by Tia Siren
“I know we usually go for one week, but how would you feel about making it ten days?”
“Any particular reason?” I asked.
“I figured Eva might like this art exhibit that’s being displayed, but it isn’t set to open until the day after we usually leave.”
I felt my back brace and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
“But Eva isn’t coming, mother,” I said lowly.
“Oh, well, I thought about inviting her,” she said coolly.
“This has always been a family trip. Ever since dad was still with us.”
“Well, Eva’s practically family. She might as well start getting used to blocking off this time during the year anyway.”
“I’m not sure I’m comfortable that Eva comes along, and I think we should just keep the trip at the traditional week-long duration like we usually do.”
“Mason!” my mother gasped.
“Mother, you asked my opinion, now there it is. Now, if there isn’t going to be dessert, I have somewhere I need to be.”
“But of course there’s dessert! I—”
I didn’t stick around long enough to hear what she was about to say. Of course, she’d try to wiggle Eva in on this trip, like it wasn’t obvious enough my mother had already arranged my marriage with her family. I felt my vision closing in on me, and it was getting hard to breathe, and when the driver pulled around, he rolled down the window and asked if there was anywhere I wanted to go.
I opened the backseat and slammed the door behind me, and I told him to just drive while I dialed Winston’s number.
“Hey, Mase! What’s up! How did the dinner go!?”
I had to hold the phone away from my ear to keep Winston from blowing my ear drum.
“Where are you!?” I asked.
“At the place where this show-thing is taking place! Sure I can’t convince you to come?”
“Text me the address.”
“Atta, boy! I’ll shoot it over!”
He hung up the phone, and I saw the address pop up, and I leaned over and knocked on the partition window of the car.
“Where to, Mr. Mason?” the driver asked.
“This address, please.” I held up the phone for him so he could type it into his GPS, and just as I sat back down, I felt him take a hard left and start back into the city.
Anything would be better than thinking about Eva at this point.
Chapter 10
Ash
“I don’t know if I can go tonight,” Frank said.
“Are you serious? My ex, who broke my heart and wants me to sign a release to bash me on some reality television show, has invited me to his gig to sign the papers, and you can’t find the time in your schedule of couch-surfing in my apartment to go with me?”
Frank shrugs. “What? I’m not feeling well.”
“Then take some Tylenol, because you’re going,” I said.
“Come on, Ash. Just tell him to come by after the gig. It’s not that bad.”
“He’s not stepping another foot into this apartment.”
“Fine, but you owe me,” Frank said.
“No, you owe me for me letting you stay here rent and bill-free. Now get dressed.”
Frank stared at me as I stomped to my room, and when I turned around, I could see the smirk on your face.
“Orgasms change you girl,” she said. “I’ve never seen you this assertive.”
I grimaced. “Get dressed.”
Jason left a note with Frank that she forgot to tell me about. He had some gig with a play that his band was doing the music to, and he said he’d have the paperwork there for me to sign. He didn’t ask me to come, really, he just assumed I would, since it was convenient for him.
Nice to know he was a changed man, I guess.
I got dressed in some leggings and a brightly-colored tunic top and slipped my feet into some ballet slippers. I pinned my blue hair up that was starting to fade, and I figured I could probably go green, and it would be a pretty color that matched my eyes.
I heard Frank stumbling around in the living room, probably trying to find that one crop top shirt she wore everywhere she went. She loved how it fit her boobs and showed off her stomach, and it almost always got her laid wherever she went.
“You’re not bringing anyone back here to screw,” I pointed out to her when I saw the shirt.
“Why not?” she exclaimed.
“Because I couldn’t have Mason in my own apartment when you came busting in, that’s why.”
I really didn’t want to sign this release. I didn’t want my private life paraded around on television. But who the hell cared about me? As long as they didn’t show any pictures of me on television or anything, it wasn’t like I was going to see it. I didn’t even own a television, much less watch it. I worked too much at the shop, and when I wasn’t working, I was putting together my jewelry pieces.
And I figured if I could sign this release, I could get him off my back for good and never worry about him knocking on my door again.
When we got to the auditorium, I realized we’d have to sit through the whole play in order to get to Jason. He left a note at the front desk letting me know where his room was backstage, but of course, there were no tickets in the envelope. I handed the woman my card to pay for tickets for Frank and me, praying to god my card wouldn’t decline. When it didn’t, I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Thanks for the ticket,” Frank chimed in.
We took our seats and waited for the play to start. The thing was absolutely abysmal. The wooden seats were uncomfortable, and the play was in a mixture of different languages, and I didn’t even know what was going on. There was an Asian character speaking in her own language and an Italian always yelling his lines in his motherland tongue or whatever, and I watched more people have fake sex on stage then I ever did listening in on the porn Frank watched on my couch late at night.
There was some random sword fighting and some off-key songs that were sung, and every once in a while, I heard the band in the pit kick in and diddle on their instruments while people shouted in all sorts of languages on stage.
“What’s this supposed to be about again?” Frank murmured.
“Maybe it’s the orgy recreation of the Tower of Babel,” I whispered.
