by Eliza Freer
“So, lemme guess, Batman Forever or The Dark Knight. So really your question is Kilmer or Bale.” I take a big bite of my ice cream and answer with my mouth full. “Feels like a Kilmer night.”
Tassie’s personal video collection is mostly superhero movies. She has a thing for Batman. Like all the Batmans. Keaton, Kilmer, Clooney, Bale- she’s about it all. Except Affleck. She chooses to believe that didn’t happen. I don’t blame her.
Tassie puts the DVD in and heads back to the couch. “So, tell me, what’s the skinny with your drama?”
I sigh. “Well, skatman, you’re going to love this, since it’s all boy drama. I haven’t had real, straight up boy drama in what like two years? I forgot how dramatic they are.”
Tassie turns towards me, digging into her sundae. “Spill it. From what you told me there’s the hot coffee shop guy, but that’s all I know. Who else is in your rolodex these days?”
“Rolodex? You’re really pulling out all the old man stops tonight. But, okay, so hot coffee shop guy’s name is Wilder. He’s…interesting. There’s something about him. I don’t know. I mean, he’s gorgeous, overly charming and super smart, so I have a lot of fun just sparring back and forth, but it’s like he gets under my skin. I’ve already told him stuff that I don’t tell people. Like, I kinda angrily told him about my mom. But, in fairness, he told me about his parents after, so it wasn’t like a lopsided exchange, but that’s weird right?”
Tassie taps her spoon on the edge of her bowl. “By your standards and issues, no offense, yes, that’s weird. BUT, it’s not bad if that’s what you’re thinking. Sometimes people click. Like you and me. Maybe he’s good for you. I don’t think you need to overthink it yet. I mean, it’s not like you told him EVERYTHING right? Just your mom stuff?”
“Yeah, just the no Mom stuff. He doesn’t know about Dad or Ohio, so I guess you’re right.”
Tassie takes a bite. “Usually am. What’s next?”
“Well, I met Izzy’s brother at that party, his name is Grant. He’s cute. Seems into me. Seems…simple. Not in an “eat the paste” sort of simple, but just uncomplicated. Easy. Someone to test the dating waters with. Does that sound awful?”
“Since I know you, I know you’re not being a jerk, then no, but just don’t mess with the guy, okay? I know you’d never hurt someone on purpose, but you’re a badass bitch. People want to be someone to you, so just, if you know you’re not into him after a couple dates, just don’t drag that out. Be real with him when you know, ya know?”
“I’m not saying I know that I don’t like him. I’m just saying there’s not the Wilder fire.” I laugh. “That’s funny. Wilder fire…no? Okay, moving on. He called and asked me out and we have a date tomorrow night, so I’ll know more then. I don’t want to be unfair, but he’s a nice guy. Cute. Smart. We’ll see.”
Tassie pushes play on Batman Forever. “So other than your triangle. How’s your dad?”
“Oh, he’s good. Busy getting everything ready, whipping the team in shape. You know how he gets this time of year. But I’ll be busy with school and work, and the Lions are technically my school team now, so it won’t seem like he’s gone so much like it did when I was in high school.”
“Well tell him I said hey. I’d like to see him before I leave for school.”
I frown. “Don’t remind me. But, I haven’t told you about what happened with Blake.”
Tassie stops. “What do you mean what happened with Blake? Are you hooking up or something?”
I scoff. "Give me more credit than that. No. But we were at the party and there’s some stalker chick and he had me play beer pong with him and pretend to be his date, which is really no big deal, but since he’s a captain and a senior on the team, I’m a little worried about the rumor mill. I mean, we looked coupley. Riley called it “hot”. I just…I’m just with them a lot and that won’t change, I guess I don’t wanna seem like a jersey chaser or something. He said he’d take care of it and it’d be fine, so maybe I’m overreacting due to past experience, but. Anyway. That’s all. I’m done now.” I take another too big bite of sundae. “What about you? What’s up with you?”
