Chapter Sixty
The next hour consists of Buzz and Lori taking it in turns to dedicate songs to each other. Lori’s first song was We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off, which Buzz then replied with R.Kelly’s Bump N’ Grind. Nobody else even attempts to have a turn at singing and based on the audience reaction, I’m pretty sure the owner is about ready to sign them up as an official act.
“It’s like we’re listening to the soundtrack of their relationship,” Sophia says as Lori is half way through You’ve Got A Friend In Me – from the film Toy Story. The lyrics, which are totally contradictory to the lyrics in Buzz’s song choices, earn a few laughs and cheers from the audience. Buzz broods through the entire thing, much to my enjoyment. He copes a lot better with her version of Katy Perry’s I Kissed A Girl. I don’t ask for the back story but it doesn’t take a genius to work it out.
Several songs and drinks later and I’m feeling like my old self again. I’m care free, confident and happy – the happiest I’ve been in a long time. Buzz is now onto his final song of the evening and according to him, he saved the best for last. He thrusts and gyrates his way through Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On and even gets a few dollar bills thrown at him.
“You know, this would be a great song to dance to,” I tell Sophia.
“Would it now?” she asks, eyebrow raised.
I nod. “It definitely would. Buzz and Lori have chosen to communicate via song lyrics. You and I could express ourselves through the medium of dance.”
She laughs. “Okay, Channing.”
“Okay as in you agree to it?”
She leans her head to one side. “I thought you were a good boy.”
“I am, most of the time. But I also have a bad boy streak.”
“Oh, really?”
“Mmmhmm. I can be very bad when I want to be.”
“And when do you want to be?”
“Whenever I’m with you.” Her eyes darken and the rise and fall of her chest quickens. The air around us feels charged, like it’s full of emotion and unspoken truths. She looks like she’s about to say something but stops when she notices someone behind me.
“Hello, Mason,” a familiar voice says.
I manage to tear my eyes away from her and turn around to see who the voice belongs to. “Wow. Chantal. Long time no see.”
She nods. “It’s been eleven years.”
“That’s crazy. It’s gone so fast.”
“You haven’t changed one bit.”
“Don’t say that.” I laugh. “I was a scrawny sixteen year old when you last saw me.”
“But still just as handsome.” She looks at Sophia. “Is this your wife?”
“Oh, no, this is my…this is Sophia.” I don’t know why I have such a hard time calling her my friend. Maybe it’s because she feels like much more than just a friend.
“Well I just recognized you and wanted to come say hi. Congrats on all of your success, by the way. You always were the smartest one in our group.”
“Thanks, Chantal. It was good to see you again.” She gives a little wave then walks away. I turn back to Sophia. “Sorry about that.”
“No, it’s fine. Is she an old friend?”
“Kind of. She was my first ever girlfriend.”
“Oh, cute.”
“I lost my virginity to her.”
“Ah, the time you can’t remember because it was over so quick.”
I laugh. “Thanks for reminding me.”
“Poor Chantal.”
“Poor Chantal? Poor me. She broke up with me the day after.”
Her hand flies up to her mouth, presumably to hide her laughter. “That bad, was it?”
“Yes, it was. I’m not even going to try and deny it. It’s okay, you can laugh. I’ve come on a lot since then.”
She laughs some more. “Is that a pun?”
I sigh. “There you go with your dirty mind again. And no, it wasn’t a pun. Tell me about your ex. How long ago did you break up?”
“Two years ago.”
“Have you dated since?”
“Nope.”
“Why not? I bet men have been falling over themselves to take you out on a date.”
“Um, not really. It’s complicated. My job takes up a lot of my time and to be honest, I haven’t been interested in dating.”
“And is that still how you feel?”
She pauses and I hold my breath waiting for her answer. “No, I don’t think it is.” Good. “What about you? Have you been on any dates since separating from Emily?”
“No. I haven’t been interested in dating.” I look her dead in the eye, willing her to ask me the next question.
“And is that still how you feel?”
“No, Sophia. Not anymore.”
“Do you still love Emily?” she asks, blurting it out as though she has no control over her tongue.
“No, I don’t. I care about her and I probably always will but there’s no love left.”
“Tell me more about her.”
She’s not you. I clear my throat. “What do you want to know?”
“How did you meet? You seem so…different.”
“You’re right, we are different. We were opposites in every way, which I liked to begin with. It was different and exciting. She used to challenge me and question everything but I believe that opposites can only attract for so long. She was a waitress in a restaurant. She used to be independent and ambitious but the money changed her, like it does to a lot of people. We’re not interested in any of the same things and most importantly, our morals and values don’t line up.”
I nod. “Do you think your marriage ended because of Emily’s affair?”
“No.” She looks surprised by my answer. “I believe that if you truly love someone, nothing will get in the way of it. Nothing can stop it. Not time, distance, money or deceit. You will love who you love.”
