On headphones my only copy of Pearl Jam's Black features vocals and rhythm guitar in my right ear, drums and piano in my left, and the principal guitar skews back and forth wildly. It's distracting to the point of unlistenability.
Is that a word? It is now, folks.
Ben doesn't see the problem, except with what he now calls his Little Production Quality Specialist.
It's bad, Benny.
But you love it anyway. Like me, I guess.
***
Lochlan is sitting in the gazebo when I come out, his phone and an empty coffee mug in front of him, a conflicted expression on his face. The wind blows his hair just enough to give him a leading-man appearance and I take a long minute to appreciate that. A very long minute.
What are you waiting for? Am I in your spot? But he hasn't looked at me.
Well, whatever spot you're in is where I want to be.
Fuck me. You sound like Winnie The Pooh.
I burst out laughing but he doesn't join in. Okay, what's wrong?
Nothing you can fix, Peanut, and if you're okay then that's all that matters.
Okay is a relative ter-
You know exactly what I mean. He glares at me.
I nod. Caleb staying.
Caleb staying. Because it's not enough to have a romantic dinner for four. He somehow charms every last one of us! What this fuck is that, even? Last time I looked I wasn't into the tall, dark and rakish type-
Rakish. What a delicious word!
Don't change the subject.
Another reason to want to be a man. Y'all can be rakish.
Bridge.
Yes?
How did he make me think that was totally okay? That of course it's normal-
Oh, it's so not normal, Lochlan.
I know that but how? How did he manage to bewitch me too?
It was late, mayb-
Contrary to popular belief, I care very deeply for your approval in every area of my life, my relationship to Bridget included. Caleb is behind me and I jump fifty feet. I love you like a brother. Maybe more than that. Maybe you're beginning to see my side of this finally. I certainly hope this week is an indication of things to come.
He turns and goes back in to the house. I turn and watch him go and then when I turn back around Lochlan is gone. I see the door close on the camper parked at the edge of the rock wall but I don't follow him. Instead I go back to the house.
Is that a word? It is now, folks.
Ben doesn't see the problem, except with what he now calls his Little Production Quality Specialist.
It's bad, Benny.
But you love it anyway. Like me, I guess.
***
Lochlan is sitting in the gazebo when I come out, his phone and an empty coffee mug in front of him, a conflicted expression on his face. The wind blows his hair just enough to give him a leading-man appearance and I take a long minute to appreciate that. A very long minute.
What are you waiting for? Am I in your spot? But he hasn't looked at me.
Well, whatever spot you're in is where I want to be.
Fuck me. You sound like Winnie The Pooh.
I burst out laughing but he doesn't join in. Okay, what's wrong?
Nothing you can fix, Peanut, and if you're okay then that's all that matters.
Okay is a relative ter-
You know exactly what I mean. He glares at me.
I nod. Caleb staying.
Caleb staying. Because it's not enough to have a romantic dinner for four. He somehow charms every last one of us! What this fuck is that, even? Last time I looked I wasn't into the tall, dark and rakish type-
Rakish. What a delicious word!
Don't change the subject.
Another reason to want to be a man. Y'all can be rakish.
Bridge.
Yes?
How did he make me think that was totally okay? That of course it's normal-
Oh, it's so not normal, Lochlan.
I know that but how? How did he manage to bewitch me too?
It was late, mayb-
Contrary to popular belief, I care very deeply for your approval in every area of my life, my relationship to Bridget included. Caleb is behind me and I jump fifty feet. I love you like a brother. Maybe more than that. Maybe you're beginning to see my side of this finally. I certainly hope this week is an indication of things to come.
He turns and goes back in to the house. I turn and watch him go and then when I turn back around Lochlan is gone. I see the door close on the camper parked at the edge of the rock wall but I don't follow him. Instead I go back to the house.