JENNIE
Poke.
"Grrr."
Poke. Knead, knead. Poke.
"Enough."
Knead, knead, knead. Head butt.
"I realize you don't know how to read a calendar, but you should know when it's Sunday. Seriously, Luca." Hard head butt.
I rolled over, away from Luca's head butts and persistent poking, and pulled the covers over my head. Flashes of the night before kept appearing. Lisa in Jillian's kitchen with the intro heard round the world. Her friends calling me Pink Nightie Girl. Benjamin putting two and two together when he learned I was the Pink Nightie Girl. Kissing Lisa. Mmm, kissing Lisa.
No, no kissing the Lisa! I snuggled deeper under the covers.
Sweet dreams and thin walls…Sheer mortification washed over me as I remembered her parting words. I burrowed farther under the covers.
My heart beat faster, thinking about how embarrassed I'd been. Heart, pay no attention to that girl below the covers.
Last night had been decidedly dream free, but to make sure no one (Lisa) could hear me screaming in passion, I'd slept with the TV on. The revelation that Lisa had heard me dreaming of her had thrown me for such a loop that I flipped endlessly through the channels, trying to find something that would not sound like me having my own version of the Lisa Wet Dream. I ended up on the all-infomercial channel, which, of course, kept me up later that I'd planned. Everything they sold was fascinating. I had to pry the cell phone out of my own hand at three thirty a.m. when I almost ordered the Slap Chop—to say nothing of the half hour I will never get back after watching Bowser try to sell me the Time Life collection of songs from the fifties.
All this was in addition to listening to the sounds of Tommy Dorsey coming through the wall. They made me smile. I can't lie.
I stretched lazily under the sheet, stifling a giggle as I watched the shadow of Luca stalking me, trying to figure out a way in. He tried every angle as I deflected his advances. Finally, he resumed his poke-poke-knead approach, and I popped my head back up to laugh at him.
I could handle this thing with Lisa. I didn't have to be totally embarrassed. Sure, my O was gone, maybe for forever. Sure, I'd been having sex dreams about my overly attractive and overly confident neighbor. And sure, said neighbor had heard these dreams and commented on them, getting the last word in an already extremely bizarre evening.
But I could handle this. Of course I could. I'd just acknowledge it before she could—take the wind out of her sails, as it were. She didn't always have to have the last word. I could recover from this and keep our ridiculous little truce going.
I'm totally screwed.
Just then I heard the alarm go off next door, and I froze. Then I recovered and slipped back under the covers, leaving just my eyes peeping over.
Wait, why was I hiding? She couldn't see me.
I heard her slap at the alarm clock, and her feet hit the floor. Why was she up so early? When all was quiet, you truly could hear through these walls. How the hell did I not realize before that if I could hear her, she could obviously hear me. I felt my face color as I thought of my dreams again, but then I got control. This was further aided by Luca head butting the small of my back in an attempt to physically push me from the bed to give him his breakfast.
"Okay, okay, let's get up. God, you're such a little jerk sometimes, Luca." He fired back a reply over his cat shoulder as he stalked toward the kitchen.
After getting Mr. Luca fed and running myself through the shower, I headed out to meet the girls for brunch. I was leaving the building while looking at my phone, answering a text from Jisoo, when I collided with a wet, hot wall of Lisa.
"Whoa," I cried as I teetered backward. Her arm shot out and caught me just before I went from flustered to flat-out wrong and on my bottom.
"Where are you running off to this morning?" She asked, as I took her in. Sweaty white T-shirt, black running shorts, damp curly hair, iPod, and a grin.
"You're sweaty," I word-vomited.
"I am sweaty. It happens," she added, sweeping the back of her hand across her forehead, making her hair stand straight up. I had to physically block the neurons from my brain trying to get to my fingers with instructions to lift and nestle. Lift and nestle.
She stared down at me, her brown eyes twinkling. She'd make this painful if I didn't go ahead and out the giant sex elephant in the room.
"So listen, about last night," I started.
"What about last night? The part where you were berating me about my sex life? Or the part where you were sharing my sex life with your friends?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and raising her T-shirt to wipe her face. I drew in a breath that sounded like a wind tunnel as I stared at abs that could almost be speedbumps. Why couldn't she be a soft, fat neighbor?
