The next morning, Leah felt...off. She felt a strange combination of guilt, disappointment, embarrassment, and that ever present pit of anxiety from Dan's stupid texts.
She knew she had taken it a little far with Boomhauer last night. God, what an idiot. Why was she like that? Was she really that childish and desperate?
She was lonely. Sure, she had friends in Peggy, Nancy, and Minh, but she was craving something else, something different. Something...romantic?
At first, she wasn't looking for that. But after she got settled into her new home with her new life, she was able to spend time thinking about other things, like how much she liked being around Boomhauer, and talking with him, and how nice it would be to have somebody to spend time with.
And, not to mention, how hot he was.
Last night her feelings about him were more apparent than they had ever been. Their energies and spirits and souls were so harmonious and coordinated, their auras so complementary to each other. Every time they touched, a spark of electricity crackled through her body.
She also had felt a little scared from the text she had received from Dan shortly before going to the bowling alley. She then began to realize she was craving that security she felt when she was with Boomhauer.
So she took their touchy flirting a little far, for whatever stupid reason, and Boomhauer bolted. Right into the open arms of that bartender girl, too, who was probably much less… annoying, than she was.
She had hoped her morning run would provide a little comfort, and perhaps it would have, had she not noticed Boomhauer's car was absent from his driveway. It looked as though he stayed the night somewhere else, which could only mean one thing.
Leah tried to ignore it as she went about her day. She did a crystal healing on herself, by lining up the crystals correlating to each chakra and cleansing them with a large quartz cluster. She especially felt trouble with her heart chakra, which she had represented with a rose quartz.
She felt a sense of lucidity when she was finished, and was sure that when Peggy, Nancy, and Minh came over later for yoga would help even further.
After a relaxing and meditative session, they all went to Minh's house for their usual post-workout brunch. The alley was empty when they crossed the street, and Leah morosely noticed Boomhauer still hadn't returned home.
The others must have noticed too, because Peggy mentioned it after they had all gotten settled in around Minh's kitchen table.
"I see Boomhauer never came home last night."
They all looked at Leah, attempting to read her reaction.
"I guess not."
"What happened between you and him?" Minh asked.
Leah sighed, not wanting to dredge it back up again, but explained anyway.
"I don't know. I thought we liked each other. I thought he was putting out all the right signs. But last night I kept touching him. And I think I got too annoying, so he up and left."
"Touching him how?" Minh asked.
Leah blushed a little, embarrassed at how childish she was acting last night. "Well, like touching my leg to his. Then after a while I put his arm around me and cuddled into him. That's when he bolted."
Minh raised an eyebrow.
Leah tried to explain herself more, eyes cast down at the table. "I don't know what came over me. I guess it's just been a long time since I've liked somebody."
"It's not you, it's him," Nancy assured her. "You didn't do anything wrong. Flirting like that is what normal people do."
Peggy sympathized. "I thought he liked you. He really seemed to pay special attention to you. Something must have happened last night to make him suddenly act like that."
"Men are stupid," Minh declared simply. Nancy and Peggy nodded in agreement.
Leah still looked particularly glum, prompting Nancy to try and cheer her up again.
"Shug, you should date someone else to forget about him. You're ready to date now it seems like."
"Yes!" Minh approved, "Boomhauer is missing out. Why should that be your problem?"
"The guy who does my taxes is single," Peggy suggested.
Minh shook her head. "No, Leah needs someone who's more...fun."
"Uh, ladies? Are you forgetting about John Redcorn?" Nancy grinned devilishly.
Peggy and Minh oohed in delight while Leah sat quietly listening to the future of her dating life being planned for her.
"What do you think?" Nancy asked. She held her phone out to Leah, which had a (shirtless) picture of John Redcorn on display.
Leah's widened eyes gave away her opinion to the rest of the table. Nancy nodded, a knowing look played about her face.
"I can call him and set you guys up to go out, probably tonight."
"Really? So it wouldn't, uh...be weird? For you or for him?"
