“It’s Mozart, Rhett, not Barry White.”
“Do you wish it was Barry White?” I said, knowing I sounded jealous. I could see Tomas staring at me with keen eyes.
“Rhett, I gotta go.” She said in a tired voice. “I’ll see you both later.”
“Shall we wait to have dinner with you?”
“No.” She said quickly. “I told you, it’s going to be a long night. I won’t be back ‘til late. Eat without me.”
“Okay fine.”
“What are you guys going to do?”
I know I shouldn’t have lied, but really how do you tell someone you’re dating that you’re going to a strip-club? Maybe it’s just me. Maybe it’s because I haven’t been in a relationship before, but I couldn’t tell her. Which was sad because I had always told Clementine before. I had no secrets from her. She knew who I’d been with, when I’d been with them, how I’d met them. She knew everything about me and I’d never been scared to tell her anything before. I knew as soon as I said the words that I was crossing a line that I’d never crossed before. “I think we’re going to go bowling.”
“Oh that should be fun.”
“Yeah, I’m hoping to get all strikes.”
“You never get all strikes.” She laughed. “I wish I was going as well, I wish I could show you how it’s done.”
“I’m the one that taught you how to bowl Clemmie.”
“Well the student is now better the master.” She giggled and even though her tone was lighter, I didn’t feel better.
“In all things?” I asked softly, but she pretended she didn’t hear me.
“Have a good time bowling. Tell Tomas I’ll see him in the morning and that I’m sorry to miss his first day in Boston.”
“I will.” I paused. “Have a good time studying, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Before or after you dated me?” She asked softly and I felt as if I’d been kicked in the gut. Was she joking or being serious?
“Is that a joke, Clementine? Because if it is, it’s in very poor taste.”
“Oh Rhett, relax.” She sounded annoyed. “I’ll see you later.” And then she hung up. I stared at the phone in my hand and frowned. I couldn’t believe that she’d hung up on me already.
“Trouble in paradise?” Tomas looked concerned.
“Dude, what paradise?” I rolled my eyes. “Clementine has become a different girl now that we’re dating.”
“That’s girls bro. She’s got you by the short and curlies and she ain’t going to let go.”
“Short and curlies?” I shook my head at him. “What is that?”
“I got it from some English show I was watching.” He grinned. “Describes your relationship perfectly.”
“You decide on a club yet?”
“A club or a bowling alley?” He raised an eyebrow at me. “You lying already bro?”
“Dude, she doesn’t want to hear about me going to see naked girls.”
“That’s why I don’t date. I can’t deal with these jealous bitches trying to put me on lockdown.”
“Not cool, Tomas.” I frowned. “Don’t call Clementine a bitch.”
“What? I didn’t call her a bitch.”
“Girls aren’t bitches, that’s not cool.”
“Oh shut the fuck up, Rhett.” Tomas gave me a look. “You were down with bitches and hoes this time last year, don’t go getting all holier than thou on my ass now, just ‘cos you’ve been with this chick for a few months. You’re going to be back to the bitches and hoes as soon as you and Clementine break up.”
“Excuse me?” My body stilled at his words.
“Not trying to be rude dude, but c’mon. You’re both in your early twenties. This is your first relationship and you used to be a player. This is her first anything. The likelihood of you both working out is not high.” He shrugged. “I mean she’s already spending late nights with some other guy, listening to music.”
“You need to stop eavesdropping.” I muttered. “And I told you, they’re studying.”
“Do you think all he cares about is studying?” He laughed. “If it was you, what would you be doing?”
“Huh?”
“If it was the old Rhett ‘studying’ with a hot girl, would you be just listening to music for no reason?”
“That muthafucka is trying to get into her pants.” I exclaimed loudly and Tomas nodded.
“He’s most probably got his hand on her back and asking if she wants a massage to help with the stress.”
“What stress?”
“The stress of dating a punkass like you.” Tomas pulled out a piece of gum and started chewing. “She just hung up on you, so she’s obviously frustrated. He’s going to see that and try to act all nice so he can get up in there.”
“She wouldn’t let him do anything.” My head was starting to hurt at the thought of Holden trying to make a move. “She loves me.”
“You know how many girls love me?” Tomas started gyrating again. “And you know how many girls I love? Love don’t mean shit.”
“That’s not true.” I turned to him. “When you talk about love, you’re talking about lust fueled love. What Clemmie and I have is different. Our relationship is based on trust, respect, honesty and a deep love.”
“That’s why you just lied to her?” He said softly and I looked away. We stood there in silence for a few moments and I felt confused. I didn’t really understand why I’d lied. I think it was because I didn’t want her to be disappointed in me. And I didn’t want to give her an excuse to let her guard down with Holden. I just didn’t trust him. I felt a hollow feeling inside as I wondered why trusting her wasn’t enough.
***
"Where are you going?" I asked Clementine as she walked past me in her short shorts and t-shirt early the next morning. I groaned as I stared at her through foggy eyes.
"Out." She turned and looked at me. "Is that okay warden?" She smiled quickly and my heart stopped for a second as I thought about her.
"Funny." I rolled my eyes and then rubbed my forehead. “I feel like shit.”
“You guys got drunk at the bowling alley?” She looked amused. “Tomas was snoring when I woke up.”