Sunday July 28th, 2005
She gripped the leather upholstered seat with her manicured fingers and took a
deep breath. She must have crossed and recrossed her legs a thousand times.
Finally the door opened and he slid inside, greeting her with a peck of a kiss
on the lips. “Hi.”
She smiled, “Hi.”
“Have you been waiting long?”
She shook her head, “Not very.”
He nodded slowly, leaning his head back on the seat, “I missed you.”
She nodded slowly, “I missed you too.”
“Crappy weather.”
“Yeah. It’s been like this all week.”
He sighed as the trunk of the towncar snapped shut. The driver climbed in, put
up the divider then started off back towards the city. “So. What have you been up to?”
“Oh…well last night I went to your ex girlfriend’s art exhibition.
She got a grant from MOMA, you know.” She said, “It was amazing; the things she’s doing lately….it’s
really innovative.”
“The last thing I want to hear about is the latest on Anna Kett,”
he said, as politely as possible.
“Even if you don't admire her as a person, you can at least admit you like
her art.”
“And I do,” he said, “But there’s a boundary of liking
a person and liking a person’s art, and for me, when I look at Anna’s art, all I can think about is how much I
don't like her, and that, unfortunately, interferes with me liking her art.”
She stared at him, “That’s complicated.”
“Not very.” He said, “What else did you do?”
“I went to a party at Prada the other night,” she said, “and
then I went to Table 50. It’s new; we should go.”
“Yeah, Table 50. I’ve heard of it; it’s good, right?”
“Really good; you would like it, it’s really indie.”
He nodded, “Sounds good. We’ll go tomorrow night if you want.”
“I can’t,” she said, “I’m having dinner with my
parents.”
“Okay; Tuesday.”
“I’ll have to check my book,” she said, “I may have tickets
to the ballet, but I’m not sure.”
He nodded slowly, “When I was in LA, I saw the Shout Out Louds…they
kicked ass completely. They have this one song, Then Again No, and it’s just…like…oh my God, I haven't stopped
listening to it. It’s one of those songs.”
“What else did you do in LA?”
“I went shopping,” he sighed, “bought a bunch of shit I probably
already have another version of…I ate at Mr. Chow’s like every night because it’s like the one thing I just
don't have in Manhattan. So I’m Chinese food-ed out. And I met Lindsay Lohan.”
“You did?”
He chuckled, “All three and a half pounds of her.”
Aubrey laughed and covered his hand with hers, “You can probably account
her bleached hair for three pounds of her total body weight.”
He laughed and kissed her hand, “Probably.”
“Was she with Nicole?”
“Naturally,” he said, “those two together, they spell trouble.
Which is why I am glad to be back…back with you, back in the rain, back in the city…”
“Good,” she said, “I'm glad you're back, too.”
“Emma back yet?”
“…No.”
He sighed, “JC must have gotten his shit together, because she was so pissed.
She was angry.”
“Well he cheated on her.”
“I know.” He said, “I admit that was a dirty thing, but hey,
she gave him an ultimatum.”
“Do you want to have a dinner party?”
He laughed, “Sure.”
“I’m in a party throwing mood.” She said.
“Been watching Style and Food Network, haven't you?”
“No…”
He laughed, “I don't cook.”
“We get it catered. Obviously.”
“Oh.” he said, relieved, “That could be cool.”
“I think so.” She said, “You know what I just realized?”
“What? How handsome I am?”
She rolled her eyes, “No…I’ve never been to your apartment.”
“And you don't want to, either.” He said with caution, “It’s
way too masculine for you. And it’s kind of messy.”
“Too masculine for me? And what is my apartment? Too girly?”
He laughed, “No, well, you know…it isn't so girly. Not as girly as
mine is masculine. I think if you saw my apartment, you would probably think I was super poor.”
“Why, do you do your laundry in a basement or something?” She laughed
sweetly, not meaning anything by it.
He just bit his lip and looked at her.
“Oh.” She said simply, “Well…that’s okay.”
“You wanna come over tonight?”
She giggled, “Can I do some of my laundry with you in your basement?”
“If you promise not to make fun of me. You don't even have to use quarters
for these, if you can believe it.” he said, “See, it’s this whole indie living thing I’m doing, unfortunately
inspired by the brilliant Anna…”
“That is quite brilliant of you.” She smiled, “And yes, I do
want to come over tonight.”
“Alright. We’ll do some laundry together, eat some pizza…maybe
rent a DVD or something.”
She laughed, “That is so…normal!”
He nodded, laughing, “Ain't it, though?”
“What time should I come?”
“Six, is that okay?”
She nodded, “Go home; you look kind of tired.”
“I am; they don't call these long flights red eyes for no reason,”
he joked dryly as the driver pulled up to his SoHo apartment building outfitted in classic beige brick, “Alright. I’ll
see you at six, and I swear I wont cancel on you.”
She laughed, “Okay.”
He kissed her on the lips, “Bye.”
She smiled and waved good bye, “Bye.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Laundry. We’re going to do laundry.”
“That’s so intimate!”
She laughed, “Now that I think about it, it really is.”
Robbie laughed, “Well you know what you have to do, right?”
“What?” She asked, her laughs subsiding.
“Obviously, you throw in your sexiest lingerie, raising some suspicion as
to what you did while he was away…that way it gets sex on the brain.”
She laughed, “That is so deceptive. And none of my lingerie will ever be
put through the torture of…an actual washer dryer.”
“Oh, shut up.” Robbie laughed, “This is so cute; your first
laundry date! Don't you know the rules for laundry dates?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Leave the really dirty stuff at home; sweaty gym clothes, socks, gross.