"No, not at all! Like I said before, he and I are done. But I still want to see him happy with somebody, and he broke up with that Charlene a while ago. I really think you guys would get along great."
Leah pondered the strangeness of the entire situation. But the thought that prevailed was the one that said she should try to go out with somebody. Maybe she really was ready to date now… Whatever it was with Boomhauer was a mess, but she could at least spend some time with somebody else…
She took in a determined breath. "Okay… I'll do it."
Boomhauer and his friends were out in the alley under the hazy morning sun, not long after Boomhauer returned home from Chelsea's studio apartment above the eye doctor place uptown. Last night in bed with her had been alright. The two of them didn't have much in common, but it was no matter since Boomhauer wasn't going to see her again, anyway.
He still felt unsatisfied, with a wistful longing that kept worsening as time went on. He wanted something else, something more, something real.
He wanted Leah.
Bill was very upbeat and happy today, after securing a date with somebody for the first time in a while. Boomhauer kept his fingers crossed for this Joyce woman to actually work out. Bill certainly deserved it.
"So how did you two get to talking?" Hank asked him.
Bill's face suddenly went smug. "Funny story, really." He gave Boomhauer a sharp look. "Since somebody was flirting with Leah all night, I gave up and went to the bar, and Joyce was there. She invited me to go sit with her and her group."
"Bill," Boomhauer sighed, "I wasn't trying, I mean, I didn't mean to-"
Bill held up his hand to stop him. "Save it. I don't want to hear it. I know I don't have a chance when you're always loping around. I just thought maybe our friendship would have meant something to you."
"It does, you're my best fr-"
"Yeah? Then why were you playing grab-ass with her all night? When I beg you every day to give me a damn chance with her?"
Boomhauer rubbed at the back of his neck as he tried to articulate an answer. What could he even say? That he couldn't help himself? There really was no excuse.
"I know… I just... really like her, I guess. More than just… you know." He mumbled the rest, growing embarrassed. Hank, Dale, and even Bill's surprised looks weren't helping.
After a moment of stunned silence, Dale squinted at the sky.
"Wait, wait...what's that? Is that a pig flying?"
Boomhauer rolled his eyes behind a sip of beer.
"I figured as much," Hank nodded. "Not many people have gotten a real smile out of you like she has."
Bill scowled, not hiding his skepticism. "So it's okay to disrespect me because you like her?"
"No. I know I was in the wrong. I realized it and I tried to shut it down, I even went home with somebody else."
"Still got laid though, didn't you?" Bill laughed, wildly, mockingly.
It was too early for this shit.
Hank cleared his throat, trying to tread carefully. "Well, you can't help who you like. And it's different for Boomhauer."
Scoffing, Bill asked, "Different how?"
"Well, you like any woman with a pulse," explained Dale, "Boomhauer just has sex with them."
"I do feel differently about her…" Boomhauer said quietly, "But I'm sorry I hurt you anyway, Bill. I won't do anything with her anymore. She and I- We'll just be neighbors."
Bill's harsh expression softened, but his tone still retained a trace of apprehension. "It's too late, anyway. She already likes you. She always has."
"You matter more to me."
Bill looked touched by that. He sighed. "You matter more to me, too. And, you know what? What matters to me is that you're happy, and if she's going to make you happy, then…"
Boomhauer nearly did a double-take.
"Wait...what?"
"Hank's right," Bill conceded, "I know you don't usually like somebody as more than just a one night stand. So I know this has got to be something real…"
A small smile spread across Boomhauer's face. He certainly was not expecting this, Bill's blessing.
His delight was stopped short, however, when he remembered how roughly he had ended with Leah last night. Hopefully he would be able to smooth it over, and ask her to forgive him. And then ask her out on a date, this time actually just the two of them-and they wouldn't even be getting root canals.
"Thanks, man." Boomhauer patted Bill on the shoulder. "I hope things go well between you and Joyce tomorrow."
"Me, too."