"No, I mean the crack you made about the sweet dreams. And the…well …the thin walls," I stammered, avoiding all eye contact. I was suddenly fascinated by my new shade of toenail polish. It was lovely…
"Ah, yes, the thin walls. Well, they work both ways, you know. And if someone were to, say, have a very interesting dream some night, well, let's just say it would be quite entertaining," she whispered. My knees went a little wobbly. Damn her and her voodoo…
I had to get back in control. I backed up a step.
"Yes, you may have heard something I would have preferred you not hear, but that's not the way things always go down. So, you got me. But you won't actually ever have me, so let's move on. You got that? And brunch, by the way," I finished, concluding my diatribe.
She looked confused and amused at the same time. "Brunch, by the way?"
"Brunch. You asked where I was off to this morning, and my answer is brunch."
"Ah, got it. And are you meeting your girls that were out with my guys last night?"
"I am, and I will gladly share the scoop with you if it's any good," I laughed, twirling a piece of hair around my finger. Nice. Flirting 101. What the hell?
"Oh, I'm sure it's good scoop. Those two look like man-eaters," she said, rocking back on her heels as she began to stretch a bit.
"Are we talking Hannibal?"
"No, more like Hall Oates." She laughed, looking up at me as she stretched her hamstrings.
Christ, hamstrings.
"Yes, well, they can definitely work a room when they need to," I said thoughtfully, beginning to back away again.
"And how about you?" she asked, standing straight.
"How about me what?"
"Oh, I bet Pink Nightie Girl can work any room she wants." She chuckled, her eyes twinkling.
"Eh, work this," I fired back and walked away with a twinkle of my own.
"Nice," she added when I shot her a look over my shoulder.
"Oh, please, like you're not intrigued," I called back from about ten feet away.
"Oh, I'm intrigued," she shouted as I walked backward, shaking my hips while she applauded.
"Too bad I don't work well with others! I ain't no harem girl!" I yelled, practically at the corner.
"Truce still on?" She yelled.
"I don't know, what does Lisa say?"
"Oh, Lisa says, hell yes. It's on!" She shouted back as I rounded the corner.
I twirled about, actually doing a little pirouette. I smiled big as I bounced along, thinking a truce was a very good thing.
--
"Egg-white omelet with tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and onions."
"Pancakes—four stack, please—with a side of bacon. And I'll need the bacon very crispy, please, but not blackened."
"Two eggs sunny side up, rye toast with butter on the side, and the fruit salad." After ordering, we settled in for a morning of coffee and gossip.
"Okay, so tell me what happened after we left last night," Jisoo said, placing her chin in her hands and blinking prettily at me.
"After you left? You mean after you left me with my jerky neighbor to drive me home? What were you thinking? And telling everyone the she-was-still-hard story? Seriously? I'm writing you both out of my will," I snapped, swallowing coffee that was too hot and instantly searing off a third of my taste buds. I let my tongue hang out of my mouth to cool.
"First of all, we told that story because it's funny, and funny is good," Rosé began, fishing a piece of ice out of her water glass and handing it to me.
"Thanh ooo," I managed, accepting the cube.
She nodded. "And second, you have nothing to leave me anyway, as I already have the entire set of Barefoot Contessa cookbooks, which you bought me yourself. So write me out of the will. And third, the two of you were being such downers there was no way we were taking you out with our new boys," Rosé finished, smiling wickedly.
"New boys. I love new boys." Jisoo clapped, looking like a Disney cartoon.
"How was the ride home?" Rosé asked.
"The ride home. Well, it was interesting." I sighed, now sucking on the cube with wild abandon.
"Interesting good?" Jisoo squealed.
"If you call schtupping someone on the Golden Gate Bridge interesting, then yes," I replied, calmly drumming my fingers on the table. Jisoo's mouth began to fall from her face when Rosé placed her right hand over Jisoo's left, which was about to squeeze her fork into something unrecognizable.
"Sweetie, she's kidding. We would know if Jennie had been schtupped last night. She'd have better skin tone," Rosé soothed.
Jisoo nodded quickly and released the fork. I pitied any guy who pissed her off during a handjob.
"So, no dish?" Rosé asked.