Tassie puts up her hand. “No, wait. Not me. First, give you some credit? Blake is hot, and he is an awesome guy, so you hooking up with him- not bad in my book, but yeah I get it. Second, if they say they’ll take care of it then they will. I understand your worries. I think just because you’re seen with them as long as you’re not like, sexy with them it should go away. Babe, I get why you’re worried. I know you don’t like people thinking you’re dating a whole team of players, but I think it’ll be fine. I’m with Blake on this one.”
We both turn towards the TV having missed a few minutes of the movie. “Thanks. I’m gonna miss you.”
"Oh, stop that. I’m just going to the East Coast. They have technology there. It’ll be fine. But for the record, I’ll miss you too.”
I look at her and frown dramatically. “I guess I’ll depend on Kilmer to keep me warm at night.”
She laughs. “Yeah, but have you seen him lately? Whoa. But to answer your earlier question. My rents are good. They’re all sad about me leaving, but they’ll get over it and probably turn my room into a home gym by the time the year’s up. I’ll probably have to stay in your room with you over the holidays since they’ll likely forget they have a daughter at that point.”
“Unlikely, but, I'd love for you to stay with us. I’ll encourage your parents to build that gym.”
Tassie elbows me. “Shut up and watch the movie, Yankee.”
********************
Dad comes home as I’m cleaning up the bowls and plates, and tosses down his bag by the stairs.
“Hey, Pops. Long day?” I go to the freezer and pull out the ice cream, grabbing a clean bowl to dish him out some.
He sits at the counter. “Yeah. I guess it’s better the whole hangover thing happened this early on since we’re nowhere near games yet, so it’s not like it affects a record or our season, but it always makes for a long day when I’m in my “I have to teach you boys a lesson” mode.”
I laugh and slide him his bowl of ice cream, sticking the carton back in the freezer. “Well, at least they’re not all irresponsible. You have some good eggs there. Oh, and hey, I was talking to this guy last night and I used the term “flag on the play”. So, just know, after all these years your daughter is finally using football terminology in her every day life.”
He takes a bite. “Yeah, but it’s not exactly football terminology if it’s kinda a saying people say. But I’ll take it. Proud of you kiddo!”
I roll my eyes. “Just take the win, Dad. You seem more than tired. Anything else eating you?”
He puts his spoon down. “How are you? You making any new friends? People giving you any trouble? It’s a little different now that you’re at Hamilton instead of just around Hamilton like you were the past couple years, so I’m just checking in.”
I look at the counter for a minute. “Yeah, I’m good. I have, in fact, made a couple new friends, surprise surprise. But, they are all guys, so I don’t know that you’ll love that part. But Blake and Riley have met two out of the three, so no need to worry there. They’re pretty hawk eyed.”
Dad laughs. “Those boys love you, you know that? I have to say, I'm pretty lucky you have a no football player rule so I don’t have to make one for you. But, speaking of Blake and Riley, how was the party last night?”
I pause and sigh. “Sooo, just for future reference. Should I even pretend like I’m not going to parties, or just assume you know everything?”
“I think you should always assume I know. I heard some of the underclassman talking about some game you played with Blake. They’re not quite smart enough yet to keep things to themselves while we’re on the field." He looks at me. “I’m not mad. You’re responsible. Just, don’t make me regret it, okay?”
“Okay. But, I wasn’t alone. The team was there and Izzy and her brot
her, so I was always covered. All four of your captains kinda are obsessed with my protection, so, it’s a miracle someone finally asked me out.”
“Well they’re good boys. But, what is this about someone asking you out? You have a date?”
“Yeah, tomorrow night. Izzy’s brother Grant. You’d probably like him. I only met him at the party, but he’s a good guy. He’s picking me up tomorrow in case you want to do your fatherly intimidation thing.”
He chuckles and stands to put his bowl in the sink. “If I’m home I’ll be sure to do that.” He kisses my head. “Gonna head to bed. You work in the morning right?”
“Yep, so I’ll head out at around eight, if you’re up I’ll see you in the morning. If not, I’ll see you tomorrow night maybe?”
“See you in the morning. Love you, kid.”