“And you really believe that?”
“I do. I think that when you find the one, separation isn’t possible.”
“So when did you know that it was over?”
“Deep down, I knew not long after the wedding. I was embarrassed and didn’t want to believe it. We were supposed to be happy, not needing therapy a few months after getting married. She couldn’t understand why I wasn’t happy. She thinks that happiness can be bought. I tried, I really did. I only wanted to get married once.”
“Would you ever get remarried?”
“Yes, I would. Even though it didn’t work out with Emily, I still believe in marriage. I think it would depend on the other person too. They might not want to marry me with all the baggage I have.”
“We all have baggage.”
“But some more than others. I can’t even have an allergic reaction in peace these days.” She laughs. “I do worry that my lifestyle may scare people off. And I also worry that I might be seen as a failure because I couldn’t save my marriage.”
“You’re not a failure, Mason. Not one bit.”
“Would it be weird if I told you that you make me happy?”
She laughs. “Probably. But not as weird as you telling me that you miss my voice.”
“Well in that case, you don’t make me happy. You make me miserable. I haven’t been this miserable in a long time. Nobody can make me feel as miserable as you do.”
“I’ve been trying to fight it but the truth is that you make me miserable too.”
“Please don’t fight it.”
“I wish we had met at a different time, under different circumstances.”
“But if we had, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now telling each other how miserable we are.” She laughs. “Your turn now. How long were you with your ex?”
“Three years.”
“What’s his name?”
“Scott Parker. He wasn’t your decorator by any chance, was he? Sorry, I shouldn’t joke about it.”
I laugh. “Now wouldn’t that be something? But no, his name isn’t Scott. Did you think that he was the one?”
“At the time, yes. But looking back, it’s clear that we weren’t right for each other. We got into a routine and I think we were together out of habit in the end. Even though I loved him, it was never exciting. It was an ordinary, convenient kind of love. Not that there’s anything wrong with that but I don’t want ordinary love. Not anymore. I want to drown in passion.”
“You could have taken the words right out of my mouth. Emily thinks that I have given up on love but it’s the total opposite. I made the decision to leave because I’ll never give up on love. I don’t want to settle. Some people have okay jobs, okay relationships and okay lives and that’s fine, but I don’t want an okay life. I don’t want an okay love. I want a great love. We’re only here once. I would rather risk everything I have for the smallest chance that something amazing could happen. The next time I say I love you to somebody, I want it to feel different, like it’s the first time I’m ever saying it.”
She nods. “Well technically you’ve just said it to me.”
I laugh. “All in good time, Sophia. We have so much more to learn about each other. What’s your last name, by the way?”
She sits up a little straighter. “It’s Hamilton.”
“Hamilton.” A slow grin spreads across my face. “So if we ever get married, your initials would stay the same.”
She laughs. “All in good time, Mason. I mean, jeez, you’re still married to somebody else. I might have to start calling you Ross Gellar.”
I laugh. “So that would make you Rachel.”
“She does have awesome dress sense but I’m probably most like Monica.”
“Ewwww, no, you can’t be my sister.”
“What are you guys talking about?” Buzz asks as he sits down next to me.
“Where have you been?” I ask him, changing the subject.
He smirks. “We needed some air.”
“You okay?” Lori asks Sophia. She nods in response.
“It’s your turn to sing,” Buzz says.
“Nah, I’m sticking to dancing tonight. Isn’t that right, Sophia?”
She raises an eyebrow. “Apparently so. I hope you enjoy dancing on your own.”
I chuckle. “Oh, I do but I’d much rather dance with you.”
“You can’t dance for shit,” Buzz interrupts.
Both Sophia and Lori burst out laughing. “What?” he says. “It’s true. He has no rhythm.”
I shake my head. “Stop talking, Buzz.”
“But everybody knows it’s true. You’re too stiff.”
I think I see actual tears of laughter running down Sophia’s face. “Please stop before I pee on myself,” she says.
“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” I tell Sophia, trying to keep a straight face but failing miserably. “Honestly. I’m a very skilled dancer. Let me prove it to you.”
“Yeah,” Buzz says. “Why don’t you prove it to her right now. We can all watch and laugh.”
“Oh, this is too much,” Lori says when she can catch a breath.
“How many drinks have those two had?” Buzz asks me as he pulls his cell out of his pocket. “They’re acting crazy. I need to document it. Say hello to everybody on Snapchat, ladies.”
“Don’t you dare,” Lori says.
He laughs. “I’m only joking. I’m sure I have a video on here of Mason dancing. Let me find it so I can show you how lame he is.”
My eyes snap to his as Sophia and Lori break out into another fit of laughter. “Don’t you have anything better to do?” I ask. “Perhaps you could text your mom.”
The grin instantly falls from his face and finds its way onto mine. He stands up. “I’ll get some more drinks instead.”