"Hey, you know the rules. You dish, I dish," I answered, eyes widening as our breakfast was served. After we dug in, Jisoo fired the first shot.
"Did you know that Haein played football for Stanford? And that he always wanted to go into sports broadcasting?" she offered, methodically
separating her melon from her berries.
"Good to know, good to know. Did you know Jaehyun sold some kind of amazing computer program to Hewlett Packard when he was just twenty-three? And that he put all the money in the bank, quit his job, and spent two years teaching English to kids in Thailand?" Rosé provided next.
"That's very good to know as well. Did you know that Lisa doesn't consider her lady friends a 'harem,' and Jillian at one point actually told her about me as a potential girl she should be dating?"
We all hmm-ed and chewed. Then began Round Two.
"Did you know that Haein loves to windsurf? And he has tickets to the symphony benefit next week? When he found out I was already going with you, Rosé, he suggested we double."
"Mmm, that sounds fun. I was thinking of asking Jaehyun. Who, by the way, also loves to windsurf. They all do—they surf in the bay whenever they can. And I can also report that he now runs a charity that puts computers and educational materials into inner city schools all over California. It's called—" Rosé began.
"No Child Left Offline?" Jisoo quickly finished.
Rosé nodded.
"I love that charity! I give to that organization every year. And Jaehyun is the one who runs it? Wow…small world," Jisoo mused as she began to cut her eggs.
Quiet descended while we chewed again, and I tried to come up with something else to say about Lisa that didn't have anything to do with her kissing me, me kissing her, or her being aware of my nocturnal verbal emissions.
"Um, Lisa has Too Short on her iPod," I mumbled, which was met with hmms, but I knew my dish wasn't as good.
"Music is important. Who was that guy you were dating who had his own album out?" Jisoo asked.
"No, no. He didn't have an album out. He was trying to sell his own CDs out of the back of his car. Not the same thing." I laughed.
"You dated another singer too—Coffee House Joe, remember him?" Rosé snorted into her breakfast.
"Yes, he was about fifteen years too late for the flannel, but he got an A for angst. And was more than decent in bed." I sighed, thinking back.
"When is this self-imposed dating hiatus going to be over?" Jisoo asked.
"Not sure. I kinda like not dating anyone."
"Please, who are you kidding?" Rosé snorted again.
"You need a tissue over there, Miss Piggy? Seriously, there have been too many Coffee House Joes and Machine Gun Kais. I'm not interested in just dating any more. It's too much of a merry go round. I'm not investing any more time and effort until I know it's going somewhere. And besides, O's off in no-man's land. I might as well join her," I added, trying some coffee again and avoiding their eyes.
They had their Os, and now they had new boys. I didn't expect anyone to join me on my dating sabbatical. But now their faces just looked so sad. I needed to turn this back to them.
"So last night was good for you guys, huh? Any kisses at the door? Any spit swapping?" I asked, smiling cheerfully.
"Yes! I mean, Haein kissed me." Jisoo sighed.
"Oooh, I bet he's a good kisser. Did he wrap you up tight and run his hands up and down your back? He has great hands. Did you notice his hands? Damn fine hands," Rosé rambled, face in her pancake stack. Jisoo and I exchanged a glance and waited for her to come up for air. When she saw us staring, she blushed a little.
"You need a tissue over there, Miss Piggy? Seriously, there have been too many Coffee House Joes and Machine Gun Kais. I'm not interested in just dating any more. It's too much of a merry go round. I'm not investing any more time and effort until I know it's going somewhere. And besides, O's off in no-man's land. I might as well join her," I added, trying some coffee again and avoiding their eyes.
I giggled and turned my attention back to Jisoo. "So, did Mr. Great Hands use his great hands?" It was Jisoo's turn to blush.
"Actually, he was very sweet. Just a little peck on the lips and a nice hug at my door," she answered with a giant smile.
"And you, Miss Thing? Was the computer genius charitable with his goodnight kiss?" I giggled.
"Um…yes, he was. He gave me a great goodnight kiss," she replied, licking syrup off the back of her hand. She didn't seem to notice the way Jisoo's eyes burned a little when she mentioned the goodnight she'd received, but I did.
"So, you escaped last night unscathed, I take it?" Jisoo asked me, sipping her coffee. I was still nursing the sore tongue, so I chose to stick with juice.
