“You lost your right to tell me what to get her when you made me her godfather,” I reply. Case closed.
As we take our places around the table holding a, you guessed it, unicorn-shaped cake, Isabella says, “Can I sit next to Anna? Mommy said we will never see you again after today.”
Casey blanches while Billy looks like he’s attempting to trap in a laugh. I bite on the inside of my lip and my eyes hesitantly crawl to Anna.
In the voice of a news broadcaster, my idiot friend says, “A dramatic silence falls over the Smith residence. Tada-da-da dam, Liam’s fucked.”
“Billy!” Casey scolds, tilting her head at her daughter, signaling child hazard. “Language!”
Anna tilts her head back a little with a laugh. She grins at me. “Kids always tell the truth.”
At this point, Billy can’t hold it anymore and his wicked chuckle frees. Casey, looking embarrassed, mouths, “sorry” my way.
“Anna, consider yourself lucky. You’re the first girl young Liam brought home.” Billy air-quotes home.
It’s all in good humor. When the snides subside, we eat cake and then say our goodbyes to head over to Victoria’s house.
“Consider yourself lucky, you’re the first boy I’ve brought to Vicky’s home,” Anna says as we stand at her sister’s doorstep.
“Didn’t she just move in?” I ask.
Anna grins wickedly. “Exactly.”
“Well, well, if it isn’t the notorious doctor,” Anna’s sister says by way of introduction.
I smile at her.
She turns to Anna. “Yep, I can see the QB thing.”
I cock my head, looking at Anna and she shrugs cheekily.
When I extend my hand to Victoria, she dismisses it and kisses both of my cheeks instead. “Charmed,” she says leaning back.
“Likewise. An immense pleasure meeting you.” We definitely click. With some people, you just know. “And, here, this is for you.” I hand her the champagne I got her.
“Thanks, Doc.” Victoria winks at me. You can immediately see that they’re related, no doubt about it. However, while they do resemble each other, they’re pretty different. Victoria is all lean, tall, sharp features, like a skinny artic queen while Anna. Oh, Anna. Anna is soft curves, plump lips and huge blue eyes. Somewhat angelic but in a sinfully sexy angel sort of way.
It’s a blur of introductions. The room is a medley of humans of different kinds. There are a couple of people in business attire which I learn quickly are Victoria’s coworkers. Then there are a few guys that look like they just rolled out of a dive bar. Those, I learn, are some of the members of Kayla’s band. One of the guys doesn’t stop devouring Victoria with his eyes. Then there are Kayla and Pandora. Finally, I can put faces to the names and endless stories. It’s an eclectic mix, but it seems to work well. People are gathered around either in couples or groups, conversations no doubt lit by the many beer bottles and wine glasses floating about the room.
As time passes, the apartment feels less suffocating. Some people leave and those who seem closer to Victoria stay. Not a large group, but big enough to fill the living room. I’m talking to Pandora who tells me about the time they all celebrated Thanksgiving at Anna’s. In the middle of talking to me, she tells Victoria who’s a few seats away. “Hey Vic, remember that time when Anna decorated her home for Thanksgiving, all fall colors, and cute ornaments. Worked for hours on holiday vegetarian snacks and when we came in and told her Happy Thanksgiving she said “not for the Indians” and we were on the floor.”
Grinning, I turn to Anna who stands near the door talking to Kayla. Our eyes catch and it’s a still yet loaded moment. Looking at her, I wonder if anyone in this room really knows her like I do. I know it’s presumptuous given her sister and best friends are here, but I wonder if they recognize what a gem she is. I wonder what moments they have experienced with her that revealed her true inner self. Moments I am jealous of not being a part of. And then she smiles at me from across the room and it feels like an unseen force hitting my chest. My heart speeds at such an alarming rate it almost hurts. Never have I ever felt this way about anyone. Not to mention anyone I didn’t have a physical connection with. This is utter insanity.
Someone replenishes drinks and the group is even smaller now. It’s a couple of the rock band people and some others. The one who was eating Victoria up with his eyes, Ricky, now takes a seat next to her. There are Pandora and her guy, I still didn’t get his name, some people call him Danny and I heard Pandora call him Jonathan. Kayla is here, the drummer friend. Pretty cool person. And that’s pretty much it.
I’m not sure how we got here, but the conversation turns into a “what’s your most embarrassing moment?” Hilarious.
“Ooh, I’ll go next. Most embarrassing, I guess getting my paws on this one.” Pandora says, leaning on Danny/Jonathan with a goofy smile.
“Nu-uh!” Victoria and Anna yell in unison. They trade amused stares, doing some kind of a sisters’ mindreading thing. Synchronized, they turn to their friend. “Your parent’s 20th anniversary!” They say at the same time and break into rolling laughter.
Pandora seems to consider Anna and Victoria’s counterargument. Her brows pull in, “you think so?”
“I’ll tell this one, okay?” It’s Victoria. Pandora smiles and gestures with a raised hand for Victoria to go ahead and tell the story. “So, it was at the Wallkins, Pandora’s parents,” She tells the group. “It was their 20th anniversary. Lovely couple, just like the fruit of their loins, here. However, a bit less open-minded.”
Victoria can’t hold herself back and lets out an amused snort. Anna echoes from right beside me, prompting my smile to widen even though I’m not familiar with the story.
“Towards the end of the party, one of Ms. Wallkin’s friends suggests opening the gifts in front of everyone. Panda was somewhere in the kitchen when the decision took place and when she came back, everyone was sitting in the living room with their drinks, her parents in the center. Panda sat down next to Anna and me and we filled her in on the development. So, her parents are opening presents and thanking people. Everyone is having a jolly good time. We go in a circle and when it’s Panda’s turn, she gets this huge beautifully wrapped box and as she’s about to hand it to her mom, something clicks. She looks around the room, looks at her parents, seeming to be in some internal battle. Her mom, with a little awkward smile, attempts to pull the box away from her daughter. Then Pandora says ‘Umm, maybe later,’ with this weird smile, then adds, ‘ in private’.”
“A few good seconds pass with the mother-daughter tug of war game. Eventually, Abe, Mr. Wallkins for you, grabs the damn box and tears it open, mumbling something about being among friends. Panda then murmurs something in the vein of whatever, shrugs, and takes a seat. The whole room is in shambles no less than seconds later when Mrs. Wallkins retrieves a huge, tan dildo from said box.”
The room comes alive with laughter, everyone is grinning at Pandora, who bows in gratitude.
Victoria resumes over breathless laughter, “She got her parents a box of sex toys! Can you imagine a group of parents, many of whom are churchgoers, watching Mrs. Wallkins pulling sex toys out of a box like some kinky magician?”