Easily Amused (12 page)

T
he next day, a particularly warm and sunny one, Mrs. Kinkaid called in sick. In true
Parenting Today
fashion, she’d called early enough to avoid actually talking to me. Her voice mail message had just the right mixture of regret and sick-tonal quality. If it weren’t for Drew remembering that Mrs. K.’s younger daughter was flying in that morning from California, I wouldn’t have given it another thought. Considering the level of dedication in the office, it was a lucky thing putting the magazine together was only a two-person job.

Drew and I worked well together, and by that I mean he didn’t interfere much with what
I
was doing. He kept busy that morning writing a piece about head lice for our annual back-to-school issue. We’d recently scored two lucrative ads with shampoo companies that specialized in treating infestations, and we needed an article to showcase the advertisements. I gave the job to Drew because just thinking about it made my head itchy.

It was eleven o’clock when someone rapped on the office door and then pushed it open. The knocking had all the hallmarks of my boss from the newspaper upstairs, so I assumed it was him, checking up on us. He always had some kind of lame-o excuse for stopping in, but the real reason, I suspected, was to make sure we hadn’t turned
Parenting Today
into a party palace, complete with disco ball and spiked punch bowl. I looked up expecting to see Mr. Warner’s bald head popping through the doorway, but instead I saw Ryan Moriarty in all his dark-haired glory. The contrast between the two was as vast as the Grand Canyon.

“Hi.” He grinned in my direction and stepped inside the room. “Am I interrupting anything?”

“Can I help you, sir?” Drew asked. He straightened up in his chair and regarded Ryan the way one would a lice shampoo salesman.

“Hello!” I rose up out of my seat to meet him. He held out his arms, and I walked right into them for a quick hug. So out of character for me, but maybe my character needed some updating. We pulled apart, and I said, “How wonderful to see you.” I felt my face widen in a huge smile.

“I’m Ryan Moriarty, a friend of Lola’s,” he said to Drew, who nodded and pretended to turn back to his work.

So now Ryan and I were friends.
That
happened quickly. Oh happy day.

“I’m sorry to drop in unannounced,” he said, “but I lost your phone number, and I was in the neighborhood anyway.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. This is a nice surprise.” Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Drew smirk.

“I know this is last minute,” Ryan said, “but I was wondering if you were available for dinner and a movie tonight? I would have asked sooner, but I was called out of town on business and haven’t been home.”

“I’d love to,” I said. The words flew out of my mouth without thought. A lip-jerk reaction.

“Great. Why don’t I pick you up at your house at six thirty? We can go to an early movie and then do dinner. If that’s fine with you.” He raised his eyebrows questioningly, in a way that made him look like a young James Garner, before his
Rockford Files
days. A resemblance that would win points with my grandmother.

“Sounds perfect.” I did a quick calculation. If I left the office a little early, I’d have time to change clothes and do something with my hair and makeup. But fitting in a shower and shaving my legs was iffy. Not that I was planning to do anything that required clean-shaven legs, but I did like the idea of having every inch of me the best it could be. Good practice.

“I’m glad,” he said, and I believed it. He sounded glad and looked it, too. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone looked that happy to be going to a movie with me. Maybe never.

He gave me one last hug before he headed out the door. Watching his backside as he left, I realized I probably wouldn’t get much work done the rest of the day. Floating on a cloud is very distracting.

After Ryan left, Drew broke the silence. “So that’s the guy?” He jerked a thumb in the direction of the door. “The one who got the candy out of the machine?”

I grinned and nodded. “That’s the one.” My voice was uncharacteristically chipper. I couldn’t help it.

“I don’t think he’s all that great shakes. He looks kind of shifty to me.”

“What do you mean?”

Drew shrugged. “He just seems all shifty-like.”

That helped. “Can you expand on that statement? Give an example of what you mean, maybe?”

“I don’t know. Just the way he came in here looking around. It was hugely suspicious. Like he was casing the joint. And why was he wearing that jacket? It’s like sixty-five degrees outside. I’d be wearing shorts if I wasn’t at work.”

It
was
pretty warm out, but it had been cooler earlier that morning. I myself had worn a sweater, which I’d left in the car. “Well, everyone’s different. Maybe he gets chilled.”

