A State of Jane (9 page)

Opening the door of a cab, he said, “No brainer. We'll have the cab stop at Cold Stone first.”

I hugged the girls goodbye and slid into the cab. When Cory sat next to me, I snuggled close to him and, not really hungry for ice cream anymore, said, “Or maybe we can just see what's in your freezer at home.”

*   *   *

A few days later, I was over at Cory's apartment. I had my head against one end of his couch with my legs extended across his lap.
He sat forward and absently stroked my knee while fully engrossed in the television show we were watching. I wasn't even sure what it was: some sort of paranormal reality show. I was just happy to be there. I sat up, leaned forward and gave Cory a soft peck on his smooth cheek. He smelled like orange scented soap. “You mind if I grab some water?”

Cory muted the television and looked at me. “Of course not. There are water bottles in the fridge. I have other stuff too. Beer, soda, snacks. Mi casa es su casa,” he said, smiling.

I stood up and said, “Water's good. Just really thirsty!” I began walking over to his small kitchen.

“Rock climbing will do that to you,” he called after me.

“I still can't believe you talked me into indoor rock climbing. My sister will be shocked. I always sucked at gym class in school.” I opened the refrigerator and sorted through the contents looking for a water bottle. “You want anything?” I asked just as I felt arms embrace me from behind.

“I bet you're much more athletic than you give yourself credit for,” he whispered in my ear.

I turned around to face him, my back against the refrigerator. “You think so?”

Tucking a hair behind my ear, he said, “I know so.” Then he took my hand and led me out of the kitchen. He stopped to turn off the television and said, “If you join me in my bed, I'll prove it to you!”

I took his hand and shook it firmly. “You've got yourself a deal!”

C
HAPTER
16

Cory brushed my arm as he walked from Claire and Kevin's living room to the bathroom. After stuffing ourselves with delivery pizza and the garlic bread with cheese I had made, we were too tired to tear ourselves away from the couch and late night television. Kevin had just told us that his jeans were unbuttoned underneath his sweatshirt and we were laughing about it when Cory came back in the room.

After plopping down on the couch next to me, he asked, “Did I miss something?”

“I was just asking Kevin why he wasn't as forthcoming with information when my parents are around,” I said.

Standing up and stretching his arms over his head, revealing some of his bare belly which had grown considerably over the past month, Kevin said, “I wouldn't unbutton my pants in your mother's presence, much less tell her about it. I swear Mrs. Frank has x-ray vision and would just know.”

“That's nuts,” Cory said. “How would she just know?”

All at the same time, Claire, Kevin and I replied, “She'd just know.”

Running a hand through his thinning light brown hair, Cory said, “Yikes. She sounds scary.”

I scooted closer to him on the couch and kissed his cheek. “No worries. She'll love you. You're a catch.”

Winking, Kevin said, “Yeah and she's kind of a M.I.L.F.”

Claire, who had gotten up to gather the empty beer bottles drunk by the boys, playfully swatted Kevin's head before walking to the kitchen. “So gross, Kevin!” When she returned to the room, she gestured towards the two of us and said, “By the way, she's been asking when you're inviting Cory over for Sunday brunch.”

“What did you tell her?” I asked.

“I told her to keep me out of it.”

I turned to Cory. “No pressure. You don't have to meet my parents if you don't want. At least not until she asks me directly. For now I can play dumb.”

Cory shrugged his shoulders and said, “Set it up for whenever you want.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Really?” Claire repeated.

Laughing, Kevin said, “No. Really?”

“How bad can it be? Free brunch, right?” Cory said, laughing and kissing me on the cheek.

“Well, if you don't bring cake or something, she'll talk about you behind your back so it won't be completely free,” Kevin said.

Grinning, Cory shook his head and said, “I can handle it. Besides, I'll have to meet the folks eventually right?”

My face beaming, I said, “Right.” I should have known Cory would be cool about meeting my parents. He was perfect and I couldn't wait to show him off to my mom.

Just then Cory's cell phone rang and he whispered, “Crap. It's work. I have to take this.”

As he walked to the hallway to talk in private, I looked over at Claire. She gave me the thumbs up sign and mouthed, “A keeper.”

I smiled, thinking exactly the same thing.

*   *   *

“So, I heard you've been asking about Cory,” I said to my mother a few days later when I actually caught her at home.

My mom said, “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“I heard you want to meet Cory.”

