I have no idea. Maybe the lookout again? He's picking me up at 3:30, and I'm worried my brother won't bring me back by then. I really want to go out with him.
Marley darts her gaze to the ceiling a moment. "How old are you again? I'm sorry, but I'd tell my brother a thing or two if he was trying to stand in the way of me and my boyfriend-not that I have a brother. And the boyfriend feels questionable right about now, too."
I touch my hand to hers a moment before replying. Well, I have two brothers who both happen to feel very protective of me. And Blake isn't my boyfriend. We're just sort of friends. Not that I haven't imagined him as my boyfriend. I'm sure my brothers would freak out on a daily basis if that were the case. I can see their torches and pitchforks now.
Marley stares down at my phone a moment too long before typing into it. Annie, you do realize that he's interested in more than a friendship with you. She tilts her head awaiting an answer.
She's right. I can feel it in my bones. My teeth graze over my bottom lip. Heck, I want more than a friendship with him.
I know. I think I want the same. I've never done this before. I'm not quite sure what to expect. But I'm excited for it. I'll take whatever he's willing to give me. My cheeks flush with heat as I show her my response.
Marley gives an open mouth laugh. "How does he make you feel?"
How does he make me feel? I blush from head to toe as I glance around afraid she's shouted the question.
I stare into my phone a good long time trying to formulate the words. Blake makes me feel like I'm falling-like I'm laughing and crying all at once. I can't really describe it, but it's an insane, happy feeling. The other day when he wrapped his arms around me, it felt like my body was on fire. My heart raced so fast I thought I'd pass out if he let go.
I carefully slide the phone across the table as if it were my heart.
Marley takes it from me and studies it a good long while before placing it down with tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Annie." She covers my hand with hers. "I think you're really falling for this guy."
* * *
Holt drives us over to Mom's house with the radio turned up a little too loud. I know this because I can feel the bass vibrating through my skull as I lean my head against the window. Holt always drives with the radio turned all the way up, his window down and his fingers strumming against the dash. I can see his mouth moving along with the rhythm as we enter the suburban housing track that leads towards Mom's sprawling home. Dad left her with a nice piece of land and my childhood home in the backcountry just past Hollow Brook. I love it here with the evergreens lining the road, the open sky above, the pale pastures that stretch from one property to the next.
When we get there we find Mom downstairs with Nitro, my black lab, hopping around like mad happy to see us.
Baby, Mom signs. I've missed you like crazy. Tell me everything and start from the beginning. Baya and Bryson are coming, so you might want to skip to the juicy parts before they get here. She gives a little wink. Mom is beautiful with her sensible chic style, her modern rectangular cut glasses. Her shoulder length hair has grown out a bit, and, thankfully, she's growing out her bangs as well. Last fall she colored it a shade too dark, and she's finally starting to sprout her chestnut highlights at the roots again.
"There are no juicy parts." Holt winks at me.
Nice. I glance to Mom with a look that says see what I'm up against? But honestly I don't expect her to understand.
"What's going on?" she asks. It's rare she doesn't sign around me, although that was clearly meant for Holt.
"There's some guy that's got it bad for Annie. Don't worry. I've got my eye on him. He's not getting anywhere."
I bend down to scratch Nitro's belly until his hind legs kick out of control. I want no part of this conversation. If Holt wants to think he has it all under control, I'll gladly let him believe it. At least Izzy seems to be understanding. Sometimes I think neither of my brothers will ever accept me having someone in my life. I'm sure they'll want to supervise on my wedding night just to make sure the whole evening ends on a chaste note. I think they'd dance a jig if I announced I was heading into a convent. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if they already signed me up for one. I've already got the vow of silence down pat. I make a face at Nitro. I used to envy him for so long. The way my mother spoils him-the way the world expects nothing out of him but a wag of the tail, he really does have it made.
Baya and Bryson show up, and Mom serves us a huge brunch on the back terrace. The apple trees lining the property are dotted with bright red fruit that hang like Christmas ornaments, and their fragrance fans all the way over to where we're sitting.
"So when do I get my grandchildren?" Mom directs the question to Baya and Bryson, and they both nearly choke on their next bite.
"Not for a while." Baya smiles sweetly at my brother. "I want to graduate first and settle down. No hurry over here." She looks to Holt.
Izzy had to work at the dance studio this afternoon, or she would have joined us for my mother's maternity shakedown.
"We've got cats." Holt is quick to jump out of the baby fire, both signing and speaking. "For now," he teases.
Mom rides her shoulders to her ears with a content look on her face. "I'm just so glad you've all found your special someone." She glances to me, and her eyes widen. "And don't you worry, sweetie, your special someone is out there just waiting to find you. And when the time is right, he will."
I glance down at my phone. The time will be right in approximately two hours, and the place he'll find me will be right in front of Prescott Hall. I try to hide the blooming grin on my face. I can't help it. Blake makes me want to laugh out loud with joy. Something I haven't felt, since, well, ever.
"Annie?" Mom waves to garner my attention. "I got those pamphlets from the Hoover Ear Clinic in Los Angeles. They have an extensive website. There are tons of video testimonials that I'd love to go over with you tonight. We can get Chinese and maybe dabble in some cyber shopping. We'll paint the Internet red." She raises her fork to me before taking another bite of her omelet.
Oh-I can't stay over. Study group tonight. I sign so fast I'm not sure if I actually have a study group or if I've just lied to my mother for the very first time. My breathing grows erratic, and I feel light headed like I might pass out. Ironic since that's exactly how I feel around Blake. I'm not sure what it means that both lying to my mother and my feelings for my new boyfriend are one in the same. Wait-did I just call him my boyfriend? I shake the thought out of my head.
"Annie?" Mom waves, and I freeze with a grimace glued to my face. All eyes are on me, and oh, wow, this has become uncomfortable far too quick. Is it too late to fake a stomach ache? It's as if the lies are ready to shoot out of me like a geyser.
"Are you okay?" Mom's eyes enlarge with concern as if I've malfunctioned once and for all. "You seem a little distracted."
Baya's mouth drops open as if she's just had an epiphany. I'm sure she's onto me.
Distracted is a good word, I sign back. School is a bit tougher than I anticipated. God's honest truth, right there. I have an eight-page essay due on Monday. It's just a first draft, but the professor likes for the class to critique each other's work.
Bryson does a quick translation for his new wife.
That's why I have to get back tonight-actually, this afternoon. I need to be back by three thirty. Some of the other girls-people in the group-want to have their evening free. God, this just keeps getting worse. Forget faking a stomach ache. I have one.
"Are you sure it's not a boy who has you distracted?" Mom gives a knowing look, and my face heats up like hell fire. "Holt mentioned that someone had their eye on you. I can imagine a whole lot of boys have their eyes on you." Her face lights up with glee as if she lives to torment me over a boy. I know she means well, and I'm pretty sure she'd be singing a different tune if she knew this boy were the reason I wanted to head back to campus. It's all fun and games until there's a real penis involved. If I didn't feel like crying, I'd laugh at the thought.
What if there was a boy? I force a smile, but it comes out more of a scowl. A part of me wants to probe just to see if she's all right with the idea.
Bryson whispers to Baya, and her chest hiccups with a gasp.
Mom's amusement is quick to melt away. "Well, I suppose you'll have to bring him around." She nods to Holt and Bryson. "I'm sure your brothers will want to approve. I've never envied you on that front. But I'm sure if you find him interesting, that's enough for me." She does a quick sweep of all the secretive faces. "Well, who's going to tell me about this mystery boy?"