When The Rain Falls

12. Goin’ Fishing

12 GOIN’ FISHING

AIMEE

"So, what's up in suburbia?" Tate asks.

"Well,” I say slyly, holding my phone up to my ear. “ I'm going on a date tomorrow."

"A date? Like a real date? Who’s the lucky victim?” I finally connected with Tate after playing phone tag for a week. We used to talk every day.

"A guy I met at the mall.”

“Wait, you just met a guy at the mall. Like cold turkey?” Tate sounds concerned.

“Yeah.”

“Aimee, you don’t meet people at the mall. This is the twenty-first century. You meet people online. Meeting people at the mall is how you get murdered,” Tate scolds. I don’t really see how it’s any different to meet someone online versus at the mall.

“Well, he has a motorcycle. And he already drove by the house. So, I feel like I kind of vetted him,” I say defensively.

“Wait. What?” From the sound of her voice, I can practically hear Tate sit straight up in her chair. “You let a stranger you met at the mall know where you live?!”

“Yeah, so?”

“Oh my God. Now I think you really will get murdered. Cancel that date pronto. And keep the doors locked. Does Alicia have a Ring camera? You need to buy a Ring camera right now .”

“Tate, chill,” I reassure her. “I’m fine. Plus, I’m pretty sure if he tried any funny business, the scary, beast of a man across the street would have come out baring his teeth, growling like a monster.” Honestly, I kind of want to see that. I might fantasize about that tonight, actually.

“Woah, there. Back up,” Tate says. “Who’s this scary beast of a man? And what are you doing with him?”

“Oh my God, Tate. I never told you! He’s the guy from the bar. The one who wouldn’t move when I tried to dance.” I wiggle my toes and bite my lip. I feel like I’m twelve again. Telling Sandy Leighton about my latest crush on the number twelve bus while we make origami fortune tellers.

“You’re joking!”

“Not one bit.”

“You guys were throwing out some mad sexual tension at the bar.”

“We were?” I ask. “Because I thought I was just pissed at him.”

“Oh no. You could cut the sexual energy with a knife.”

“Huh.”

“So, how many guys are you working right now?” Tate doesn’t sound critical, just curious.

I laugh nervously. “I’m not working him . He’s just Alicia’s neighbor. But I did see him do pullups yesterday and now I have to throw away that pair of panties. Also, dating is like fishing, right? You have to put out a bunch of lines and see who bites first.”

“Aimee, you have never once in your life gone fishing and it shows.” Tate laughs. “Dom takes me in the summer. You have one pole. And you bait your line and drop it in the water and you wait patiently.”

“That sounds boring.”

“You wait until the right fish comes along. And then he bites and then you reel him in. And the reeling in is the best part. Trust me, it’s worth the wait.”

“Like I said, booooooring. I think putting out more lines is much more efficient.”

“You’re so ridiculous.” I hear Tate shaking her head behind the phone. “God, I miss your face.”

“I miss your face,” I say back. I can feel my cheeks hurting from smiling so much. I miss her.

“So, tell me more about this neighbor guy. He sounds intriguing. Is he biting?” I hold back a snort.

“Tate, I’m not working him. He’s got kids…” I let my voice trail off. Although the kid thing doesn’t really bother me. Maybe it should? He’s probably a lot older than I am. Maybe that should bother me, too? But it doesn’t.

No, Aimee. Bad girl!

You can’t date a freaking troll man.

“Anyway, he’s definitely not the one doing the biting.” I grin to myself. “ But, I have been flirting with him a little. Every once in a while, I feel like he’s flirting back. Until he frowns and clenches his butthole tighter.”

“Wait, how do you know if his butthole is clenching?”

“He does this thing with his face.” I wave my hand in the air. “Wait. Unless that’s just how a troll smiles?”

Tate’s laughter pours out of my phone and fills my ears. “Well, tell me how the date goes. I’m really excited for you.”

“I’m excited, too,” I say. As I smile, I feel my top lip roll over my gums. “Maybe Alicia was right. I just needed to get out of the big city for a while. Meet new people.”

“What are you guys going to do?” Tate asks.

I shrug, even though I know she can’t see it. “I dunno. Hold hands and share French fries…naked?”