"I did. We came to a truce and will try to be more neighborly."
"What exactly does that mean?" she asked.
"That means she'll try to curtail her activities to earlier in the evening, and I'll try to be more understanding about her sex life, as lively as it is," I answered, digging into my purse for some money.
"One week," Rosé muttered.
"Come again?"
"You wish. One week. That's how long I give this truce. You can't keep your opinions to yourself, and she can't keep that Giggler quiet. One week," she said again as Jisoo smiled away.
Huh, we'll see…
--
Monday morning, bright and early, Jillian came waltzing in to my office.
"Knock knock," she called. She was the picture of casual chic: hair swept back into a loose bun, little black dress on her little tan body, legs that went on for miles ending in red pumps. Pumps that would probably constitute almost a week's pay for me. She was my mentor in every way, and I made a mental note to make sure I someday obtained the quiet confidence she carried with her.
She smiled when she saw the new flowers in the vase on my desk. This week I'd chosen orange tulips, three dozen.
"Morning! Did you see that the Nicholsons have added a home theater? I knew they'd come around." I smiled as I sat back in my chair. Jillian settled herself in the chair across from me and just smiled back.
"Oh, and Jisoo is coming over for dinner tonight. We're hoping to finalize the plans for the new closet system she's designing. She wants to add carpet now." I shook my head and sipped coffee from the mug on my desk. My tongue had almost healed.
Jillian just continued to smile. I began to wonder if I had a Cheerio stuck to my face. "Did I tell you I got the glass company in Murano to give me a deal on the pieces I ordered for the bathroom chandelier?" I forged ahead. "It's going to be beautiful. I think we'll definitely want to use them again." I added, smiling hopefully.
She finally sighed and leaned forward with a cat-that-ate-the-canary-and-went-back-for-the-feathers-to-play-with grin.
"Jillian, did you have dental work done this morning? Are you trying to show me your new dentures?" I asked, and she finally flinched.
"As if I would ever need dentures, pffft. No, I'm waiting for you to tell me about your neighbor, Ms. Manoban. Or should I say Lisa Wall banger?" She laughed, finally sitting back in her chair and giving me a look that said I would not be allowed to leave my office until I told her everything she wanted to know.
"Hmm, Wall banger. Where to start? First of all, you can't tell me you didn't know she lived next door. How the hell could you have lived there as long as you did and not know she was the one thumping away every night?" I inquired, looking back at her with my best detective sneer.
"Hey, you know I hardly ever stayed there, especially the last few years. I knew she was in that neighborhood, but I had no idea it was next door to the apartment I was subletting! When I see her, it's always with Benjamin, and we usually go out for drinks or we have her over to our place. Regardless, it's the beginnings of a great story, don't you think?" she tempted, grinning again.
"Oh, you and your matchmaking. Lisa said you'd mentioned me to her before. You are so busted."
She held up her hands in front of her. "Wait, wait, wait, I had no idea she was so, well, active. I never would have suggested you if I'd known she had so many girlfriends. Benjamin must have known…but it's their thing, I guess," she replied.
I was the one to lean forward now. "So tell me, how does she know Benjamin?"
"Well, Lisa isn't originally from California. She grew up in Thailand and only moved out here when she went to Stanford. Benjamin has known her most of her life—he was really close to her dad. He's kind of watched out for Lisa—favorite uncle, big brother, surrogate father, that kind of thing," she said, her face growing soft.
"Was really close to her dad? Did they have a falling out or something?" I asked.
"Oh, no, no, Benjamin was always great friends with Lisa's dad. He was the one who mentored him early in his career. He was very close with the entire family," she said, her eyes growing sad.
"But now?" I pressed.
"Lisa's parents were killed when she was a senior in high school," she said quietly.
My hand flew to my mouth. "Oh no," I whispered, my heart full of sympathy for someone I barely knew.
"Car accident. Benjamin says they went really quickly, almost instantly," she replied.
We were quiet for a moment, lost in our own thoughts. I couldn't even process what that must have been like for her.
"So after the funeral, she stayed in Thailand for a while, and he and Lisa began to talk about her going to school at Stanford," she continued after a moment.
I smiled at the image of Benjamin doing everything he could to help.
