It was the morning of Peter’s engagement party at Bennet’s, and I had several hours before I was set to help Lyra bring all the decorations to the bar and set up before everyone else showed up.
Ahh. Lyra. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. It was ridiculous how much time I spent texting her, thinking about her, and daydreaming about what I wanted to do to her after the party. We’d both had really busy weeks and hadn’t seen each other since we’d slept together at her apartment.
“It makes me think of Lyra,” I said, grabbing two bottles of water from the fridge and putting one in front of Peter. “Use the placemat.”
He rolled his eyes. “Neat freak.”
“Whatever. Rules of the house, respect them.”
“Keith Urban, huh?” He chuckled.
“Don’t start with me, Pete.”
“I’m just trying to think of how Keith Urban makes you think of Lyra?”
“She loves him, so when I couldn’t see her this week, I started listening and, I dunno, there’s just a few songs that really make me think of her now.”
“Oh man, you’ve got it bad.”
“Yeah, so what if I do?”
“It’s a good thing, man. Relax!”
“Oh,” I said, retracting my talons. “Sorry.”
“Lyra’s the best girl I know, aside from Maren, of course,” he said with a laugh. “I’m happy for you honestly.”
“Thanks.”
“But I’m still gonna give you shit. That’s what we do.”
“True,” I said with a nod before gulping down half the bottle.
“For God’s sake, you gave me so much shit when I started seeing Maren. Even tried to talk me out of getting so serious, if my memory’s correct.”
“Dude, that was during my Tinder days. You can’t trust me when I’m under the influence of casual sex.”
Peter leaned forward, putting his elbow on the placemat before taking a swig of his water. “So you’re not anymore?”
“Hell no. I’m crazy about her. Our sex is anything but casual.”
“So, I have to ask you an important question.”
“I may not answer.”
“Bullshit.”
“Fine, what is it?”
“Are your balls in her purse?”
I rolled me eyes, letting out a fake, sarcastic laugh. “You’re hilarious.”
“Well, are they?”
“I mean…no….but I dip them in there from time to time, move ’em around to mark my scent.” I stuck out my tongue at him, biting down with my teeth. Pete cracked up before draining the rest of his water and checking his phone.
“That’s Mare. I’d better get home.”
“Speaking of balls in a purse…”
“Hey, we’re engaged. That’s where they’re supposed to be.”
“If you say so, dude.”
Peter chuckled, shaking his head as he rose to his feet and walked to the door. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“Don’t be late. And keep in mind when you see alllll the decorations that Lyra did that part. I picked the booze package.”
“Nice.” He rolled his eyes. “See you tonight.”
I grabbed my phone, turning Keith up all the way and remembering Lyra dancing in the kitchen listening to “Put you In a Song,” of which I now knew every word. Every last one. I wasn’t a creative guy, and I was the first person to fully admit that. But if I was… Man, if I was, this was the song I’d want to write about her. I’d wanted her for so long, and for so long she was completely out of my reach.
But not anymore. Now she was mine. Or at least, it sure felt like it. We hadn’t made any proclamations of exclusivity, but I had zero interest in any other girls. No one, I repeat, no one could possibly turn my ahead away from Lyra Castillo, the sexiest and smartest woman I’d ever known. No, I was in this for the long haul. I didn’t say that to Pete, knowing he’d tease me about diving in headfirst so quickly. But I knew in my gut she was it for me.
I could only hope she felt the same.
My phone pinged.
Speak of the devil…
-Back from your run?
-Yep, how was yoga?
-Hot! We suffered through Bikram. I’m suuuuper sweaty.
-Wish I was there.
-Trust me, you don’t! LOL
-Pete’s excited about the party. Can’t believe it’s here already.
-Maren is too! Thank you again for doing this.
-WE’RE doing this. Don’t forget that.
-Yeah, yeah. I need to shower. Pick me up later? I’ll try to condense all the decorations so we have fewer bags!
-Great idea. Think of me when you’re in the shower ;)
-Was already planning to! ;)
-Geez, you get me hot!
-Save it for tonight…
-It’ll be hard.
-Oh yes, it will. ;)
-Dirty bird!
-You love it and you know it!
-You’re right. See you soon, Castillo.
-<blowing kiss emoji>
Walking to my bedroom, I fell on the bed, placing my phone next to me, and thought about our effortless texts. I knew it was wrong to compare, but I never had that with Trupti. Even at our best, things were more formal, more forced, more…polite. Until they weren’t. Lyra was real. All the time. And I loved it.
I tossed my sweaty clothes in the hamper and walked to the bathroom to turn on the shower. Time to relieve some of this tension…
“Everything looks amazing, you guys, seriously,” Maren said as she looked around the bar. The party had just gotten started, and only a dozen or so people had arrived. “The jars of candy are a nice touch.”
“Thought you’d like that,” Lyra said.
“That was all me. All of it,” I said, obviously joking. Lyra elbowed me in the ribs and I laughed, trying hard not to spit out my Tito’s and seltzer.
“Ignore him. He’s delirious.” Lyra rolled her eyes before placing a kiss on my cheek.
“Will I get in trouble if I mention how cute you two are?” Maren asked, looking like a kid with her hand in the cookie jar.
“Nah, go right ahead,” I said, giving her a wave. “We are pretty cute, aren’t we?”
Lyra’s cheeks turned bright red and I laughed, wrapping an arm around her and squeezing gently. “Well, she is anyway.”
“Make sure you guys tell everyone to see Morgan at the bar for their wristband. They can’t get anything to eat without it,” Lyra said.
“Or drinks.” I added. “Are your folks coming, Pete?”
“Yeah, they’re going to stop by for a bit. Maren’s sisters will be here too.”
“Nice.”
Scott and Allison walked up behind Maren. Allison put her arm around Maren and squeezed her. “Happy engagement, guys!”
“Thanks for coming,” Maren said.
“Come with me, guys, I’ll take you to get your wristband.” Lyra took Allison by the hand and led her and Scott over to the bar.
Maren looked me up and down with a shit-eating grin.
“Just say it.”
She hopped up and down on the balls of her feet, clenching her teeth and grabbing on to my biceps as she bounced. I turned to Peter.