Donna tenses up as we are entering the party. Before we reach
inside, she slowly slips her arm off of mine. My ever-considerate
assistant.
There's music in the air, but I think I'm less affected by it. Maybe
Stanley was right.
Or maybe I am a little more distracted by Donna's `brooding' than my
musical phobia.
"So what's with the love recluse thing that you were talking about?"
She glares at me. Okay, she has told me about this before.
"I've already told you about it twice before, Joshua."
Opps.
"Humor me."
The glare softens into a smirk. That's a good sign, right? "You
mean that I should tell you again?"
Yeah, she got that right, but hell's chance I would admit to
it. "No, I heard it the first time you told me. I want you to humor
me and enlighten me again about this theory of yours."
Smirk disappears. There's that glare again. Damnit.
"Joshua, you are such a liar."
"Am not." I am beyond pubescence. I swear.
"You are, too. But because you dragged me here tonight, I guess I
should bore you again with my theory.."
She starts off with her love recluse explanation, but my mind is far
away from listening. I look at her as she waves her hand in the air
as if they themselves were weaving the story into her mouth. I never
realized how her eyes sparkled when she talks. I smile at her
enthusiasm. What would I give to be able to be that happy?
As she goes on, I notice her dress. It looks very familiar.
Is that?
Nah, it couldn't be.
She did tell me that she couldn't afford it. I was planning to get
for her for the holidays, but with the whole "window" situation, I
somehow forgot.
"Josh, are you listening to me? Or is my dress better company?" She
snaps me out of thought.
That glare again. Oh, crap.
"I'm sorry, but have you worn that dress before?" She takes a moment
to answer. In fact, I could have sworn that she paled for a second,
but with alabaster skin, I could be wrong.
"Actually, yes." I knew it!
"That's the dress you wore with that Tim guy, isn't it?" I am
excited. Not about the Tim guy, but about something else.
"His name was Todd, and yes, it is." Yes!
"I thought you weren't going to buy it." I swear my eyes are dancing
with teasing excitement.
"Yeah, well.." She's at lost for words. Victory is close, Lyman.
Now for the sinker..
"Didn't I tell you that you looked good in that dress?"
The reds from the holiday decorations could not possibly beat the
flush on Donna's face right now. "Yes," she mumbles.
I think for once, I have won an argument. I should be happy, but her
embarrassment is not quite the prize I was looking for. In fact, I
feel less triumphant. I feel more..flattered.
I have to ask. I have to know. "You didn't buy it, because of what
I said, did you?"