to the corner where the guys are now sitting, and that’s all Josh needs to follow me.
When Josh and I arrive in the corner, we pull up chairs and join the conversation in progress. They’re talking about Colby’s latest addition—his newborn daughter, Hayley, who’s presently swaddled in Colby’s arms.
I listen for a bit. Again, I’m happy for my friend. But, soon, once again, my mind wanders to Alessandra. When the hell can I get to Boston to see her?
“What about you, Fish Taco?” Ryan, the second-oldest Morgan sibling and our host for today, says. When I look at him, Ryan says, “I asked how your love life is going these days.”
“Oh. It’s going well. I’ve actually got a girlfriend. Alessandra.” I feel my cheeks turning warm. I think Alessandra’s my “girlfriend,” based on the stuff we said to each other on Friday night. I said I only want her and she returned the sentiment. So, that makes her my “girlfriend,” right?
“That’s great, Fish,” Ryan says.
“Unfortunately, she lives in Boston,” I reply. “So, we’re doing a long-distance thing at the moment.”
Ryan asks me how I met Alessandra, so I tell him, and his older brother, Colby, too, neither of whom were at Reed’s party, the entire story. And when it becomes clear Reed’s party was a mere nine days ago, I can tell both dudes are thinking I’m putting the cart before the horse. Getting too attached, too quickly. Assuming too much. But I don’t think they’re right about that, if that’s indeed what they’re thinking.
“Well, now I understand why you haven’t said a word about our mother’s hotness today,” Colby says. He gestures across the backyard. “Momma Lou’s been standing over there doing happy dances about Maddy’s pregnancy for the past twenty minutes, and you haven’t said a word about her.”
I glance across the backyard at Louise and discover she is, indeed, doing a lovely happy dance at this very moment. I force myself not to smile. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Momma Lou is like a second mother to me.”
Ryan snorts. “Well, then, I guess we should add Oedipus to your list of nicknames, eh?”
Everyone laughs, including me.
Keane says, “We all know you’ve been thirsting after our momma for ten years, brah. Maybe even longer.”
I shrug. “If that’s true—not saying it is—then I think the days of me thirsting after her are now officially over.”
“No,” Colin says.
“Yup. I’m a one-woman man. Thirsting after anyone, even Momma Lou—and even in jest—feels like I’m betraying my girlfriend.”
Keane snorts. ‘‘Even in jest, my ass.”
I roll my eyes.
“So, when are you going to see this girlfriend in Boston?” Ryan asks.
“Not for a couple months, unfortunately. Our schedule is packed.”
Dax says, “Violet and Reed are putting together a huge charity concert in New York next month. If you guys are down, let’s do it. You could see Alessandra then.”
Colin and I confirm we’re game. And, suddenly, out of nowhere, I’ve got a date when I’ll get to see my woman—assuming she’s available to come to New York on the night of the concert.
Dax says. “Why don’t we plan to play that concert and then take a full week off afterward? It’ll put us behind the eight ball a bit on finishing the album in time, but I’m willing to put in extra-long days after that, if you guys are. This way, Fish can spend time with his woman. I can take the fam on a little tropical vacay. And Colin can . . . whatever.”
“I can’t believe I’m gonna get to see her,” I say, more to myself than anyone else. “God, I hope she can make it.”
Dax says to Colin, “Will your billboard be up in Times Square by then?”
“It should be.”
Keane asks, “What billboard?” And just like that, the conversation shifts to Colin’s underwear campaign, which, of course, elicits raucous conversation and commentary. But, quickly, my mind drifts again. Alessandra. I’m going to see her again!
Out of nowhere, a weird cocktail of excitement and anxiety floods me. Obviously, I’m dying to get physical with Alessandra when/if I get to see her in New York. I don’t know, for sure, if Alessandra will want to have sex with me there, or at some future time, but what if she does? And what if she wants to do it in New York? I’ve never been with a virgin before. I wonder if there’s something specific I should know to make it extra special for her?
My gaze drifts across the faces in the