C22 Aria

I strolled back into the bedroom waving two bottles of wine in both hands like carrots in front of a mule, trying to coax a laugh out of Amelia Rose. It worked, and she followed me into the living room. A few minutes later, Caylie showed up. With everything going on with Ryan, Caylie’s break-up, and Amelia Rose’s Shadow daddy, we needed a girls-only night. I ordered a pizza and poured some wine. We started digging into the chips while we argued over a good movie to watch.

The point of the movie was to help distract us from the guys, but I found it difficult to forget about my run-in with Dorien. I still hadn’t told Ryan. You could say I got a little caught up in the moment when I got there. But now, at home, with a picture of Ryan standing behind me matching my crazy, memories are all I can focus on.

“Alright, spill,” Caylie cut the TV off, the two of them waiting for me to spill my guts about Ryan, I’m sure. I have said little about Ryan to the girls since he got back. Maybe it was time. I can’t tell them everything yet. It wasn’t my secret to tell. If I don’t say something, there may just be a riot in my living room. How do you say I forgave him, and now I am helping him sort through his emotionally traumatic new family heritage that will change his life forever and an evil vampire is helping Dorien with some nefarious plan to hurt him?

“I don’t have any milk?” I shrugged, masking. Caylie tilted her head, confused. Amelia Rose shook her head, smiling. She got the joke. “You said spill, spilled milk,” Caylie continued to look at me crazy. “I don’t have any milk to spill?” I put my waving hands down. “Really? Nothing.”

“Girl, just tell us what is going on with you and Ryan. You’ve been staring at that picture the whole movie.”

“I forgave him.” I smiled, remembering the taste of him. “We haven’t made anything official yet,” I smiled, “we’ve, uh,” I paused, “been busy.” Both their eyes widened, but not as big as their

smiles. Caylie hit me gently with a couch pillow.

“How were you even able to keep that to yourself?” She said.

“Yeah, what’s wrong?” Amelia Rose chimed in. “You’ve waited too long for this to be sulking at his picture.” She laid her hand on my arm. “Did something else happen?”

“Dorien is back with a friend to help bring him down.” I gulped some wine like it was soda. “He called what he did to me and I quote ‘thinking too small’.” Another gulp.

“He is psychotic.” Caylie twisted up her face, disgusted. “Over football, really?”

“He said it was about Farley Husbern.” The girls gasped. We all knew who he was. He changed Ryan’s life. It’s not a name I could bring up lightly. “I haven’t told him yet. I don’t know how.”

They wrapped their arms around me, letting me feel everything and ramble on about Ryan, but not his secret. I felt Amelia Rose pulling the strong emotions out of me as I ran out of breath. I was talking so fast, feeling so much. I think she knows there is more. She can sense more. I’ll tell her when Caylie leaves. Until then.

“Uh, uh.” I stood up, newly filled glass in hand. “I don’t like it.” I shook my head and regretted it. I had already had three glasses of wine. “No more negativity. This isn’t like us. There is fun to be had!” I announced in my best announcer voice. “Let us have it!” I gulped the entire glass of wine and held it in the air. “Hear, Hear!”

The girls raised their glasses and repeated it. I turned on some music, grabbed Ryan’s picture, and started dancing. They laughed, but I didn’t care. We may not have made anything official with words, but that man was mine. Let me be damned if I let him come to harm because of Dorien and his scary vampire. I didn’t use my magic last time, but I’ll do anything to protect Ryan this time. I made sure the picture of Ryan knew it, with a wet, sloppy, drunken kiss. A kiss Caylie took a picture of. If that doesn’t lock him down, then he isn’t the one for me, but he knows me through and through, crazy and all. So, I didn’t care she took it.

I set the picture back on the table facing the couch. I stood on the couch, putting one leg on the back of it, and I sang the song to the top of my lungs, dedicating it to him. Caylie recorded it all. Some might think I regretted this moment when I sobered, but I was proud. I hit all the high notes, every last one tipsy and all. Where is my contract? When the song was over, I tried to

pour another glass, but Amelia Rose stopped me.

“You’ve had enough. Get down. You’re crazy enough on your own.” She laughed and grabbed my hand, pulling me down to the couch. “You have thoroughly serenaded his picture.”

“What about your mystery man? I’m surprised you haven’t gushed about him yet.” Oh, that got her smiling.

“Amelia Rose, I don’t like that smile what happened.”

“He took her on a private plan! She has even met the mama!” I yelled, “The mama!”

“It’s not like she is making it sound,” she rolled her eyes at me. “But it has been pretty amazing. I’m just not sure if it’s enough, you know.” She leaned against the arm of the couch, putting up her feet. “To look past everything. I’m still not sure about his intentions.”

“I know what his intentions are!” I yelled. Why am I so loud?

“Me too!” Caylie chimed in. She leaned toward Amelia Rose with her hands cupped, miming like she was taking a drink. She had no idea how right she was. We talked and joked for a few more minutes. Caylie called a cab and left.

“Dorien’s friend,” I waited for her to sit back down on the couch. “98% sure he is a vampire.” Her eyes widened. “I’ve been busting at the seams to tell you that since I brought it up. I hate the whole black people must all know each other thing, so I won’t assume he is connected to your shadow daddy.” I wiggled my eyebrows at her. “But it seems unlikely that we’re both having run-ins with vampires, right?”

“Yeah, it does. Do you remember his name?”