Part 9 (1/2)
”Ooh, what'd you get him?” Ginny asked, sitting up straighter. I could tell that the topic of her son had already cheered her up.
”A s.h.i.+rt, a few toys; nothing too major,” Jen said.
”Hmm, that sounds like what I got him,” I said.
Ginny looked at me, a slightly sheepish smile on her face. ”Me, too. I think we went a little overboard.”
When Josh and Danny arrived a few minutes later, it was clear that we had gone more than just a little overboard. After accepting kisses and hugs from all three of us, Danny was promptly made to open no fewer than ten presents. He was now the proud owner of four Vegas t-s.h.i.+rts, an Eiffel Tower money bank, several pool floats in various shapes, and a gladiator costume from Caesar's Palace.
”Talk about spoiled,” Josh muttered. ”Is anyone at all excited to see me?”
Ginny ceased her incessant kissing of Danny to smile at Josh. ”Sorry, babe,” she said, getting up to hug him h.e.l.lo. Jen took over snuggling the baby. I had to admit, Josh had a point. Between the three women in his life, Danny was pretty spoiled. But how could you blame us, when he was that cute and sweet?
”Oh.”
We all looked up to see Tina standing in the doorway, looking at us with a bewildered expression.
”There are people here,” she said, still looking confused.
”Hey, Tina,” Jen said. ”How was your weekend?”
”Weekend?” she asked, her fake airy voice becoming more p.r.o.nounced.
”Yeah, your weekend,” Jen said. ”Did you enjoy having the house to yourself while we were gone?”
”You were gone?” Tina asked.
I rolled my eyes. She was such a faker.
”Yeah, we've been in Vegas, remember? You said goodbye to us when we left on Thursday,” I said.
”Oh...oh, yes, I suppose I do remember that. It must have slipped my mind. I've been doing so much meditating, I've barely been on this plane at all...”
With a dreamy little shrug, she turned and slipped back to her bedroom. Jen and Ginny were doing their d.a.m.nedest not to laugh. ”She is ridiculous,” I muttered. ”Seriously, who does she think she's kidding?”
”I'm surprised you don't like her,” Josh said, draping his arm lazily over Ginny's shoulder. ”I mean, aren't you supposed to be all into that open-minded hippie stuff? I've seen some of the theater friends you hang out with, you know.”
”Tina is not a hippie,” I said firmly. ”She doesn't really believe in meditation or crystals or any of it. I would respect her if I thought she was for real, but she's not anything but a fake. Her whole persona is just an excuse to smoke pot and be lazy. She's a poser.”
”The worst thing you can be in Annie's book,” Ginny told him, smiling at me in a fond sort of way.
”Enough about crazy Tina,” Josh said, leaning in for another kiss. ”I thought you were supposed to be telling me how much you miss me?”
Ginny giggled and snuggled into him.
My cell phone rang, distracting me from the sight of Ginny and Josh reuniting. Something about the sight of them set off a little pain in my stomach, though I had no idea why-usually their overt displays of affection simply made me nauseous.
I looked down at the screen of my phone and found myself smiling involuntarily.
I managed to slip out of the living room without interrogation, and I answered the phone on my way to my bedroom.
”Hey,” I said softly.
”Hey,” Nate replied. I felt my smile grow. ”Will you call me a wuss if I told you that I miss you already?”
”Probably,” I said.
”Well, I guess I couldn't expect any less from you.” The amus.e.m.e.nt was clear in his voice and I could just tell he was smiling on the other end of the phone. I felt my own smile grow wider. I probably looked like an idiot.
”What can I say, Nate? I'm a tough broad.”
He laughed. ”I'm actually not so sure about that.”
”Really?”
”Yeah. I think that's just reputation, a cover.”
”So what am I covering up?” I asked, feeling my stomach squirm a little at the flirtatious tone in his voice.
”Your soft and gooey underside,” he replied. I burst out laughing.
”Nice try,” I told him.
”I still think I'm right,” he replied easily. ”But I guess we can table the topic for now. So, are you home yet?”
”Yeah, landed about an hour ago. We're currently showering Danny with way too many gifts. You'd think it was his birthday or something.”
”See?” Nate replied. ”Even the baby has you wrapped around his finger. Soft and gooey, just like I said.”
”Whatever,” I said, rolling my eyes. ”So where are you?”
”Waiting at the airport,” he said. ”Bored out of my mind and wis.h.i.+ng you were here.”
”What about all of your friends?” I asked.
”They're all hung over,” he replied. ”Everyone is sitting around with sungla.s.ses on, trying not to move so they don't throw up.”
”Sounds like a successful bachelor party,” I said.
”I guess so. But anyhow, I wondered what you were up to tonight.”
”Tonight?” I asked. I had been planning on lazing around the house, spending time with the girls and Danny.
”Yeah. I was thinking maybe we could get dinner when I get back.”
When I didn't answer, he sighed. ”Just casual, Annie,” he said. ”No big deal, I promise. We'll get dinner and I'll take you right home.”