"I can imagine it was probably a good idea for her to get away from everything," I said, wondering how I would deal with something like that.
"Mm-hmm. I think Lisa saw the chance, and she took it. And knowing that Benjamin was close by if she needed anything? I think that made it easier," she added.
"When did you meet Lisa?" I asked.
"Her senior year of college. She'd spent some time in Spain the summer before, and when she came home that August she came into the city to have dinner with us. Benjamin and I had been dating for a while by then, so she knew of me, but hadn't actually met me," she said.
Wow, Lisa does Spain. Those poor flamenco dancers—they never stood a chance.
"We met for dinner, and she charmed the waitress by ordering in Spanish. Then she told Benjamin that if she was ever stupid enough to leave me that she would be quite happy to—now what was it she said?—ah, yes, she would be quite happy to warm my bed." She giggled, her face growing pink.
I rolled my eyes. This matched what I knew of her already. Although, as brash as my girls and I were when flirting with Benjamin, it was the pot calling the kettle forward.
"And that's how I met Lisa," she finished, her eyes far away. "She really is pretty great, Jennie, all banging aside."
"Yes, banging aside," I mused, running my fingertips back and forth across the tops of the flowers.
"I hope you get to know her a little better," she said with a grin, matchmaker once again.
"Settle down there. We've called a truce, but that's all." I laughed, shaking my finger at her.
She got up and started for the door. "You're very sassy for someone who's supposed to be working for me," she said, trying to look severe.
"Well, I'd get a lot more work done if you'd let me get back to it and stop with your nonsense!" I said, looking severely back at her.
She laughed and looked out to reception.
"Hey, Maggie! When did I lose control of this office?" she called.
"You never actually had it, Jillian!" Maggie yelled back.
"Oh, go make coffee or something! And you," she said, turning to me and pointing. "Design something brilliant for the Nicholsons' basement."
"Again, all things I could've been doing while you were yakking away in here…" I murmured, tapping my pencil on my watch.
She sighed. "Seriously, Jennie, she's really sweet. I think you two could be great friends," she said, leaning in the doorway.
What's with everyone leaning in doorways lately?
"Well, I can always use another friend, now, can't I?" I waved as she disappeared.
Friends. Friends who called a truce.
--
"Okay, so we know the floors in the bedroom are going to be reclaimed, honey-toned wood, but you for sure want carpet in the closet?" I asked, settling on the couch next to Jisoo and starting on my second Bloody Mary. We'd been going through her plans for almost an hour as I tried to get her to see that I was not the only one who would have to compromise on her designs. She would as well. As long as we'd been friends, Jisoo had believed she won every argument. Jisoo saw herself as a badass that could strong-arm anyone into anything. Little did she know Rosé and I had figured out that we only had to let her think she was getting her way, which made her much more tolerable.
The truth was, I always knew I wanted carpet in the closet—just not for the same reasons she did.
"Yes, yes, yes! It has to be carpet—really thick and luxurious carpet! It will feel so good under cold toes in the morning," she cried, almost shaking in her excitement. I really hoped Haein would be around long enough to romance her right. She needed to release some of this excess energy.
"Okay, Jisoo, I guess you're right. Carpet in the closet. But for that, you have to give me back those two feet you wanted from the bathroom for the rotating shoe rack that I vetoed." I spoke carefully, wondering if she would go for it.
She thought for a moment, looked at her plans again, took a long pull from her cocktail, and nodded. "Yes, take back the two feet. I get my carpet, and I can live with that." She sighed, offering me her hand.
I shook it solemnly and offered her my celery stalk. Luca came sauntering in and began to pace by the front door, pawing under the crack.
"I bet our Thai is almost here. Let me get my money," I said, pointing toward the door as I headed for my purse on the kitchen counter. Just as I spoke, I could hear steps in the hallway.
"Jisoo, get the door, that'll be the takeout guy," I called, rummaging through my purse.
"Got it," she yelled, and I heard the door open. "Oh, hey there, Lisa!" she said, and then I heard the strangest sound.
I would swear, on a stack of Bibles in a court of actual law, that I heard my cat speak.
"Porrrrreeeennnnnya," Luca said, and I whirled about.