“Only if you plan to keep him around. You tossed the others aside pretty quickly.”

I'd been too embarrassed to admit to my mother that I was on the receiving, not giving, end of the rejections and I'd sworn Claire to secrecy. “The others weren't right for me.”

“So you say. I still hope you won't regret breaking up with Bob someday.”

“We've been over this before. I love Bob and I know he loves me too. But we're not
in
love anymore. And besides, he's happy with Trish.” Now that I was with Cory, I felt much better about the Bob/Trish situation. I was even kind of excited to meet Trish.

“Yes, although Arlene is not thrilled about them moving in without getting engaged first. I would not be happy either.”

“Then it's a good thing you don't have to worry about it. Mom, please. I don't want to move in with Cory! Let's change the subject. He wants to meet you and Dad.”

“Who?”

“Cory! When do you want us to come over? Is brunch good? I'd like Claire and Kevin to be there. He gets along great with Kevin.”

“Well, then I guess you don't need my blessing. You have Kevin's.”

I removed my phone from my ear and rolled my eyes at the air. “Do you want us to come for brunch on Sunday or what?”

“Yes. But I told your sister that dad and I will come into the city and have brunch at her place. We'll get lox from Zabars.”

The conversation was becoming more puzzling than the questions in the LSAT practice exams I had every intention of taking after Cory and I exited the honeymoon stage and settled into a routine. “So you discussed this with Claire already?”

“Yes. I spoke to her yesterday.”

“When were you going to tell me that? I still have to ask Cory if he's free!”

“Claire said she'd tell you. If Cory is serious, he'll make sure he's free.”

“He's serious! It was his idea!”

“OK, Jane. Calm down. I didn't mean to get you so wound up. It's not good for your skin.”

Noticing that I had been scrunching my face, I relaxed my facial muscles and took a deep breath. “It's OK, but stop stressing me out. Please!”

“I have to run out for an errand.”

“OK.”

Her tone more gentle, my mom said, “I'll talk to you later in the week.”

“Sounds good. I love you.”

“I love you too. Now go call Cory.”

As soon as we hung up, I called Cory, but not because my mother told me to. I just wanted to make sure I got to him before he made other plans for Sunday. We'd been dating for a couple of months and had spent at least part of every weekend together pretty much since the beginning but I was still afraid he'd made other plans. I couldn't handle telling my mom he couldn't make it to brunch. She'd hold it against him forever.

His phone went directly to voicemail and so I left him a message saying that he was invited to brunch with my family on Sunday. I figured he'd be happy we were having it at Claire's since it was a more neutral location than my parent's house. “Anyway, I hope you can make it. Sorry for the late notice but that's my mom. Let me know as soon as you can, OK? My mom is sort of a nightmare about this stuff and will probably ask me every five minutes if you'll be there. Sorry in advance and, by the way, I think you're super awesome for being so cool with this. Talk to you in a bit. Bye.”

After I hung up, I was hyper on nervous energy and knocked on Lainie's door, hoping she could distract me until Cory called me back.

“Come on in. What's up?” Lainie was stretched out on her bed reading a gossip magazine. “Guess which two teenage movie co-stars are dating?”

I sat on the edge of her bed. “Don't know.”

“I'll give you a hint, the movie is about vampires.”

“Still don't know.”

Tossing the magazine at me, Lainie said, “I'll let you read it for yourself.”

I lacked the focus to read and so I said, “Thanks” and put the magazine on the floor in front of me.

“What's going on?”

“I think Cory's gonna meet my parents this weekend.”

Sitting up straighter, Lainie said, “Wow. You nervous?”

“Yes, but I'm also excited. It's a big step.”

Lainie laughed. “I should have known you'd be ‘committed’ quickly. You definitely lack the gene to play the field.”

“Not true! I just got lucky. The whole point of playing the field is to find the right guy, right? So if I found the right guy quickly, playing the field is just unnecessary.”

Scrunching her nose, Lainie said, “Not everyone plays the field with the sole purpose of meeting the right guy, Jane. Some of us actually do it because it's fun. Meeting lots of guys, fooling around with them — it's fun!”

Doubtfully, I said, “I suppose for some people.”

“Ah Jane, we're apples and oranges I guess! It's a good thing you met Cory. You're just not meant for dating in the big bad city.”

It occurred to me that I knew very little about Lainie's relationship history. “So, have you ever brought a guy to meet your parents?”

