Oh my.

Chapter Nine

You Sleep Here Don’t You?

Sadie

“Aaahhooow,” Ralphie yawned with an exaggerated stretch. “I’m tuckered out. Time for beddie bye. Buddy, baby, you comin’ with me?”

I looked from Hector’s shoulder (where my head was resting) to the end of the couch (where Ralphie was stretching) to the armchair (where Buddy was sitting).

Then I rolled my eyes and went back to staring at the credits rolling on the TV.

Seriously, how obvious could you be?

* * * * *

Dinner went okay if you didn’t count one minor incident.

* * * * *

Buddy hadn’t just made his famous tuna and noodles. He’d set the dining room table and even lit candles. He also served his spinach salad with pumpkin oil balsamic vinaigrette before the tuna and chocolate almond torte with vanilla-essence whipped cream for dessert.

I changed out of my Queen Ice outfit and, in the two seconds between our arrival home at six-oh-five and Hector’s arrival at the house at six-oh-five-and-two-seconds, I stared at the contents of my closet trying to find a casual-dinner-at-home-with-Hector-and-my-two-gay-roommates outfit.

Impossible!

In a dither, I opted for a pair of jeans and a black camisole over which I wore a gray cardigan (well, it wasn’t just a gray cardigan, it was a gray cardigan from Anthropologie, it had a hood and wide sleeves with tiny black lace ruffles at the sleeves and around the hem). I decided, since the cardigan said more than “casual-dinner-at-home-with-Hector”, I’d go barefoot.

Barefoot was as casual as you could get.

I put my hair in a big ponytail and headed down.

Since Ralphie talked a mile a minute and Buddy wanted the lowdown on The Search for Harvey and Ricky (the lowdown was that Harvey had been snagged, Ricky was still “at large” and I kind of wished it was the other way around), I didn’t have to say much.

This continued at dinner, mostly Ralphie talking enough for everyone and, when he could get a word in edgewise, Buddy demanding details from Hector on how things would go once Ricky and Harvey were both caught.

This took a turn when somehow we got on the subject of dog sitting YoYo and Ralphie shoved me, kicking and screaming, right in middle.

“Sadie wants to watch YoYo,” Ralphie told Buddy when it was becoming clear he was losing the fight.

My head snapped up and I saw from across the table Hector’s eyes come to mine and one side of his mouth twitched.

“Sadie, is that true?” Buddy asked.

I widened my eyes at Hector in a non-verbal, “Help me!”

Hector remained silent but his mouth kept twitching.

“Sadie, tell him. You loved YoYo, didn’t you?” Ralphie prompted.

I decided to be Hector and remain silent.

“Sadie?” Now it was Buddy’s turn to prompt.

I made the new decision to extricate myself pronto. “I don’t get a say. It isn’t my house.”

This was a bad decision.

“What do you mean it isn’t your house?” Ralphie snapped.

I looked at Ralphie. Ralphie looked angry.

“Well, what I mean is –” I started.

“You sleep here, don’t you?” Ralphie asked.

“Yes, but –” I tried again.

“Your clothes are here,” Ralphie pushed.

“Yes, but, what I mean –” I kept trying.

“You shower here, put your makeup on here, watch Veronica Mars here, come home after work to, um… I don’t know? Here! Don’t you?” Ralphie pressed.

“Yes, I guess so, but –”

“You guess so?” Ralphie’s eyes had narrowed.

“Ralphie, you wanna let her talk?” Buddy cut in.

Ralphie sat back, crossed his arms on his chest and glared at me.

“All I’m saying is that I’m a guest and as a guest I don’t have any say in these kinds of decisions,” I explained.

Ralphie looked at Buddy and snapped, “She thinks she’s a guest.”

“Sadie –” Buddy started.

Ralphie interrupted, “What? Are you moving out?”

My gaze slid to Hector who was now smiling at the remains of his chocolate almond torte. I wanted to throw my plate at him.

I, of course, did not.

Because, even though he deserved it, that would be rude.

I answered Ralphie, “Well, yes.”

Hector’s head came up and his smile vanished.

“What? When?” Buddy asked sharply.

I looked at Buddy. “I realized last night that you guys have been looking out for me for awhile now so it’s probably time to get out of your hair.”

“Buddy doesn’t have hair,” Ralphie clipped.

“You know what I mean,” I said quietly to Ralphie.

“No, Ms. Sadie Marie Townsend, I do not know what you mean.” Ralphie didn’t take a hint from my quiet tone.

“Maybe we should talk about this later.” Buddy was eyeing the now completely unamused Hector.

“That would be good,” I said with relief.

“You better believe we’ll talk about it later,” Ralphie threatened then he swung his glare toward Buddy. “So what’s the verdict on the f**king dog?” he demanded.

I held my breath wondering what Hector might think of all these shenanigans. I bet Blanca didn’t say “fucking” at her table.

Buddy’s eyes came to me.

Then he sighed.

“We’ll watch YoYo.”

* * * * *

After dinner we settled into the living room and watched Walking Tall (The Rock version which Buddy declared was the only version that was worth a shit due to The Rock being a whole lot easier on the eyes than Joe Don Baker).

This was not normal Ralphie and Buddy viewing fodder but I figured they were being good hosts to macho man Hector. I didn’t really see Hector sitting though Auntie Mame or Steel Magnolias.

Of course, they finagled me into the middle of the couch position but Ralphie didn’t have to try the massaging my feet move. Hector pulled me into his side right away.

I’d had a rough day and decided not to fight it.

Anyway, he was comfy and warm.

* * * * *

Now the movie was over and Buddy and Ralphie were off to bed.

“‘Night, sweets,” Ralphie said, kissing my cheek.

“Goodnight,” I replied.

Buddy leaned in after Ralphie. “See you in the morning, Sadie.” Then he kissed my cheek too.

I smiled at him. “See you.”

“Hector, later.” Buddy lifted his chin to Hector.