“I think the Italian guy has AIDS or something,” Frank lulled.
“I thought he had cancer.”
“He’s dying, right?” Frank asked.
“I think so. And he’s dating the French girl?”
“I think it’s the American one,” Frank said.
“Does it really matter at this point?” I asked.
That was the thing about Frank. She really wasn’t there when you needed her, but when you wanted to have fun and know how she really felt about something, she was there in a heartbeat. And sometimes, what she had to say was incredibly funny, which meant she was really good at delivering expert advice with a spicy twist that left a smile on your face. I swear, she could tell you that you had ball cancer and still find a way to make you smile before prepping you for surgery.
I was sure there was something novel about the play, seeing as the auditorium looked sold out, but I didn’t get it. My eyes started scanning the crowd to see if anyone was just as confused as I was, but when my eyes landed on the chairs in the corner, I saw a familiar face.
Mason.
“Oh, my god,” Frank whispered. “Look, look, look.” She was pointing and jabbing her elbow into my side, and I knew exactly who she was looking at as well.
“That’s orgasm guy,” she said.
“He’s not a superhero.” I rolled my eyes.
“That’s a terrible superhero name. I’m ashamed of you, Ash.”
“Whatever,” I murmured. I kept flickering my eyes over that way, hoping he would look over and see me, too. But before I lost myself in his profile, Frank jiggled my leg to catch my attention.
“I think I get it now. All of these people on stage ar
e the unprepared understudies and the band forgot their sheet music, so they’re winging it.”
I stifled a laugh, and someone in front of us turned around and shushed us. Frank flicked them off, and I had to slap my hand over my face to keep from laughing. Thankfully the lights rose for what was apparently an intermission.
“Jesus, you mean there’s more?” Frank groaned. “You think there’s alcohol in the lobby?”
“I don’t know, but my ass doesn’t have feeling anymore.”
I looked over and saw Mason getting up as well, and that’s when Frank grabbed my arm and ripped me down the aisle.
“We should definitely go talk to him,” she said.
“Whoa, we are not going anywhere.”
“Oh, come on. What’ve you got to lose? You had a good time, right?”
“Of course, I did. But it’s not like he’s gonna want to see me after that.”
“And why not?”
“Because,” I squealed.
“Because why?” Frank asked.
“I’d be interested to know the answer to that question, too.”
I spun around on my heels and found myself face to face with the man I couldn’t get off my mind.
“Hey,” I breathed.
“Hello, Ash.” He smiled. “Frank.”
“Nice to meet again,” she nodded.
“And who do we have here?” A tall man with kind brown eyes and a head full of jet black hair walked up beside Mason, and I could tell Frank’s eyes were instantly drawn to him.
“Hello,” Frank said and held out her hand.
“Ash, Frank, this is my best friend, Winston.”
“Ash! Oh. Hello! It’s very nice to meet you.” Winston beamed. He dropped Frank’s hand prematurely and picked mine up, and I smirked at the disappointment on her face when both men’s attention was turned toward me.
“I’ve heard a great deal about you,” Winston chimed.
“All terrible, I hope.” I winked.
“So, what brings the two of you to this production?” Mason asked.
“Ash’s ex is in the pit band,” Frank blurted out.
“Seriously?” I whispered. I looked back at Mason whose eyes were locked onto mine, and my attention was so wrapped into his stare that I hadn’t realized Winston had gone to get us glasses of wine.
“For the ladies,” he offered.
“Thanks.” Frank smiled.
I tipped the glass up to my face and closed my eyes, downing the glass within seconds. Of course, she had to go and say some shit like that. I dropped the glass down and swallowed hard one last time, and just as Mason went to take a breath through those luscious lips of his, the lights in the auditorium began to blink.
“Looks like it’s back to the entertainment,” Winston lulled.
“Maybe we’ll see you afterwards.” Frank smiled.
I handed my glass to Frank and thanked him for the wine before avoiding Mason’s gaze and pulling Frank back to our seats. The play started up, and I could feel my eyes rolling so far back into my head, I could gaze at the electrical circuits in my brain.
And then, I felt my phone buzz.
Did the wine take the edge off the awkwardness? Mason messaged.
I looked over at him, and I could tell his head was cocked towards me, and I dipped my head back into my phone after I shoved Frank off my shoulder so she couldn’t read my conversation.
You should be ashamed of yourself, texting during such an important piece in our country’s history.
I wonder if this is how everyone felt watching MLK, Jr. speak, Mason quipped.
Maybe more like Richard Simmons.
I heard a stifled chuckle rise up from the crowd, and I felt a big smile creep across my lips. It was nice, talking with him again, but guilt suddenly set in that I’d forgotten about him and our conversation earlier in the day.
I’m sorry for not responding earlier. All this sort of creeped up on me after work.
I figured once Frank blurted it out. Wanna talk about it over some drinks tonight?
My gut lurched with happiness, and I did a little tap dance with my feet on the floor. The play, the music, and Frank all faded into the background as I typed my response back to him, and I couldn’t seem to send it off quick enough.