“Aside from my dates to homecoming and prom? No.”

“Really? Haven't you ever had a real boyfriend?”

Lainie twirled a hair around her finger. “I've gone through periods when I only dated one guy at time, of course, but nothing significant. In my family, bringing a boy home means serious business and serious business involves touring trunk shows for designer wedding dresses, reserving the church, and making sure my alcoholic aunt Desiree doesn't cause a scene at the reception.” Lainie rolled her eyes. “Trust me, my family wants nothing more than for me to settle down with a polite southern boy. Unfortunately for them, my taste is more outside of the box.” Smiling at me, she said, “My mom would be thrilled if I brought someone like Cory home. Only with a southern drawl and a Bible in his desk drawer. Cory doesn't have a Bible in his desk drawer, does he?”

“I have no idea what Cory has in his desk drawer. I'm not a snooper! But even if he does, he's mine.”

Lainie leaned forward and removed the magazine from her bed. Swatting me lightly with it, she said, “You can have him! Not my type. Too perfect.”

I grabbed the magazine from her and smiled.
Yes, he's perfect and he's mine.

C
HAPTER
17

I still hadn't heard back from Cory when my mom called later that night. I never spoke to my mom more than once a day, so I knew she was calling about Cory and screened the call. I felt my heart in my throat as I stared at the phone and waited for her to leave me a message. I was irritated at Cory but didn't want to admit it to my mom because anything negative I said about him now would be held against him until the end of time. My mom would make an instant judgment that Cory was either not good enough for me or didn't like me enough to treat me better.

If I told her that I'd heard from him, somehow she'd know I was lying. Or, if for some reason he really couldn't come to brunch, I'd have to lie again to explain why he suddenly wasn't available.

Maybe he was working late or out with his guy friends, but I was irritated that he couldn't take two minutes to return my call, especially since I told him how annoying my mother was.

I thought about calling him again but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and wait until the morning. Maybe he'd call later or send me an email if he got home too late.

When I woke up the next morning, I immediately checked my phone to see if he'd called during the night. I felt a pit in my stomach when I saw that I had no new text or voicemail messages or even a missed call. Cory had always returned my calls pretty quickly until
now. I was sure he had a good reason, but it was totally annoying that he waited until now to leave me hanging.

In the shower, I rehearsed what I would say when I finally spoke to him. Absent a good excuse, I really wanted him to know how uncool it was to leave me hanging. But I didn't want to attack him or make him feel emasculated. I'd learned how to communicate with Bob to get my needs across without alienating him, but all guys were different.

I didn't feel like talking to Lainie in case she asked whether Cory was coming to brunch, so I left my yogurt in the fridge and decided to pick something up for breakfast on the way to work instead. Walking briskly past the kitchen where she was drinking a cup of coffee, I waved and said, “Gotta be at work early. Have a good day,” and sneaked out of the apartment before she could say more than, “Bye” in response.

*   *   *

By lunch time, I was thoroughly pissed off. Each time my phone rang, I banged my fist on the desk when it wasn't Cory.

Finally, at 3:23, the alert of a text message sent me flying out of my seat and I rummaged through my pocketbook to find my phone. At that hour of the day it made more sense for him to text since he probably didn't have the time to call.

Relief washing over me, I excitedly flipped open the phone. Marissa. She'd heard that some famous author was giving a talk at the 92
^nd
Street Y that night and wanted to know if I was around after work.

Angry, I tossed the phone back in my bag and muttered, “Call me back! C'mon already!”

The wait was killing me and I couldn't avoid my mother, roommate, and every other person who might ask about the upcoming brunch forever so I called Cory. When I got his voicemail again, I groaned knowing I'd be back to square one, waiting for him
to call me back. I considered hanging up and trying again later but felt the urgent need to remind him that I was waiting for him to confirm he'd be around on Sunday. I took a deep breath and tried to sound calm. “Hey Cory, it's me again. Just wondering where you are. Can you please call me back as soon as you get this? I really need to know if you're in for Sunday. My mom will probably reschedule the trip into the city if you can't make it since I think the real reason they're coming in is to meet their youngest daughter's new boyfriend.” I paused and bit down on my lower lip. We hadn't officially settled on the boyfriend/girlfriend title yet. Too late now. “So please call me back. I know you're busy but I'd appreciate it. Thanks. Talk to you soon.”