeous. I’d always wanted to go with Harrison but never suggested it. It was expensive and Harrison was a strict budgeter. Being the lower earner, it didn’t feel right insisting that he bring me here.
“This is too nice, Damon. We’re going halves tonight, and I need to give you money for everything else you’ve been paying for,” I admitted.
We were seated at the table and began perusing the drinks list. “Don’t you dare. This is fun. I’ve never been involved in such a complicated operation before. Believe me, I’m getting a lot out of this."
“Ha! Like what? Extra time with your dick neighbor in the world’s most dysfunctional household?” I joked.
“No. Time with a beautiful woman who is funny, charming, and sweet,” he said sincerely. Okay, so we were going to make this awkward.
“Oh, um. Thanks.”
He smiled. “Sorry, I didn’t want to make things weird. But I do like you. Have you enjoyed the past few weeks?”
“Yes, I really have,” I replied honestly. “I just haven’t ... um ... I didn’t see us that way.” The last part was a lie. The more time I spent with Damon, the more I thought about him as more than a friend.
“Do you think you can now?” He asked. “I’m not suggesting you move in or marry me, but we’re having fun so why not switch this to a real dating thing?”
I pretended to be hugely interested in the drinks list for a minute before I answered.
“Okay. I mean, if that’s something you want, then I think I could ... I think it would be fun,” I finished lamely. Damn it. I hadn't been on a “first date” for years. But then, was this really our first date?
“Yes, that’s something I’d want,” he said confidently, giving me his amazing grin. Beaming, my mother would call it. I returned his smile. “Then, cheers to us! I mean, when we finally get drinks!”
Dinner was awesome. After the awkward beginning, we hit our stride and exchanged stories from our childhoods about sibling squabbles and protective parents. Damon had a sister, Ella, who lived interstate with her boyfriend, but his parents only lived about 10 minutes away.
We ended the night on my doorstep. I didn't invite him in. Fake sex didn’t seem the right thing to do at that point, and tomorrow was a workday, so it provided me with the perfect excuse. “Goodnight, thank you for a truly wonderful night. It was so good to get out for real,” I said.
“No, thank you. That was fun. We’ll have to go back there sometime. That lamb was the best.”
Neither of us spoke. We just stared at each other. His face was serious, but happy, while mine must have been a picture of nerves. He bent down and kissed me lightly on the lips. No tongue. Just a pleasant, soft kiss. I smiled.
“Well, goodnight again. I'll text tomorrow morning with information on our next rendezvous.”
“I look forward to that,” he said, giving me a firm hug and rubbing his hands over my back.
Something new was beginning.