CHAPTER TWO

There wasn’t any draw, best friend, and he moved the air conditioner then practically sprinted out of here. I reply to her, plop down on the couch and hug my favourite pink chenille pillow to my chest. It’s like putting a fluffy Band-aid over where I hurt.

So start from the beginning, he got there and then what happened?

A Dom-analysis could take an hour, five times longer than the actual date, and I’m not up for it. —I don’t know. He got here, smelled the roast and pie, asked me if that’s what he smelled, then immediately started pulling the air conditioner out of the window. He was definitely on a mission to get the hell out of here. He even lied, said he had to go back to work, and he wasn’t even wearing a uniform. I mean, what the hell, like I’m not going to notice that?

That shuts Dom up. Danny is not known for lying; if anything, he could be called too blunt, honest to a fault.

I need an exorcism, Dom, I need to purge him from my soul.

I won’t argue with you there, friend, I’ve been listening to you moan and drool over him for ten.

I know, I know. I cut her off because I don’t want a review of all the stupid ways I’ve embarrassed myself over Danny. —Cut me some slacks. I was fifteen.

Ok, when you met him, but this past year...V, if he hasn’t made a move by now. I can tell she doesn’t want to say it and hurt my feelings, and she doesn’t have to.

He isn’t going to. Ouch, that hurts to say, but it’s like ripping off a Band-aid. I need to do it. I need to move on. —Just give me some time.

Sure, yeah I know. A sad silence hangs heavy between us because only

Dom knows how hard this will be for me.

You and mama going to play bingo tonight? I change the subject. I know they are. Dom and her mama and her aunties all play bingo together every Thursday night at their church. —How goes the wedding fund? They are all pooling their winnings and saving up for Dom’s wedding.

It’s growing, baby, it’s growing. Luis’s aunt and grandma are going in with us now.

Dom’s family is the opposite of mine, huge and involved while mine’s small and distant. Dom still lives with her mama and siblings and will until she

you want to come with us tonight? She asks me, —the girls will make you feel better. We’ll down a few cervezas.

No, not tonight and besides, I’m an Irish girl... I’ve got to drown my sorrows in whiskey. I think it’s required.

All right, you have the night off to drown your sorrows.

Thanks, Dom, and thanks also for understanding.

Hey, I get it. Believe me, I’ve been there the whole time. The man’s smile and body alone could make any girl fantasies getting laid with him. Moreover, he used to be really sweet to you. Ever since your dad moved away and his divorce, he’s changed.

Yeah, he has. I guess he’s only nice to me because of my dad. Now that he’s not here.

Are you going to tell your dad to stop sending him over to help you? She asks —you know he’ll do it again.

Damn, she’s right! It’s a losing battle with my dad to convince him to let me take care of myself. I have spent half my life taking care of him, and me, and our house, and he still treats me like I’m a child.

No! Oh hell, you’re right. If this weren’t the most perfect effing apartment in this city, I would move my ass to Sweden and get away from both of them.

Dom laughs, —Then Big Mike would find some dude named Sven and have him at your place taking care of you.

As long as Sven isn’t frigid, I say, and we both laugh out loud at that. Do you think that’s it? Dom asks, —Do you think Danny’s frigid?

Oh, hell no! Like I’ve always said, there is something about the way he moves, still can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something in his stride that tells me he’d be a really great lay.

No, don’t go there, my friend, assume he’s a horrible lay and really shitty kisser.

With those lips?

Even Dom can’t argue with that. —Ok, so he might be a good kisser, but he doesn’t deserve you.

Because...?

Because he is an estúpido, a box of rocks. Come on V, how can he not see by now what an amazing catch you are? You are smart, successful, a gourmet cook, totally cute and if he ever gave you a chance, I’m sure you would wear him out in bed until he died a happy man.

I would rock his world!

Save that for someone who deserves it.

Like who, Dom? In twenty-five years, I have met only one man, one, who meets my standards.

And don’t you dare lower them now.

I’m going to die alone as a cat lady, still looking for that perfect guy.

No, you’re not. There is going to be a guy who appreciates how hard you work to make everything perfect. Did you pour yourself that drink yet?

I put my phone on speaker and set it on the bar cart in the corner of the living room.

Pouring it now, I say to her. She can hear me put ice in a tumbler and pour Jameson over it.

Of course, you had ice in the bucket.

And little lemon wedges too. I add one to my drink and pour water from the pitcher.

What are you going to do now? Dom asks, playing the mother hen role like she is used to, just like her mom. Both of them have taken up the job to be the mother I lost ever since my mom died.

Cut the roast into sandwich meat so I can take it to some guys who will appreciate it.

Ok, good. No single ones yet?

Dom is always pushing me to find romance at work which, number one, goes against my policy of never dating at work, and two, she doesn’t know these guys like I do. They are salesmen, always polite and kind and joking and so full of shit it practically leaks out their ears.

No single one.

At least Bob appreciates you.

Indeed, Bob does appreciate me. He’s my boss, Bob Brockhaus, the lead salesman in international sales for Jetstream Aerospace. He travels the world selling private jets to billionaires, and he does a damn good job of it, in significant part because he has me. I make his chaotic home and work-life run like a well-oiled machine, and he makes sure I am paid well to do that. Indeed, I have Bob.