But then, the reality of the night struck. I had to wait around for Jason after the show to see this paperwork, and I wasn’t sure if he’d stick around that long and wait for me. So, I backspaced my message and drew in a deep breath.
Well, I’m sort of stuck with Frank tonight.
It wasn’t a lie, I suppose. I just didn’t want to talk about Jason with him anymore.
Or at all, really.
Then bring her along. She seemed to like Winston, and he can handle a girl like Frank.
I tipped my message over to Frank for her to read and she couldn’t nod her head quickly enough. She slapped my knee in happiness, and I elbowed her in her rib cage to stop, and I shot him a message back letting him know that we had plans, then.
Where would you guys like to meet? I asked.
We could take you guys there, if you’d like.
Well, we technically drove, and we can’t keep the car parked here for more than three hours at a time, I shot back.
We debated over a location, and I told them we’d see them there after the show. Assuming it didn’t take too long to see Jason, I’d never even have to tell him why I’d come to the show in the first place. After all, when you’re going somewhere with a hot guy, you don’t ever talk about your exes. I didn’t know shit about dudes, but I knew that much.
The show ended, and everyone gave a polite clap, and when Jason shot up from the pit and took a bow, I just rolled my eyes and groaned.
“He should just blow it out his ass,” Frank said.
“Preach,” I breathed.
We made our way backstage while everyone else filed out of the doors, and when I told the backstage director why we were there, he pointed us to where we were supposed to be. Frank and I waited outside of the door for what seemed like ages, and the longer we waited, the angrier I got. Of course, I had to see Mason at this, and of course, he would invite us to drinks, and of course, there was something else standing in the way of what I wanted and what someone else wanted from me.
Fuck this shit.
Finally, the door ripped open, and Jason loomed over me. I could see he hadn’t bothered to re-dye his grown out mohawk, and his piercings were sloppily laid into his ears. Looking at him now, I had no idea what drew me to him in the first place, but when he thrust the agreement into my hands, it ripped me back to reality.
“Here,” he said.
I took the pen from him and slowly began to read the document, but he ripped it from my hands and flipped to the page I was supposed to sign.
“It just says I can talk about the relationship,” he said flatly.
“I don’t want pictures of me on national television, is all.”
“The hell would they put pictures of you up?” he asked.
“Well, fuck you, too,” Frank spat.
Hearing him speak made my blood boil, and I couldn’t sign the papers fast enough. He tried to grab them from me, but I turned my body and glared at him, and when I took out my phone to take pictures, he asked me what I was doing.
“I’m signing a legal agreement. I’d at least like a picture of it.”
Frank held up the papers while I took pictures of them one by one, and when I was finished, I handed it over to my ex. He yanked it from my hand and looked at the signed paper one last time, and then Frank had to open her big ass mouth again.
“Well, if that’s all, we’re heading out. Got a couple of hot dates for some drinks.” She smiled.
“Whatever, have fun,” Jason mumbled.
The door was shut in our faces, and the release was gone, and the two of us just stood in the hallway looking like a bunch of groupie idiots. Chattering little girls came up and started shoving us out of the way, wanting
to meet the people who “played that incredible music,” and it was Frank who jostled my arm and brought me back to reality.
“Come on,” she said. “Let’s go get those drinks.”
Chapter 11
Mason
I couldn’t believe my fucking luck. A stupid dinner with my crazy mother’s outlandish expectations turned into a night with Winston at some dumbass play that I couldn’t understand, and who the hell was there?
Ash.
I hadn’t been able to get her out of my mind. Something about her was addicting, like the way she matched her lip color with her shoes. The blue in her hair was fading, and something told me she was debating on a new color. Every single time I saw her she was in an outfit that hugged all the places I wanted to put my hands. She was as cute as I remembered, even if she was just dressed down, and spending a little bit more time with her couldn’t hurt.
After the disastrous and, quite frankly, obnoxious play ended, I shot her a text with the name of the bar to meet us at, and we headed out. Winston was chattering in my ear about some bullshit excuse for something he wanted to try with his “research,” but all I could do was think about meeting up with Ash again. I wanted to get there and get all of us a booth before the idiots from the play descended on everything else, and I wanted to make sure Ash sat beside me.
I wanted to feel her skin against mine again.
It took them longer than I thought to get there. I figured they’d be right behind us, so when thirty minutes passed, I started to wonder if Frank had gotten in the way. She seemed like a lot of work and drama, and I didn’t really know what Ash was doing with a friend like that. I mean, Ash seemed like an incredible girl. The fuck was she doing with a loud-mouthed girl who took advantage of people like Frank?
But finally, they walked into the bar, and immediately, I saw the tension on her face. Frank was all smiles, with her bouncy red curls and her tits shoved up to her face, but Ash looked tense.
The two of them didn’t really look to be going at it the way they were the night she barged in on me and Ash at her apartment.
Maybe her ex was an issue?
I’d beat that bastard into the ground if he pissed Ash off somehow.
I beckoned the waitress over and decided to order them a couple of drinks. Frank would probably bitch about it, but Ash looked like she could really use something, anything, to guzzle down really quick. I knew what that felt like. I felt like that after every dinner with my mom.