Shortly after, Leah, Peggy, and Nancy left Minh's house and walked out into the alley. It was the first time Boomhauer had seen Leah since last night. Again she wouldn't meet his eyes, barely acknowledging him beyond a general "Hi," to him and his friends.
Peggy and Nancy chatted with the guys while Leah stood stiffly off to the side. Twice Boomhauer thought he saw her nervously looking over at him, as if she wanted to say something, but nothing came.
He wanted to say something to her, too, but with everybody around it was just too awkward and prickly. When would he ever get a real chance to talk to her, just the two of them?
Leah quickly said goodbye to them all, and thanked Peggy and Nancy for brunch, then ducked out and went back to the calm sanctuary of her house. Funny how relaxed and centered she felt right up until she saw Boomhauer again.
The energy she felt from him was troubled, and his aura looked different from the way it usually did. It was usually a clear, soft blue, but lately, and especially now, it seemed to be muddied.
That was no matter now. She had to focus on her date tonight. She wondered if she even remembered how to act on a date; it had been so long since she'd been on one.
Nancy had snapped a picture of Leah to send to John Redcorn, who responded right away saying he would love to take her out tonight. Leah had to say she felt pretty flattered by his prompt enthusiasm. He suggested they go to Hyunh's, a Vietnamese place near the river at the edge of town. Leah had never eaten Vietnamese food before, and was very interested in trying it.
Once Leah was completely out of earshot, Nancy casually mentioned "Leah has a date tonight."
Boomhauer nearly choked on his beer. "What?" he asked, in spite of himself.
Nancy smirked at him. "With John Redcorn."
This time Bill really did choke on his beer.
"Uh...John Redcorn, huh?" Hank said into the stunned silence.
"We figured it was time she went out with somebody who would appreciate her," Nancy responded delicately while looking at Boomhauer.
"Wait," Dale spoke up, "Wasn't John Redcorn with Charlene?"
"My ex girlfriend," Bill grumbled bitterly.
"They're not together anymore," Nancy shrugged.
"So John Redcorn and Leah…" Dale mused, "Their baby will be born on a higher plane of spirituality than the rest of us mere mortals."
Peggy groaned. "It's just one date!"
"You know how fast John Redcorn works," Dale shrugged.
"Dale, you need to fix the hot water tank, remember?" Nancy reminded him quickly.
With a sigh, Dale dropped the butt of his cigarette into his empty beer can.
"See you later, lads," Dale said, and departed for home with Nancy.
Hank waited for Peggy to say something, but she didn't.
"Well?" he asked.
"Well what?"
"John Redcorn? Really?"
"So?"
"So... didn't she like Boomhauer?"
Peggy gave Boomhauer a look. "She did, but it wasn't reciprocal, was it?"
"It was," Hank explained, "But Bill liked her, too, and Boomhauer was trying to be mindful of that."
Peggy shook her head in disapproval. "You know, she really thinks she did something wrong."
"What?" Boomhauer asked, in spite of himself again. "What does she think she did?"
"Something about being too touchy-feely. She thinks she came off as annoying and clingy, and that's why you went off with what's-her-face at the bar."
Boomhauer groaned. "No. I just realized I let it go too far when I was supposed to be setting boundaries for Bill's sake."
Peggy shrugged. "Well, she was pretty upset by whatever it was. I have to say, I probably would have been more understanding had you not immediately gone to the next girl within eyesight."
He closed his eyes pensively, searching his mind for what was the matter with him. "I don't know why I did that. Tried to get Leah off of my mind, maybe."
Though she looked stern, Peggy's tone was comforting. "Well, I hope you two can work through whatever this is. As much as I think she and John Redcorn would get along, well-you understand his track record."
"Boomhauer has a track record, too," Bill mentioned loftily. Despite his reconciliation with Boomhauer, he still felt entitled to a cheap shot or two. Boomhauer didn't blame him.
"Well," hesitated Peggy, "People can change. And that means John Redcorn can, too."
She said goodbye to them and left, leaving the alley to stand in a stiffened silence.