Make it a point to wash your prettiest underthings…everything, who cares if it’s even dirty? Just throw it in,”
Robbie said, “and do not let him know that you see him looking.”
She giggled, “This is ridiculous.”
“It’s the rules of the game, honey.” Robbie encouraged, “What
are you going to wear?”
“Jeans and a shirt, I guess.”
“Are you sleeping over tonight?”
“I don't think so.” she replied, “He’s jet lagged.”
“Jet lag never keeps a man from getting down to business.”
Aubrey laughed loudly as she slid a bunch of chocolate chunks into a mini food
processor. “Yes, it does.”
“Says who?”
“Chad?”
“Okay, well…my gaydar beeps loud when he’s around, so…”
“He isn't gay.” Aubrey said, pulsing the chocolate.
“And what, my life, are you doing?”
“Making cookies.”
Robbie laughed, “Don't tell me; for your laundry date?”
“Maybe.”
“You should wear jeans and that super cute Karanina top you got the other
day,” he suggested, “That chiffon-y peach colored thing. You know the one.”
“Oh, I took that back,” Aubrey said, dumping the now annihilated chocolate
into a mixing bowl, “It made my boobs look really big.”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
She smiled, “There’s no need to enhance what I've already been so
blessed with, Rob.”
“That’s true,” he agreed, “Shoes?”
“Flip flops; very casual.” She said, “It’s going to be
so relaxed not to dress up for once.”
“That’s you; dress up, twenty four seven, darling.”
She smiled, “Of course.”
“Pre tell, what kind of cookies are you making, dear?”
“Double chocolate peanut butter.” She replied smugly, “A cookie
I happen to know that Justin favors.”
“It is appalling how smitten you are with him.” Robbie replied, “I've
never seen you like this.”
“Oh, yes you have.”
“No I have not.” Robbie argued, “I anticipate a sleepover tonight…”
“I doubt it,” she said, “If there was a sleepover tonight, and
I don't think there will be, I doubt he would invite me to his apartment to do laundry.”
Robbie sighed, defeated, “Good point.”
6:30 PM
Usually Aubrey stayed away from pizza; even though she was a born and bred New
Yorker, the grease on pizza freaked her out. But not tonight; no, tonight she was actually stuffing her face with pizza.
“I’ve been eating, like, pate and escargot all week,” she said
between her first and second slice of pizza, “Pizza is the most amazing thing ever.”
He laughed and sipped his Coke, “I’m glad to know somebody appreciates
it.”
She smiled, “So, do you usually do laundry on Sunday nights?”
“Not usually,” he said, “Do you usually do your laundry at all?”
She laughed, “I’ll be honest. No. I don't do my laundry. My maid does.”
“Oh.”
“Yes.” She replied, “Shocking, isn't it?”
“No.” he laughed, “Not at all.”
“Walk me though this,” she said, dusting her hands on her jeans, “so
you turn on the water, then sprinkle in the…what is this, detergent?”
He grinned, “Yes. And then you let it wash, and when it turns off, you take
the clothes out and put them in the dryer with a dryer sheet to make them smell good. It’s really that simple.”
She nodded slowly, “I never knew.”
“Wanna play twenty questions?”
“No…” she smiled, “I want to eat pizza and drink diet
Coke and do my laundry with you.”
“The whole purpose of doing laundry is the socialization part of it.”
He said, “You gotta give me something to wash my clothes to.”
She smiled, “What do you want to know?”
“I don't know – something I don't already know about you.”
“Okay.” She said, “I had a baby brother. When I was four, actually.
But he was born prematurely and died a week after being born.”
“That’s awful.”
“It isn’t all that bad; you can't mourn for some one you didn’t
even know.”
Justin shrugged then nodded.
“And because of that, I think that’s why my father loves me that much
less.” She said, “He wanted a boy desperately.”
He didn’t know what to say.
“I used to dwell on it but now I don't even care any more.” She proclaimed,
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
She smiled, “It’s your turn.”
He pondered for a moment, “Let’s see.”
“Make it good, the one I just handed you was deep.”
He smiled, “Yes, I know.”
She cocked her head to the side and swung her legs back and forth.
“Here’s one.” He said, “And I’m being totally serious.
All of my past girlfriends have cheated on me.”
“Are you serious?”
“Absolutely.”
“All of them?”
“All but one.” He said, “That was the other way around.”
“Oh…”
“I've probably got no blood left in my heart after its been stomped on so
many times,” he said lightheartedly, “But I’m almost afraid I might be used to it by now.”
She nodded slowly, “That’s crazy.”
“Crazy and true,” he clarified, “Hey. When is your birthday?”
“January first.” She replied, “And you?”
“January thirty first.” He said, “I’m assuming we’re
the same age.”
She laughed, “How old are you?”
“You know how old I am.”
“You know how old I am, too, but you aren't saying.” She mused, “I
saw your drivers license when that bartender carded you the last time we actually went out.”
“Did you?”
She smiled, folding her pizza in half and taking a bite, “Yup. Very endearing
photo.”
“I look like I just got out of prison.”
“How come you have a Florida driver’s license?”
“Too lazy to get it changed, I guess.” He replied, “Are you
twenty four?”
She nodded, “Yes; we’re ancient.”
“I have yet to date any girl the same age as me,” he admitted, “That
is sad.”
She smiled, “You have me; we’re the same age.”
“You're breaking my streak,” he grinned, “you need a prize or
something.”
“You're right,” she said with a sweet smile as she leaned over to
kiss him on the lips softly, “I do.”
If The Bathroom Is Clean