In the span of five seconds, a thousand things happened: I saw Lisa and Purina in the hallway, bags from Whole Foods in hands, key in front door. I saw Jisoo at the door, barefoot and leaning (again with the leaning) in the doorway. I saw Luca rear back on his hind legs preparing to jump in a way that I'd only ever seen him do once when I hid the catnip on the top of the fridge. Babies were born, old people died, stocks were traded, and someone faked an orgasm. All in those five seconds.
I launched myself at the door in a slow-motion run reminiscent of every action movie ever made.
"Nooooooooo!" I cried as I saw a look of panic cross Purina's face and a look of pure lust cross Luca's as he prepared to woo. If I'd started for the door any earlier, maybe even a second earlier, I could've prevented the pandemonium that ensued.
Lisa pushed her door open and smiled a confused smile at me as I caught her eye. No doubt she was wondering why I was charging the door and screaming noooooo. Just then Luca jumped. Leapt. Charged. Purina saw Luca jumping directly at her, and she did the worst thing she could've done. She ran. She ran into Lisa's apartment. Of course the girl who meows when she has an orgasm is afraid of cats.
Luca gave chase, and as I stood in the hallway with Lisa and Jisoo, we heard shrieking and meowing echoing back to us. It sounded oddly familiar, and I was reminded of Lisa bringing it on home. I shook my head and took over.
"Jennie, what the hell was that? Your cat just—" Lisa was saying, and I placed my hand over her mouth as I hurried past her.
"We don't have time, Lisa! We have to get Luca!"
Jisoo followed me into her apartment, Ned Nickerson to my Nancy Drew. I followed the shrieks and meows to the back of the apartment, noticing that Lisa's place was an exact mirror image of mine. It was very single guy, with the flat screen TV and the amazing sound system. I didn't really have time for a proper shakedown, but I did notice the mountain bike in the dining room, as well as beautiful framed photographs all over the walls lit by retro sconces. I couldn't admire for long, as I could hear Luca getting worked up in the bedroom.
I paused by the door, listening to Purina scream. I looked back at Lisa and Jisoo, who wore twin expressions of fear and confusion—although Jisoo's also showed quite a bit of merriment.
"I'm going in," I said in a low, brave voice. With a deep breath I pushed the door open, and saw the Bedroom of Sin for the first time. Desk in the corner. Dresser on one wall, with top covered in loose change. More photographs on the wall, black and whites. And there it was: her bed.
Cue trumpets.
Pushed up against the wall, my wall, was a giant California king, complete with a padded, leather headboard. Padded. It would have to be, now wouldn't it? It was immense. And she had the power to move that thing with her hips alone? Once again Lower Jennie sat up straight and took notice.
I centered, I focused, and I pried my eyes away from Orgasm Central. I scanned and acquired the target: there at the leather club chair in front of the window. Purina perched on the back of this chair, hands in her hair, moaning and wailing and crying. Her skirt was shredded, and there were tiny claw marks in her stockings. She attempted with every fiber of her being to shrink away from the cat on the floor in front of her.
And Luca?
Luca was strutting. Strutting back and forth in front of her, giving it his all. He turned like he was on a runway, pacing along a line on the floor and glancing at her nonchalantly.
If Luca could wear a blazer, he would have taken it off, draped it casually over his kitty shoulder, and pointed at her. It was all I could do not to fall down laughing. I stepped toward him, and Purina shouted something at me in Russian. I ignored her and focused all my attention on my cat.
"Hey, Luca. Hey. Where's my good boy?" I crooned, and he turned. He glanced at me, and then jerked his head in Purina's direction as though he were making the first round of introductions. "Who's your new friend?" I crooned again, shaking my head at Purina when she tried to say something. I held my finger up in front of my lips. This would require great finesse.
"Luca, come here!" Jisoo yelled and barreled into the room. She always had trouble containing her excitement.
Luca made for the door as Jisoo made for Luca. Purina made for the bed as I raced after Jisoo, who collided with Lisa just outside the bedroom door, who was still holding her damn Whole Foods bags. Thoughtfully chosen sustainable organic produce rained down on both of them as I pushed past, hurdling over limbs and a wheel of Brie on my way back to the front door. I caught Luca just as he made a break for the stairs and held him close.
"Luca, you know better than to run away from Mommy," I chastised, as Lisa and Jisoo finally caught up to us.