It was after several quiet moments when Boomhauer muttered, "I'm screwed."
"It won't be so bad," Hank comforted. "It's just one date. Then you'll get your chance to talk to her and win her back over with the ol' Boomhauer charm."
Bill's response was doubtful. "The Redcorn charm, though… You realize he's taken almost all of our women? Nancy, Charlene, Leah… Better lock Peggy up, Hank."
Hank gave him a look.
"Leah's not my 'woman,'" Boomhauer grumbled.
"She's not mine, either."
Boomhauer wondered how many more of these jibes he would have to put up with.
They stood out in the alley well after the sun's ascent had peaked and began falling back down to the horizon. Eventually Hank and Bill went home to work on their weekend to-do lists and Boomhauer was alone again, looking wistfully in the direction of Leah's house. He wanted to go see her but he was too afraid that it would make things worse.
He eventually returned home, slowly, and collapsed on the couch to sleep off his worried thoughts. When he fell for someone, he fell hard. He never would be this affected by somebody he didn't have true feelings for.
Hours ticked by in thequiet before he groggily rolled up and staggered to the sink. He filled a glass with water from the faucet and chugged as though he hadn't drunk in days. His mind hadn't fully woken up yet, and he wondered vaguely why he felt like roadkill. Suddenly the light bulb clicked on in his brain:
Leah.
He sighed.
A glance out the back window showed him his friends were back in the alley again. He stepped into his boots and headed out to them.
"What the hell happened to you?" Dale wondered as Boomhauer approached.
Boomhauer ignored him.
He dug a beer out of the cooler and cracked it open before settling in line beside Bill.
"Are you, uh… You okay?" Hank asked gently.
He shrugged dismissively.
Bill looked him over. "You look like five miles of bad prairie."
Boomhauer gave him a questioning look, to which Bill shrugged and drank his beer.
"Well," Hank began, moving on, "I recaulked the bathtub in my master bedroom. I try to do it every six months but I just couldn't wait that long…"
The rest of them continued on with small talk and observations, same as always. Boomhauer's mind had wandered as soon as Dale mentioned his favorite sandpaper grit.
The sun slid lower down to the horizon. It would have been another peaceful, pleasant evening, had the knot in Boomhauer's stomach not continued.
"Ah…" Hank suddenly trailed at he looked off into the distance. Everyone's attention turned down to Leah's house, and Boomhauer's breath hitched in his chest.
Leah had swept out down her driveway and to her car, wearing a fitted floral dress, her blonde hair down in curls. She looked beautiful, of course, and she was going to see John Redcorn.
"Definitely heading to a date," Bill stated.
"A hot one."
"Dale," Hank scolded.
Boomhauer gazed after Leah, long after her car had left Rainey Street.
Hank must have noticed Boomhauer's quiet yearning. "It'll be alright," he assured him.
"I need a real chance to talk to her."
Hank thought for a moment. "How about I throw a barbecue tomorrow? Then she'll be here, and -"
"If she's not still in bed with John Redcorn," Dale pointed out.
Sighing roughly, Hank told him to shut up.
"I can't stay for it for too long," Bill informed them, "I have my own date tomorrow evening." He drew up straighter, looking proud.
"Yeah Bill, we know," Dale replied.
"Barbecue could work…" Boomhauer said quietly.
Hank nodded knowingly. "Grilled meat always works. Well, maybe not in Leah's case, but at least the atmosphere of a neighborhood gathering will."
Good, a barbecue to look forward to… Now Boomhauer could think about something other than Leah being alone with John Redcorn…
"So where're you taking your date, Bill?" Hank asked.
"Sugarfoots!" he delighted, "I had a real hankering for their baby back ribs."
"Just don't wear the bib again," warned Dale.
"That was one time!"
As the evening went on and the sky began turning over into inky nightfall, Boomhauer's mind kept swirling with thoughts of Leah, and how her night with John Redcorn might be going. Were they connecting over their spirituality? Was she laughing at his jokes? Was she going home with him?