“Plus,” Drew said, “what’s the deal with him supposedly losing your phone number? You’re in the book, and so is
Parenting Today
. Why would he park his car in the lot, walk through the building, and come down a flight of stairs to talk to you for all of three minutes? It doesn’t make sense.”

“Because he wanted to see me?” I hated that Drew was chipping away at my rainbow. Oh, where was Mrs. Kinkaid when I needed her?

“Do you have
his
phone number?”

“No, he never gave it to me.” I had tried to look it up earlier in the week, but he wasn’t listed.

“There you go. He’s shifty.”

“Well, I don’t think he’s shifty at all,” I said defensively. “I like him.” What did Drew know, and why would I listen to a guy who couldn’t even remember calling in sick on the
previous day?

“Have it your way.” He rifled through some papers and jotted down some notes on one of the pages, but under his breath I heard him mutter, “But he still seems shifty to me.”

I
left the office an hour early, passing my boss, Mr. Warner, on the way out. When he raised his eyebrows, I smiled, gestured toward my mouth, and said, “Dentist appointment.”

“Have fun,” he said with the sort of forced jocularity he’s known for. He’s the kind of administrator who thinks he’s tough, and if you didn’t know any better, you’d believe it. I was, in fact, intimidated when I first started. It took three weeks and a heads-up from Mrs. Kinkaid to learn the secret of Mr. Warner—he accepts everything he’s told. If I said the magazine was running right on schedule, he assumed we were on schedule. If I told him we needed more supplies, he signed the order without checking. In dealing with him, I had the power of a Jedi warrior. I half suspected I could say, “You never saw me leave,” and he’d nod mutely in agreement and echo my words.

When I got home, Hubert was already there. It was still a shock to have someone else’s car in my driveway. Each time I saw it I had to self-correct the notion that I had a visitor and remember that Hubert lived with me now. In high school I thought that the coolest thing ever would be for Piper, Hubert, and me to share a house and a trio of cars—no parents in sight. What could be better than living with friends? As it turned out, our individual college choices ruled out anything like that. After graduation, real life got in the way, but having Hubert with me now was a small taste of the dream. I didn’t suppose Piper’s husband would let her come for a week or two without Brandon in order for me to get the full effect, so what I had now was as close as it would come.

I walked into the house and dropped my soft-sided briefcase next to the couch. I heard a clattering in the kitchen, like the rattling of cookware lids, and I could smell roast chicken. And potatoes. Or at least I thought it was potatoes. Did they have a smell, or was I just guessing?

“Hubert, I’m home,” I said, doing my best Ricky Ricardo impression.

“Hey.” He stood in the doorway, oven mitts on both hands. “You’re early. That’s perfect. I have dinner going already. I hope you have an appetite.”

Oops. “Oh no, Hubert. I’m sorry, but I already have dinner plans.”

He frowned. “Since when? I asked you this morning, and you were wide open. You even said we should rent movies tonight.”

“I know, but Ryan stopped in at the office, and we made plans for tonight.”

“Ryan?”

“The guy I met through Piper.”

“Sort of last minute to be asking someone out, don’t you think? I’m surprised you agreed.” His voice was kind of mopey.

“He was out of town until today.” I didn’t actually know when Ryan had returned, but it sounded right. “I thought you wouldn’t mind. I didn’t know you were cooking. If you keep it for tomorrow night, I’m sure it will be delicious reheated. Or if you want to invite someone else over, that’s OK too.”

“I know I could invite someone else over. I wanted you.” He held up his arms like a doctor who’d just scrubbed for surgery.

“Well, I’m sorry. I won’t be here.”

He clapped the two mitts together, like he’d had a thought. “Well, how late will you be out? Because I still have an idea for later.”

“I don’t know. It might be a late night.” I
hoped
it would be a late night. “We better not plan on anything. I can’t really say for sure when I’ll get back.”

“OK then.” He sighed. “I’ll have to rethink my plans. Now I don’t know what to do.”

“We can watch a movie another night.” I glanced at my watch—the shower awaited, as well as an appointment with my tweezers. I needed to bushwhack my brows before I’d even allow myself to think about going on a date.

“It’s not the movie,” he said. “What I was really hoping was that—” Behind him the oven timer went off with a continuous
beep, beep, beep, beep…

“You better get that,” I said, pointing. “And I really have to get ready. We can hang out all day tomorrow, OK?”