“Love you too, Pops.” After he heads upstairs, I finish cleaning up and grab a shower before heading to bed myself, trying to quiet my brain of the activities of the past few days.
Chapter 6
“What's worse? Mud or Dirt.” I peek at Cameron as I walk behind him, putting on my apron. “That’s a head scratcher, Cam.”
I move towards the register while Cam keeps making the customers their coffee drinks, and I start getting orders from those still waiting. I get through a couple in the line, handing post-it notes with drink orders off to him as I get them.
He sighs. “Yeah, I wasn’t feeling real inspired this morning. Sorry.”
“Hey, Cam, no apologies. Sometimes we need to give them a break between my overly complicated often literary questions, Izzy’s usually aggressive anti-male, pro-women ones and you, my friend, are the crowd pleaser. Yours are all about instinct response. People like that.” I don’t even know if I fully believe what I’m saying, but he seems like he needs a little cheering up.
“Ha. Right. Thanks, East.” He slides two vanilla lattes across the counter. “Vanilla latte and vanilla latte.” He booms across the shop. Two customers rise from their chairs to come and grab their drinks.
“Hey, everything ok? Anything happen when you opened this morning?” I get through the rest of the line of waiting customers and turn to face Cam while he finishes up the list of drinks.
“No. Everything’s fine. Just, Aaron. He and I got into it last night. I’m just tired of fighting.” He looks down and plays with his thumbnail.
“The stuff about your major again? Cam, you don’t have to explain why you want to study what you want to study to anyone. I know you love Aaron, and he’s a great guy, but you’re still juniors in college. You’re not thirty-five with a mortgage. He’s doing a lot of premature worrying for no reason right now.”
“Yeah, I know, but maybe he has a point. Like, I’ve gotten all my generals out of the way, and these last two years are when my courses get intense with stuff for my Art History major, so if I want to change I should do it now. I mean, I love Aaron, but that’s not fair right?” He looks up into my eyes, pleading for me to agree with him. Which, I do, so he’s lucky.
“No, it’s not fair. There are plenty of things you can do with an Art History major. I think you could even join, like the FBI or something and get in on whatever division investigates stolen artwork and stuff. Maybe like an investigator for an insurance company for stolen property or something.” He smiles at me and I tilt my head to the side. “I think I’ve been watching too many basic cable TV shows about people who steal stuff, but you have options. You could be a teacher, get a masters and be a professor, work in a gallery. I don’t know what his hang up is. You’ve got options.”
He gives me a hug. “Love you, East. I know all of these things in my head, but when he springs it on me that I’m spending thousands of dollars and wracking up these student loans for a major that will not guarantee me a career when we graduate gets to me. You know I’m not the biggest risk taker, so it just gets under my skin.” He spins back to the machine to make himself a latte.
“Hey, I’ll take one of those too, please. But, last thing I’ll say. I know you love him, but you totally support him and always have his back and if he doesn’t have yours, then maybe that’s the conversation you should really be having. All the talk about the future can’t really be productive until you talk about what’s going on right now in the present that’s holding him back from supporting you and your dreams. That sounds cheesy, but I mean it.” I tap his shoulder. “Can you put some vanilla in that latte when you’re done please.”
Cam laughs. “No problem. Also, I’d be a really hot G-Man. Maybe that should be the first thing I say when I have to have this god awful conversation with my boyfriend. Which, I will blame you for if it goes poorly, and will come sleep in your bedroom if I get kicked out of our apartment.”
I hug him from behind. “That won’t happen. But I’d be more than happy to share my My Little Pony sheets with you.”
Cam turns around and hands me my latte. “Do you really have My Little Pony sheets?”
I snort. “Uh. No. Never been one of those over girly girls. When your mom’s a no show and your dad is a football coach, you don’t tend to lean into Barbies and ponies.” I take a sip of my latte and put it down to go help a customer.
I look over my shoulder to Cam. "Just, think about what I said. And, I think mud is worse than dirt.”
Cam whips a towel at me, smacking me on the butt. “Oh, by the way, don’t think I’m not going to pull all the details of your date with Izzy’s brother out of you tomorrow. That boy is fine.”
