Open House Ch. 13

I can't concentrate on anything at the office, so the rest of my day I'm useless. I have tremendous nervous anticipation about returning home to John. And on top of that I have to figure out some way to introduce our new toy. John is never going to believe I went out and bought this. And even if he would, why now?

I think about our recent interactions: my leaving without talking to him, his embarrassing phone call to check on me. I arrive at a solution that I think can work. It feels organic and fun, so I start planning the scenario in my head. And as I do, I suddenly realize Tina was right. By keeping my brain busy with the toy, I'm less worried about everything else. I think to myself what a genius psychologist she would be, and it just confirms my decision to follow her lead.

* * *

At home I come in to find John in the kitchen, and we greet with the typical peck on the lips hello. It occurs to me just how easy that was, and I wonder if I've been acting too.

"That was so nice of you to come today, babe. I feel bad I missed you."

"It's fine. I just noticed you run out, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right."

"No... Sorry, that's my fault. I was just being overly prepared for this new person."

"Yeah, she sounds like a big deal."

"Oh, she's a big deal alright." I say, tongue-in-cheek. "But you know how it goes. Half of my buyers wind up flaking out or think they can buy a house after never having filed taxes."

"Right, I remember those people."

I sit my work bag on the counter and double check that my special gift is not visible. "Did you fix Alex's car?"

"Oh no, definitely not."

"Why do you say it like that?"

"He hit a huge tire retread in the road way out on highway 107. It went all up into his wheels. It's pretty ugly."

"So what did you do?"

"Well he initially thought we could fix it, I don't know why. But after we tried removing the tire, it was obvious things were bent. So, I waited with him for the tow truck. Then he rode with the tow guy, so I just came back late. Do you want a latte? I just made one." John says, holding up his cup.

"Now? Aren't you going to be up all night if you drink that?"

John gets frisky and pushes up on me. "Well... I think I owe you some attention. So, maybe I'm just planning ahead."

It feels like when you pretend to laugh at your boss's bad joke, but I smile and play along. "Ooh, that sounds nice." In my mind I instantly see Tina, and my gut wretches as I think of them together. Then I remember I have an objective. "Funny you should mention it, my client gave me something that I think you're going to like."

"Really? What for?"

"Well, you know after your call today we couldn't just move on without acknowledging that you were looking out for me. So we had some girl chat, and... one thing led to another, and they thought I should try this."

"Try what?"

"Um... it's kind of embarrassing. So, I think I'm going to have to look at it first to make sure I'm okay with it before I tell you what it is."

"Oh, now you've definitely got my attention."

"Yeah, I figured as much."

"Well, I guess I'll leave you to it then." And with another small kiss John is off and back to business.

Wow, that worked perfectly. So much of my life with John just happens through muscle memory, that I don't even have to try. I guess we just know each other that well. I feel a sense of relief and gain a bit of confidence that I can actually do this.

Later that evening John decides we're getting Mexican, since neither John nor I feel like eating in tonight. We both love Mexican--or maybe it's just Margaritas. Either way I'm easy to convince. John has some new place he wants to try and for whatever reason wants us to leave before there's a crowd. Tomorrow is Saturday, one of my busiest days for real estate, so I'm happy to head out early so that I can get back.

I receive a text from Tina in the car. She has texted me several times already, flirting with me. I love it, and it reminds me she's thinking of me. She has a wicked sense of humor and mostly sends me jokes, but there have been at least a couple of risqué images of hot women I've had to quickly delete. Seeing her name pop up as we drive to the restaurant sends a pang of guilt through me and I nervously silence the text.

"Wait, where is this place?"

"It's just up here a few minutes down the road."

"John, there are no restaurants out here. Did you forget what I do for a living?"

John grins widely. "I think you're gonna be surprised. It's a new place you haven't heard of yet."

It's obvious to me that John is completely full of shit. As if his charmingly dishonest grin wasn't enough, I think I would know if there was a restaurant out here. Unless it's in someone's house, that is. And in that case, unless they have a liquor license--I'm not interested.

"John. Seriously?"

Overreacting, John replies, "I'm serious! Look just give it a couple of minutes, and we'll be there, and I guarantee you're going to like it." The grin is stuck on his face, a dead giveaway to me that he's up to something.

His animated response causes me to smile. "This place better be serving tequila shot appetizers, or I'm gonna be very disappointed," I punch back sarcastically.

Moments later we pull into the dirt driveway of a rural home. One look at it confirms this is definitely not a restaurant. We pull up behind several other cars and trucks parked erratically around the house, none of them less than ten years old. It's a brick ranch with acres of grass and outbuildings, like something that used to be a farm but gave up. A large golden dog and two little... I don't know what's, come trotting out to greet us.

"Okay, I'm officially freaked out."