Chapter Ten
Gentry
I know you are excited about seeing your kid tonight but I wish you were going to the party,” I told Ethan as we headed back to the ranch.
“You got Brandon and Boots there,” Ethan offered as options.
“Brandon’s just a kid,” I started.
“You act like we are ancient.”
“I feel it.”
“Well, then Boots.”
“Don’t force it. Someone who is interest in Krys isn’t going to be helpful in trying to keep me in the direction to end things with Brittany.”
“Is she the reason you are breaking up?” Ethan pried.
“I don’t want Krys back. She just made me realize I don’t want to lead Brittany on and wake up one day and be James.”
“Na man. Me and the boys Googled that shit. She did make some gossip columns and I don’t think you can be an ass the way of Doctor James Delore.”
“Delore’s a dick.”
“So you have met?”
“That prick grew up with us. His daddy was a doctor in Saint Louis Barnes and Jewish. They lived in the better part of town. A year ahead of me in school. They both should of known exactly what they were getting when they got together.”
“You should really tell me, or someone, what happened. She’s been here all of two days and you are a total crank ass.”
“I’ll pass. I’m not a chick, I don’t need to talk feelings.”
“I talked to you when Kelli and I split.”
“That was different. Krys is just a memory.”
***
By five-thirty I was heading in the house to get ready for the party. Ed was already same as dressed and had informed me that Krys was upstairs and had already had her turn in our single bathroom.
I had to admit, it was a small reprieve having to stalls to much today as Kyrs had done it all and fed the barned horses. After all – mucking out was no one’s favorite chore and the one that took the most nagging to be done. I doubted she would do it tomorrow, but still.
I jumped in the shower and took note of the extra bottles on the shelf. Three of them. Shampoo, conditioner and body wash. I assumed when I got out that her tooth brush would have joined mine and Ed’s. Lord only knows what else would be lying around.
She had officially moved in today.
“Living with Krys was the dream,” I muttered as I rinsed soap from my body.
I turned the shower off and wrapped a towel around my waist same as I always did before brushing my teeth, forgoing the shave and heading for my room.
I figured Krys had to be in her room still doing her hair or whatever. Not that I cared what she seen on me. It hadn’t changed much.
Krys wasn’t in her room though. She was in mine. And not spread naked on my bed as I had imagined just a few minutes ago as I pre-partied in the shower by myself.
She was in a silky gold dress that shimmered on her every curve, strappy black heels and a feather in her hair, period jewelry and a cigarette holder. She was a flapper from the roaring twenties tonight.
“Hoping the look comes back in a couple years?” I asked her.
“I wouldn’t mind it,” she did a quick spin and tried to hide her blush when her eyes hit my body. “Anyways, I found you a costume as well,” she stepped back to revel an authentic firefighter get up.
“No.”
“Please,” she begged. “I bet Brittany would be thrilled.”
All the more reason not to and then she flashed me the puppy dog eyes.
***
“Please, please, please, please puleezeee….!” They begged.
“No,” I answered and turned the TV back up. They were Disney Princess’ this, their sophomore year, pretty sure they were that when they were five too. Gloria was Ariel and Krys was Belle.
“You’re already dressed to go with Krystina,” Gloria told me.
“What?”
“I think she’s calling you a beast,” Krys clarified.
“I’ll show you Beast,” I grumbled where no one could hear as I stared Krys down.
“Come on, whacha say?” Gloria tried again.
“That I’m not going.”
“But we really, really, really want to go Gentry and the party is out of town. They’re you’re friends from the football team,” Gloria clasped her hands together.
“You’re buying my gas,” I conceded knowing that they weren’t going to shut up and let me watch TV in peace.
“Fine,” Gloria accepted the offer and handed me a twenty that I am almost positive she got from Dad.
“One more thing,” Krys butted in. “It’s costume mandatory.”
“Absolutely not.”
“But I already took care of it,” she said and pulled out a Wal-Mart bag. Leave it to Krys to plan ahead and think of everything. I dreaded whatever she would pull out of it.
“It’s all they had left,” she handed me a plastic fire fighter helmet, red suspenders and a plastic ax. “If you go shirtless it could work. It’s not to cold.”
“Be lucky I am cool enough to pull this off,” I said taking them from her. And lucky that you’re you. That your pretty and that I would do damn near anything to see you smile and am very pleased you want to see me shirtless.
***
“It’s family friendly the first half of the night I’m told, so there’s a dark blue t-shirt to go under the suspenders this time. The pants and jacket, but the jacket I won’t make you wear inside. I took and cut out all the heave insulation earlier.”
“What made you do all of this?” I asked
“I saw it. Made me remember,” she handed me the helmet and stepped carefully into my personal space. “It’s a nice memory from when all we were was friends still. Nothing more.”
“Wasn’t that long before…”
“It was supposed to be a painless memory,” she whispered and walked off.