“OK.”

I left him looking like a kid who’d been abandoned at a bus station. Such an odd turn of events. A week ago I hadn’t seen Hubert in months. Now, just when I finally had a potential boyfriend in the works, Hubert assumed I’d spend every available moment with him. Well, he’d just have to wait.

Getting ready, I made a mental note to visit Sephora online to buy some new cosmetics. And as long as I had the computer fired up and the credit card out, it wouldn’t hurt to order some new shoes. Piper had some sandals with a metallic-y bronze look that I just loved. They went with everything and were so cute. I’d have to ask where she got them. A trip to the mall wasn’t the worst idea, either. I tended to shop for pieces—a new top here, some jeans there. Piper had been telling me for years that I needed to purchase whole outfits, accessories and all. That always seemed like a lot of work and money, but I was starting to see the advantages.

Even with my own incomplete wardrobe, I was able to put together a fairly cute ensemble. I’d made friends with Mr. Round Brush when I was blow-drying my hair, and it turned out sleek and full of body. With some effort and makeup, I actually looked presentable. No heads would turn, but when I smiled I was passably attractive. I practiced expressions in the bathroom mirror and was horrified to realize that my interested-listener face actually looked like a frown, complete with an ugly vertical forehead wrinkle. I’d have to remember to use an alternate expression. Keeping my face neutral made me look simple-minded. My half smile and head-tipped-back pose was good, but it would look odd if used too much. Oh well, I’d just have to wing it.

When I got downstairs, I was stunned to find Ryan and Hubert sitting in the living room talking. I hadn’t heard the bell ring, and it wasn’t six thirty yet—I’d been watching the time.

Ryan sat up straight in the wing chair, looking like an interviewer’s guest on a PBS show, complete with button-down shirt and pleated pants. Hubert sat slouched over the coffee table, wearing jeans and a T-shirt splattered with something—gravy? Ryan was talking about the history of King Street. Something about how he’d researched the records at city hall. When I entered the room, both men stood.

“Look who’s here,” Ryan said, grinning. “Lola, looking lovely.”

Nice alliteration. “I didn’t know you were waiting,” I said. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no trouble at all,” Ryan said, smiling broadly. “Hugh and I were having a great time talking, weren’t we?” He turned to Hubert, who looked pained. Over the years people had tried various abbreviations—Hugh, Bert, Big H. Our physics teacher in high school once even called him Hube. But she only did it once. Misusing Hubert’s name was like waving a red cape at a bull. He might not charge, but he’s not going to like it.

“He goes by Hubert,” I said, attempting a bit of damage control.

“Hmm?” Ryan didn’t catch the conversational shift.

“His name. He prefers Hubert.”

Ryan’s face softened. “What did
I
say?”

Hubert coughed into his fist. “You called me Hugh.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t believe I did that.” He smiled, but Hubert was clearly not placated, so Ryan tried again. “But it’s sort of the same thing, isn’t it? Just a shortened version?”

“Sure, Ry. Exactly the same thing.” Hubert’s sarcasm startled me. I’d never heard that tone coming from him. In fact, it sounded more like something I might say. Hubert smiled then. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the moment had passed. He stuck his hands in his pockets and said, “So, where you kids going tonight?”

I could tell Hubert was annoyed that I wasn’t going to be staying for roast chicken and DVDs, but too bad. How often did I have a date? Couldn’t he see that this was an opportunity for me? I opened my mouth to answer the question, but Ryan was ahead of me. “We’re going to an early movie and then out to eat.” He turned to me and said, “I made reservations at Singha Thai Restaurant. I hope that’s fine with you.”

“Singha Thai? Perfect,” I assured him. Hubert gave me a surprised look. I knew he was remembering a previous conversation in which I’d said I didn’t like Thai food, and that had once been the case, but with Ryan I was determined to be more open-minded. I really needed to learn to be adaptable. “Well, I guess we should go,” I said, gesturing toward the door. “Good-bye, Hubert. See you tomorrow.” Ryan said good-bye too and followed me out.

His Jag was parked curbside in front of my walkway. When I was putting on my seat belt, I glanced over at my house and saw Hubert watching us from a gap in the drapes at the front window. I lifted my hand and waved, but I guess he didn’t see me because the drapes dropped shut and then he was gone.