I hand the customer their change, give Cam their order and then stand by the machine while he works. “She says she doesn’t care if it doesn’t work out. That if I go out with him and walk away like ehhh, then that’s fine with her. Do you think she’s lying or she means that?”
Cam pauses for a minute. “Honestly, I think she means it. I don’t think she’d tell you that or encourage her brother to pursue you if that weren’t true. But, it doesn’t mean she doesn’t HOPE that something might work out. Just that, if it doesn’t she doesn’t want you to stay in a situation you don’t want just for a friend.”
I sigh with relief. “Okay, good. Cause I’ve got heaps of boy drama right now, and I can’t promise how it’ll all shake out. But that is conversation for another day.”
********************
As I’m divvying up our tips at the end of our shift a girl approaches me at the counter. “Um, hi.”
“Hi, I’m so sorry, do you mind waiting a minute. Izzy is just coming on shift and she’ll help you very soon. I’m just closing out the register.”
Izzy walks over to help the girl while I finish wrapping my shift. “What can I get for you, hon?”
The girl shuffles her feet, I glance up and she looks at me straight in the eyes. “You’re dating Blake Wilson, right? What’s that like, and I mean, how in the hell did you land him?” She looks back and forth between Izzy and me. Cameron who was about to walk out stands behind us now. A united front of baristas. “I mean, no offense.”
My jaw drops and I stutter for a second. “Where did you hear that? I’m not dating Blake Wilson. We’re friends, that’s it. Not that I NEED to explain my personal life to a complete stranger, but we’re not dating. But for the record, offense taken when you insinuate there’s no way I could land him. Not cool, pal.”
Izzy pushes her way in front of me. “Do you actually need something or are you here to harass my friend? If not, get the hell out of my shop.” The girl stands there and stares at Izzy a little surprised.
She scoffs at Izzy. “No need to be rude. It’s just…Blake Wilson…everyone’s talking about her. I just wanted to see for myself.” She turns to leave then calls over her shoulder. “Bitch.”
Izzy nearly jumps the counter but Cam and I pull her back. “Chill, Iz. She’s not worth an assault charge.” I look over at Cam who is prepped to leave like me. “Walk me home? The guys have afternoon practice today, and it might be nice to have someone wi
th me.”
Cam scoots me towards the back door avoiding the girl. “Yep, my pleasure. Let’s go babe.”
We both wave our goodbyes to Izzy, who yells above the crowded shop, “Have fun with Grant tonight! Loosen him up a bit…but no roofies please. He’s still staying with me and I don’t wanna deal with that mess.”
Cam and I both laugh, and walk out of the shop and into the late afternoon sun.
********************
While I’m getting ready for my date with Grant, I pull out my phone to start a group text with Blake and Riley. I know they’re at practice so they won’t see it, but I need to be sure they know what’s going on.
ME: Hey friends. or should i say boyfriends? had a couple people approach me about dating blake. bitch today seemed shocked you’d date me so that was an ego blow. but, really, have you guys been hearing this stuff, or is it just in my underclassman corner of the world? just wanna know what i should be expecting.
I don’t expect to hear from them for awhile so I toss my phone on the bed and finish blowdrying my hair. As I make my way over to my closet, I hear my phone vibrating like crazy. When I pick it up, it’s not from Riley or Blake, it’s from another unknown number.
UNKNOWN: Kitten. did you miss me today? we’ve spent every day together since we met and i’m in withdrawal. what are you doing now?
Since no one else calls me kitten because it’s just awful, my assumption is that it’s Wilder.
ME: Wilder, i presume. how did you get my number? still haven’t found a better nickname huh? very disappointed. miss you? i mean, my day was a little less entertaining without you around, but let’s not get too crazy here. busy now, and tonight, sorry.
WILDER: Orientation group contact list. A lot of the cool nicknames are already taken. can i call you femme? maybe i’ll call you fatale and then it’s not totally copying izzy. what do you mean you’re busy now and tonight? i know you don’t have a date, since you keep turning me down