"What the hell are you doing, cockblocker? Are you trying to kill me?" She shouted.
Jisoo rounded on her. "Don't you call her that, you…you…you wall banger!" she fired back, smacking her chest.
"Oh, you two shut up!" I yelled. Here came Purina down the hallway toward us, wearing only one shoe and a furious look. She began to shout in Russian.
Jisoo and Lisa continued to yell, Purina screamed, Luca struggled to get loose and be reunited with his one and only, and I stood in the middle of the chaos, trying to figure out what the hell had happened in the last two minutes.
"Get control of your damn cat!" Lisa yelled, as Luca tried to spring free.
"Don't you yell at Jennie!" Jisoo yelled, smacking her again.
"Look at my skirt!" Purina cried.
"Did someone order pad thai?" I heard above the chaos. I looked and saw a petrified delivery boy standing on the top step, reluctant to come any further.
Everyone stopped.
"Unbelievable," Jisoo muttered and walked into my apartment, motioning for the delivery boy to follow her. I set Luca just inside the door and pulled it shut, cutting off his cries. Lisa ushered Purina into her place, telling her softly to find something in her room to put on.
"I'll be there in just a minute," she said and nodded again for her to go inside. Purina glared at me once more and turned in a huff, slamming the door.
She turned back to me and we stared at each other, both starting to laugh at the same time.
"Did that really just happen?" she asked through her chuckles.
"I'm afraid it did. Please tell Purina I am sooo sorry," I answered, wiping tears from my eyes.
"I will, but she needs to cool off for a while before I will attempt that—wait, what did you just call her?" she asked.
"Umm, Purina?" I replied, still chortling.
"Why do you call her that?" she asked, no longer laughing.
"Seriously? Come on, you can't figure it out?" I said.
"No, tell me," she said, running her hands through her hair.
"Oh, man, you're gonna make me say it? Purina…because she, God, because she meows!" I blurted, laughing again.
She blushed deep red and nodded. "Right, right, of course you would've heard that." She laughed. "Purina," she said under her breath and smiled. I could hear Jisoo arguing with the delivery guy in my apartment, something about missing spring rolls.
"She's a little scary, you know?" Lisa said, gesturing toward my door.
"You have no idea," I said. I could still hear Luca wailing behind the door. I pressed my face to the edge and opened it just an inch.
"Shut it, Luca," I hissed. A paw came out through the crack, and I swear he flipped me off.
"I don't know a lot about cats, but is that normal feline behavior?" Lisa asked.
"He has a rather odd attachment to your girl there—ever since the second night I lived here. I think he's in love."
"I see. Well, I'll make sure I convey his sentiments to Nadia," she said. "When the time is right, of course." She chuckled and prepared to go back inside.
"You better keep it down over there tonight, or I'll send Luca back," I warned.
"Jesus, no," she said.
"Well, then turn some music on. You gotta give something," I pleaded. "Or he'll be climbing the walls again."
"Music I can do. Any requests?" she asked, turning to face me from inside the doorway. I backed up to mine and put my hand on my door.
"Anything but big band, okay?" I answered softly. Heart moved down low in my tummy, flitting about.
A look of disappointment crossed her face. "You don't like big band?" she inquired, her voice low.
I pressed my fingers to my collarbone, my skin feeling warm under her gaze. I watched as her eyes followed my hand, further heating me with the intensity of her gaze.
"I love it," I whispered, and her eyes jerked back to mine in surprise. I smiled a shy smile and disappeared into my apartment, leaving her smiling back at me.
Jisoo was still yelling at the delivery guy as I came inside to school Luca, a simpering look on both our faces. Five minutes later, with a mouthful of noodles, I heard Purina yelling something in indecipherable Russian on the landing and Lisa's door slammed. I tried to hide my grin, instead playing it off as a particularly spicy bite. No wall banging tonight, I guess…Luca would be so depressed.
At around eleven thirty that night, as I was settling into bed, Lisa played me some music through our shared wall. Wasn't big band, but it was pretty good. Prince. "Pussy Control."
I smiled in spite of myself, delighted at her wicked sense of humor.
Friends? Definitely. Maybe. Possibly.
"Pussy Control." I thought of it again and snorted.
Well played, Lisa. Well played.