Thursday November 4, 1992
The gang of six sits at back table at Lombo’s with two on an end. An April is between Deej and the one and only Curt Stockton. Next to Nick is a Vance and next to him is a friend of April’s, a Brenda, somewhat outgoing and not at all bad looking, maybe a couple years older than him, as she takes it all in.
The week started with a late afternoon meeting at Pro Digital where he got to meet the fastidious and formidable Lorena Hahn, the silent but sensible junior partner as per the divorce decree, or so it seems. Fred set up the meeting and Nick offered to set up a demo but that wouldn’t be necessary. Instead he found Lorena pleasant and more than a little approving.
“Nick I’m surprised you didn’t ask for an advance,” then hands him an envelope.
It turns out she has been acquainted with Sue Richards over the years and was tickled to find out one of her students was doing this upgrade.
With the biggest smile he’d seen yet, “I also understand you’re seeing our Danielle?”
“We’ve been friends since junior high.”
“I see, well give her my best, as you know she’s very bright and capable, you better hang on.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
Nick held onto that check until Wednesday morning when he was able to deposit it, but remains resolute to hang onto those funds until the new shop environment was on it’s feet running like a stallion and most of the burps and farts worked out. He can’t imagine things going so terribly that he’d have to forfeit the payment, but still.
He hadn’t seen Deej very much save for her full work day Tuesday when he’d stuck around till 6, having voted in the morning, and was able to stay on the clock with some things. He got to the gym a few minutes early and found her closing things up and in a giggly mood.
“You’ll never guess who popped by this afternoon.”
“Ahhnold?”
“Almost…that muscle mass who squeezed your head at Lombo’s?”
“Stockton? I wondered if he’d turn up at some point.”
“Well he turned up and signed up with his military ID, then hit the iron - OH, yeah he plans to enroll next term, GI bill I think.”
“Ohh man. Did he behave?”
They are on their way to his car, she continues,
“Yeah was a little flirty at first but I mentioned seeing you and he dialed it down, but…guess who I called while he was in?”
“Noreen?”
She smacks his arm and makes a buzzer sound.
“I know I know…bonus babe.”
“DING DING DING…bonus babe found time to casually stop by about the time his hour was up, oh Nick you should have seen our girl.”
“Gushy?”
“Not at all, well, maybe she hid it, it was something, hand on a hip, looks him in the eye and asks if he wants some roofing work.”
“No shit? Bob would cream his jeans.”
“You know it, but you should have heard the…after he left she stood next to me and whispered comments.”
“Do I wanna know?”
“I was - you know how I blush, just glad we weren’t busy.”
“That juicy?”
Deej looks around. “Along the lines of, he could just lie there and I’d play sit and spin.”
Nick doubles over and has to hobble to a light post to steady himself.
Deej just covers her mouth and quivers, flushed again, “I know! She’s too much.”
Soon they walk on and Deej starts a hearty once-over at her Grand Am’s passenger door, “I could jump you in the back seat, but…”
“Saturday?” Nick discretely finds a bosom.
“Mmmmm.” She looks him in the face, plants a peck, then smacks his arse as she heads over to the driver side.
And so, as girl-magic goes this evening came together. Nick tries to gauge if Vance has any interest in the interesting Brenda as she throws a few questions his way, time will tell. For now it’s a couple shared pies and pitchers, the males agree to divvy up the check.
They moment Nick and Deej are in his car to take her home she observes,
“You were quiet tonight.”
“Just going with the flow.”
“What do you think of Brenda?”
“Well…”
“Spit it out Swanson.”
Nick looks over at her to convey earnestness, “I was secretly hoping to hear tales of hot dates with her.”
Silence.
Nick looks over to find an expectant smile. “Well, you asked.”
“That I did, but I get it, even if they just blew off some steam it would do him some good.”
“Yeah, he needs someone to start the conversation.”
She pauses. “Is something on your mind lately?”
Nick sighs. “Just trying to make sense of it all.”
“Yeah I get that.”
“I just hope that we, you and I…that we really speak the same language.”
Now Deej sighs and slips a hand under his right arm. “I think we do babe.” She pauses, then, “Can we still take a walk at Sears?”
And they do, but mostly just in the main aisles. At some point she asks,
“Can you believe Clinton won?”
Nick pauses, “I’m not sure what to think of it all, sounds like we’re getting a fresh start, for better or worse, richer or poorer.”
“Yeap the country gets remarried every few years, we went with the mystery date.” She pauses. “What do you think of his wife?”
Nick pauses longer, “Dunno, feels like she’s hiding something.”
“But you voted for him?”
“Yeah, mostly to shake things up.”
“There’s a lot of that going around these days huh?”
He pecks her on the cheek and they stroll on.
Back at the Eversoles’ they find the familiar scene of everyone in their own space and Sam camped out with books and papers on the couch, big paper in the works. Biiiiiig paper. Nick finds space next to her and she leans on him for a minute.
“How goes?”
“Well, um…a lot of details to sort out, is this easier with a computer?”
“Depends on how well you use a computer.”
“That’s not till next semester! I put it off.”
Nick thinks a second, “Well as long as you learn before college you’ll be set.”
“I hope we get one here, maybe you can help set it up?”
“I’ll check my schedule.”
This gets a smile and a playful jab on the jib from the blond mop.
Deej comes out in her house clothes and probably ready for a shower, it had been a long-ass 8-6 day for them both then onto pizza, maybe that’s why Nick was quiet, but it was good. He had managed to catch a couple catnaps during the day which helps balance things out; a trick he’d learned as a student.
They step outside for a quick goodbye since it’s chilly and they promise to enjoy classical tonight in their respective spaces.