Page 20 of Dreams and Reptiles

Saucy Neighbor: And you’d had it before?

Reptile Wrangler: Yes, Saucy Neighbor, I’m not that boring.

Saucy Neighbor: Are you “black pepper is spicy” boring?

Reptile Wrangler: How did you know?

Saucy Neighbor: I can work around that. Break you in easy, white boy.

Reptile Wrangler: Oh, don’t go easy on me. Break me in.

The texts got increasingly flirty until Kendall finally admitted he was down to one eye open. Before heading up to bed, I worked on my list for the next day. It was a practice I’d done for years to keep myself from obsessing all night. I jotted down the groceries we’d need for dinner. I looked at appointments and my weekly tasks list, adding a few to tomorrow’s schedule. Then I sat on the floor and stared at the wall. It was an interesting wall. It led between the foyer and the small sitting area/workspace where I planned to build a library, under the second-floor gallery, and into the kitchen area. I had an idea to paint a mural, knowing full well that if it sucked, I could paint over it, but I needed some inspiration.

I spent the next hour staring and sketching ideas. The only thing missing was music, which I’d have the next day. I rarely sat in the quiet. I needed music twenty-four seven, but it was different out here. No road noise, no loud neighbors, only the scratch of my pencils on paper. I felt my heart and my brain settling down. Is this what relaxing felt like?

I worked until two in the morning. Time flies when you’re living the dream.

When the next afternoon rolled around, the TVs were up in the various rooms with speakers connected to an app that would control sound throughout the property. I could blast my music inside or out, in one of the areas or all of them. It was my teenage dream come true. All the TVs were equipped to stream as well. I was just testing the one in the great room when Derek did his trademark triple knock, and he came strolling in carrying pizza boxes.

“Man, this place is cool. I’m so glad I sold it to you.” He chuckled and did a little spin in the middle of the room. He set down the boxes on the coffee table in front of me and looked around at all the changes with a dazzled expression. “Just think of the parties we could have thrown in this place when we were young.” He frowned and planted his hands on his hips. “Except we were too busy studying to be wild.”

“We can throw them now. I was thinking the first dance social would be like a housewarming, a christening of the place. Food, music, drinks, and dancing. I’ve got just over a week to get this place ready.”

“And you currently look like you’re ready to drop. You sit, and I’ll bring plates.”

“There’s cider in the fridge. Can you grab me a Fieldwork Rainbow Sour? I think I’ve got some 2 Towns Pineapple and an apple from someplace that I forget.”

“Can do.”

He was back a minute later with two plates, two cans stuck under his arms, and napkins between his fingers.

“This place is awesome. I love their pizza.”

I watched out of the corner of my eye while he served himself and realized he hadn’t really stopped smiling since he came in.

“I might be ready to drop, but you look like you’re ready to float away. Good night last night?”

He paused with his pizza on the way to his mouth. “I can’t even begin to describe how awesome it was.”

“Well, begin. You didn’t text me like you promised, and I would know because I was up till close to three.” I pulled out a garlic knot and a piece of veggie pizza. The knot was so good, my eyes rolled back in my head when I took a bite.

“Oh, I was home and in bed by eleven-thirty.”

I frowned. “How’s that? They didn’t leave here until eight.”

He brought his shoulders up and then sighed with a dreamy look on his face. “They met me in the park, and they brought a picnic.”

“In the dark?”

“They had LED candles and snacks and drinks. It was adorable. They made it all about me. They asked about my bucket list items, where I would like to travel, my favorite movies… It was so great. I’m on cloud nine.”

“So, what, did you go back to their place?”

“No. They said they wanted to date for a while so we could all get to know each other. I got a goodbye kiss from each of them, very chaste, and then they said good night.”

“That is the most wholesome thing I’ve ever heard,” I said. “What’s the catch?”

“Right? I don’t know! They said there was none. They just want to date me.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin, and his smile fell a little. “Is it wrong that I kinda love the idea?”