I take that opportunity to escape the outspoken Mary and see how the deliverymen are getting on.
The apartment looks fantastic. It’s the same layout as Gaby’s. Same neutral colors and flooring, but none of the cushions and frilly shit that hers has. My pictures of my favorite classic cars have been fixed to the wall along the hallway, and Aidan’s collection of guitars adorns the far wall in the living space. The two leather lazy boys are placed in front of the sixty inches of flat screen
“It looks great!” Antonia calls from behind me, startling me.
A grin creeps across my face. “Yeah. I’m happy with it.”
“So I just wanted to clarify, when Mary said girls talk, I haven’t said anything about your little pal having rot.” She stifles a laugh while pointing to my crotch. “Gaby came in talking shit about Julie one night when I had Mary on speakerphone.”
I pull her into a hug. “Don’t sweat it. It’s probably best she thinks the worst of me anyway.”
She sighs into my chest. “I wish you could see yourself through my eyes, Gavin. You don’t give yourself enough credit. For the record, I wasn’t going to say stay away from Mary, I was going to say she’s looking to go to school here, so maybe you could take her to the club one night. Show her around, help her meet some friends.”
I kiss her forehead. “Thanks, and of course I can do that, if she would want to after that little outburst.”
“Yeah, she can say things without thinking first, a bit like someone else I know. So, I’m nipping out for a bit. Will you be around later?” she asks.
“Maybe. Depends on what time you’re back because I have work.” I smile.
“Okay, well I might see you later then.” I see her into the lift and go back to the apartment.
When all the deliveries are finally set up, the whole day has been and gone. I take a quick shower and slip on my grey suit and loafers before checking my appearance in the mirror.
I’m glad to see the bags under my eyes from my late nights have disappeared, and the blue of my eyes is looking clearer again after laying off the heavy drinking these past weeks.
My blonde hair is styled neatly in place, giving me the professional look I’m going for. My friends rag on me sometimes for being so formal, but just because I run a club, doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be smart. My clothes represent my business and me. I’m proud of the club. It’s very successful and high-end, the kind of business my father never thought I could get off the ground. He was wrong to doubt me. He’s always been wrong about my brother and me.
I go over to Antonia’s to write out a quick note just in case she’s not in, telling her that Aidan will be picking up the keys later from her, so to leave her door open if she goes to bed. She tends to do this anyway so she and Gaby can go back and forth.
I knock then open her front door and call out for her. Mary looks over at me from the couch.
“She’s taking a bath.”
“Okay, well I’m leaving my spare key on here with a note.”
She looks over at where I set the keys down. “Okay, sure. I’ll let her know.”
I nod my thanks and then walk over to her. “Listen, Mary, I think we got off on the wrong foot.”
She stands, and I notice she’s no longer wearing braids. Her hair is flowing in waves down her back, all the way to her waist. It has light honey streaks through it. She looks a lot like Antonia with her hair loose.
She turns and walks towards me. She’s shed her frumpy clothes and is wearing bed shorts. Short fucking bed shorts, showing off a pair of long legs. She’s also wearing a t-shirt that has sinner written across her chest. It’s like every teenage boy’s librarian fantasy; the library closes, and the librarian sheds her dull facade and becomes a nympho.
“Is that so?” she asks, getting really fucking close into my personal space.
I try to remove the fog taking over my head. “Yeah. I didn’t mean to offend you when I said you weren’t my type.”
Her hand comes up to cover my mouth. I smell strawberries on her skin. “It’s okay, Gavin. I was a little harsh, and just so we’re clear, you’re right. I’m not your type.” She turns and walks back towards the living space.
“How so?” I can’t help but ask, intrigued. She just smirks at me then ignores me. A smile creeps onto my face. She’s a lot like Antonia, and that’s a real good thing.
“HOW WAS YOUR BATH?”
I smile at Mary, who has made herself completely at home, which I’m glad about. There’s nothing worse than having a guest tiptoeing around the place.
“Gavin popped in. He left a spare key on the counter.”
Taking the key, I call out. “I’m going to drop off the bits I bought for them.”
She waves me off, not even looking up from the book she’s reading.
I gather the pieces I bought and leave them and a note at Gavin’s after pottering around there for a bit.
I go check in on Gaby. I find her dancing around her kitchen with her iPod on. She startles when she notices me standing behind her.
“FUCK! You scared the shit out of me.” Her cute little bob settles round to cup her face and the fright drains from her lovely green eyes.
“How was shopping?” I enquire, and she skips over to the table that’s full of shopping bags.
“Good! I got you something.” She pulls out a lacy bra that will just cover my nipples. She flings it at me and it hits me in the face and almost drops to the floor. “Thought you could send my brother some sexy pics.” She winks, and I try not to throw up in my mouth at how weird that sentence is.
“Where’s the fiancé?” I ask with a smile and an eyebrow wiggle.
“I sent him out with the boys. We’ve seen too much of each other lately. I need a girls’ night. I was wondering if I could drag your cousin out tonight.”
“You do realise that when you get married, you will be with each other all the time, Gabs?”
She sighs. “Exactly. Which is why I want to enjoy some apart time now. Do you think your cousin would be up for it?”
“It’s past ten, Gabs. A little late to spring a night out on someone.” She pouts, resulting in me laughing. “I’m not your brother. Your pouting does not affect me,” I tell her. Her eyes get wide and her pout gets more pronounced. “Fine. I’ll ask her.”
She bounces towards me and plants a kiss on my cheek. “You’re the best.”
She claps her hands as I go back to my apartment and pull Mary to her feet and into my room. “Help yourself to anything in my wardrobe. Gaby is dragging you out.”
Her eyes widen. “Really?”
I nod and leave her to get ready.
I shuffle to the kitchen and pull out the milk and a box of cereal, and pour them into a huge bowl. I slip out of the sweat pants I was wearing and lounge on the sofa in my boy shorts, vest top, and multi-colored fluffy socks.
Gaby makes her appearance half an hour later, looking gorgeous in a silver dress. “Hey, sexy,” she says, eyeing my socks.
I wiggle my toes. “Don’t hate on my designer footwear. You’re just jealous.”