Chapter Eighteen
Brock
“There was nothing I could do, right? You were in the hospital and me sitting by the bed watching you; well I just thought it would be pointless. Molly, I’m sorry. That was probably wrong…” That was when I walked up on this conversation. At first I held back, because I didn’t want to intrude…
“You think, Zack?” Molly was saying. She sounded annoyed, and if I wasn’t wrong, like she wanted him to go away.
His face was red now. Good, at least he felt a little bit ashamed. “Give me a chance to make it up to you Molly. This time will be different, I promise.”
“I don’t think so, Zack,” she said. “I’m not finished being sick. I wouldn’t want to spoil your college fun.” Nice sarcasm, she’s doing fine and as bad as I want to punch this guy I’m hanging back, letting her handle it.
“Maybe we could just hang out, you know, date. We don’t have to get into anything serious.” Wow, this guy was a piece of work. She opened her mouth and then closed it right away. I could tell that she was shocked too and didn’t know what to say. I hope she doesn’t get mad at me, but I couldn’t keep my mouth shut any more.
“She said she’s not interested.”
Zack’s head snapped up and he looked at me standing behind Molly. She looked at me too, shocked. It looked like she was wondering how long I’d been standing there. I was hoping she didn’t mind me getting involved but I couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Oh,” he said, standing up, looking back at Molly now, not at me. Then the big chicken-shit was saying, “Why didn’t you just say you had a boyfriend?”
I still wanted to punch him, more so now that he was implying if she didn’t have a boyfriend she would be desperate enough to take him back.
“I’m not lucky enough to be her boyfriend…yet,” I said. It was the truth, but I also wanted him to know that Molly didn’t need him, whether she had a boyfriend or not. “When or if I am, I guarantee you that I won’t tuck my balls and run the second that the going gets rough. I’m going to man up and be deserving of this fine, beautiful woman, unlike you. So run along cowardly pup and leave the lady be.”
Zack’s face was bright red now. I think he was more pissed than embarrassed. He looked like the kind of guy who had been the high school jock, the homecoming king, the guy all the girls wanted to go to the prom with. Now here he was being told off by a musician. He looked like he wasn’t going to leave for just a second, but first he looked at Molly, who was grinning and then he sized me up one more time. Then, proving he was the biggest loser ever he said, “Call me if you ever want to hang out, Molly.” Molly and I watched him walk away. Both of us in awe of the guy’s nerve I think. Finally, we made eye contact and laughed.
“I’m not even going to ask what you saw in that guy,” I said.
She just grinned and said, “Thanks, because I don’t know if I could answer it. Is it okay if I hang out at your apartment with you for a while, tonight?”
“Of course.” Yes please!
She went on then to say, “I think Meg and Jake have plans and I really don’t want to sit in the room by myself tonight.”
“Sure,” I said. “Although just for future information I would prefer something along the lines of, “I really can’t stand the thought of leaving you Brock; you’re so handsome and debonair. I can’t stand the thought of being away from you.”
She laughed, “Debonair, really? I don’t think I’ve ever used that word in a sentence.”
I have no idea where I heard it, probably an old movie. It sounded good though. She turned serious then and I forgot all the words as I listened to her say, “But handsome, you most definitely are. And your song to me….it gave me chills. And thank you for sticking up for me with Zack.” Now she looked like she wanted to kiss me. I thought about going in for it, but I remembered my promise to her. She would let me know when she was ready. My lips were aching.
“That guy doesn’t deserve a woman like you,” I told her. Then I remembered something and said, “I have a present for you.”
“A present? It’s not my birthday or anything.”
“It’s not a big deal. Just something I saw and thought of you,” I told her. “It’s in my bag on Suzie. But first…don’t you owe me a dance?”
“I believe I do,” she said. I led her out to the dance floor, timing it again when a slow song was playing. Go me! When we found an open spot, I turned to face her and pulled her into my chest. This time was different though, instead of holding onto my hands and leaning back somewhat, she had her head against my chest, one hand in mine, and the other on my shoulder. She felt so good against me like this, and without thinking I stooped over just a bit and I rested the side of my face against her head. I loved the way her silky hair felt against the side of my face, and of course I loved the way it smelled. The only problem with any of it was that the stupid song ended way too soon. It was so damned hard to let go.
“Thank you,” I told her with a smile.
“Thank you,” she told me. “I had such a great time listening to you play and sing tonight. You really are very good.”
I don’t admit this out loud, but I’m kind of a conceited guy. It’s not that I think I’m better than anyone else, or that I deserve more because I’m kind of good-looking and I can sing. But I know what my assets are, and because of being sick, and the deficits that brought with it, I’ve learned to use my assets to my advantage. Long story short, I wasn’t usually fazed by praise. I usually already knew what they were telling me about myself. With Molly though, like everything else I guess, it was different. Her praise went straight to a place of honor in my head and in my heart.
“Thank you,” I told her. “I’m really glad you came. Let’s go get your present.”
When we got to the bike I took the present out and handed it to her. It was wrapped in tissue paper.
“Can I open it?” she said. She was cute, like a little kid at Christmas time.
I nodded and smiled and she ripped off the paper. I felt bad at first, because as she saw it, tears sprung to her pretty brown eyes.
“Oh, Brock!” she said, and then she surprised us both I think by throwing her arms around me and giving me a hug. It was our first official hug…I think.
“It’s the most thoughtful present anyone has ever gotten for me.”
There’s a scene in Benny and Joon, where he puts an old Jack-in-the-Box on her front doorstep and knocks so when she opens it there’s nothing there but the box. It’s a really cute scene, and one of her favorites. The box was exactly the same and it looked about fifty years old.
“I saw it in the window of the antique store by the university and I thought of you instantly,” I told her, honestly, with a grin. I was glad she liked it so much.
“I love it, thank you.”
I handed her the helmet she wore when we rode Suzie and we climbed on the bike. Feeling her hold on to me as we rode has always been a great feeling, but tonight seemed different somehow. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what it was, but it felt…safe, and warm and comfortable. I liked it…a lot.