He knew his stomach had no business sinking at that thought. He had gone home with a someone just last night.
Eventually his friends began saying goodbye and retreating to their houses for bed. Boomhauer had half a mind to wait in the alley, just to see if Leah came home tonight. But he knew that was ridiculous.
Sorta.
He decided on one last beer, mostly to buy time. He was surprised when Leah's blue Prius turned down the street and into her driveway. He hadn't expected her home so soon; it had only been a couple hours since she left.
It could have been the liquid courage, but he strode straight across the street to see her.
"Hi," she said, smiling, yet nervously stiff.
"Hi."
She waited for him to say something, maybe explain why he was out in the alley later than usual, walking across the alley to say hi to her, seemingly waiting for her to return home.
He said nothing, however, instead searching her moonlit face.
"What's got you out so late?" she asked.
"Didn't want to go home yet."
Another quiet moment passed.
"Um…" Leah stalled, putting together what she had been wanting to tell him. She hadn't expected to see him tonight, hadn't quite rehearsed. "I'm sorry about yesterday. I don't know what I was thinking. I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable."
She peered anxiously up at him, awaiting his response.
"You didn't," he shook his head gently, moving closer, "It's my fault. Bill liked you, and I kept trying to be respectful of that. But I kept forgetting; or, at least, I kept getting closer to you anyway. Last night I took myself out of the situation, for his sake, but I hurt you in the process."
"Oh. But if he still likes me…"
"He, well, he can see how much I like you. So he said it was… okay, if I wanted to go out with you."
Leah thought his unusual display of nervousness was endearing. He usually was so calm, cool, and collected.
She smiled playfully at him. "So you want to go out with me, huh?"
"Of course I do. If you think you'd want to spend time with me, that is." He smiled playfully back.
She held his flirty gaze, eyes sparkling, until she remembered a troubling thought which made her look away.
"You left for some other girl last night."
"I-yeah."
He watched as she looked down at the pavement, her eyebrows creasing in thought. He spoke again in a reassuring tone.
"I'm sorry I did that. I think I was just trying to get you off of my mind."
"Did it work?"
The question took him aback slightly, but the answer came readily.
"No. It never does."
Wow.
She wondered how many of his past hookups, since he met her, were for that same reason.
"How did-uh-your date go?" he asked. His tone was measured, trying to sound offhand.
Peggy or Nancy must have told him, she thought. Was he jealous? Like he made me?
"Actually, I got stood up."
"What? Really?"
"Yes. No idea why. So I ate by myself and came home."
In what world would John Redcorn stand up a date, especially when it was with someone like Leah?
"Oh man. I'm sorry."
Leah shrugged, indifferent.
"It's whatever. I'd rather go on a date with you, anyway."
She was smiling again, and so was he.
"Where do you want to go?"
"Well...let's go inside and talk about it."
She looked coyly up at him, the sparkles in her eyes dancing in the moonlight, and she stepped closer to grab his hand and made to lead him towards her house.
He wasn't sure if he had ever been more conflicted in his life. Here she was, the woman he had never felt so strongly about before, wearing a soft dress that swished across the tops of her long legs, her sun-loving skin glowing under the light of the moon, tugging him to go inside with her.
"I can't tonight," he strained, "But we can figure it out tomorrow?"
Was he the stupidest man alive for turning down her invitation? Was he an idiot for putting off any physical intimacy with her until they spent more time together?
He couldn't remember anybody he didn't have sex with within mere days, if not hours, of meeting them.
"Okay," she said, unbothered, still smiling, still holding his hand.
"Ah...shit."
"What?"
"Hank's having a barbecue tomorrow, I just remembered."
"Oh...well, we can go together and then duck out early?"
"Great idea."
He could have looked into her eyes forever, just the two of them in the solitude of night. How did he go so long without this, without her?
"I should probably head in now. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yep."
They hugged, again something he could have done forever, and when they pulled apart she kissed him on the cheek, close to the corner of his mouth.
He would be feeling the lingering ember from that for a long time.
