Topsy Turvy Kinda Love
let my nerves get the best of me while I ask my next question. I open my mouth to speak, but a laugh erupts from Charlie’s mouth, interrupting me before he points toward Willie. “Wait, you really trying to seek advice from this old guy?”“And you’re any better?” Willie looks pointedly at Charlie, clearly offended.
“Oh, hell no, but I also don’t pretend to know things like you do, old man.” His accusing stare fixes on Willie.
“Eh, bastards probably right. I don’t know left from right some mornings,” Willie replies.
I look between them trying to get any other tips that I can. “So what? I just wait and see what happens? Let her make the first move?”
“Good lord, son. Have you not been listening to anything that’s come out of my damn mouth?” Willie mutters. “Do that and you’ll likely never get laid.”
A blush creeps up my face and I can’t help my embarrassment about being a virgin at this age. My patience is slowly waning with these two old guys, so I take a deep breath. “What do you think I should do then?”
“You looking for true love, a ring, two point five kids or you looking for a hookup? That’s the question you gotta ask yourself.” Charlie cuts in.
I open my mouth once and then close it again. I’m not exactly sure how to respond. This seems like a private topic of discussion, and one maybe I’m not ready to share.
“I’m looking for…”
Willie looks over at me with a lifted brow. “I know that look. He’s in love with her. He wants to keep her forever.”
“The lot of you are saps. Complete saps.” Charlie says before he strolls off to chat with an older lady down the bar.
Willie raises his brow. “So, Mia Preston, huh?”
“Yep, the one and only.” I dip my chin slightly so he doesn’t see the double meaning I have behind that comment.
“So, you’re moving in with her in just a couple of days from now?”
“That’s the plan. Honestly, I could use any advice you’d like to give me.”
Willie rubs his jaw. “Son, I could give you all the advice in the world, but it seems like every relationship is different. It depends on the people. What I can tell you is to not take it for granted. Follow her lead. You can rush into things all you like, but love is built on trust and respect. Take it slow, learn her heart and her mind. You’ll figure out what it’ll take to break through to her as you live together. Maybe that’s physical upfront, maybe not. You’ll know.”
My pulse is pumping faster, thinking about invading her space, maybe getting physical with her. If it were up to me, I’d already be moved in, but I don’t want to rush anything. We’ve got all the time in the world.
“But what does that mean exactly?”
“You’ll figure it out. This whole experience is more than likely going to be new for you. I’m assuming you’ve never lived with a female other than your momma before, and I’ll be the first to tell you that some days it’s a battle of wills. It won’t be a picnic. Some days it will try your patience. You’ll want to yell and scream and throw shit. She’ll say something that you don’t understand. You’ll fight but remember to always apologize and never go to bed angry. Never said love was easy and some days you may have to fight for it.”
“You sound like you seem to know a thing or two about it… Have you been in my situation before?”
“We aren’t here to talk about me and my shortcomings… we’re here to talk about you and your lady friend. But to answer your question, yes. I made that mistake once. Don’t ever see myself doing it a second time. Old ticker won’t survive another woman like her.”
Willie shakes his head and sighs loudly. When he’s facing me again, he looks me straight in the eye. Boring into my soul. “Now saying all this… I want you to be careful with your heart. I’ve known Mia for a while now. Never seen her with a guy. Doesn’t have many friends. She doesn’t trust easily, and it takes her a while to warm up to people. Once you’re in her inner circle, she’s loyal to a fault, but also guard yourself.”
He pauses briefly. “Look, you seem like a good kid. Got a solid head on your shoulders, and I’d hate to see that change over a woman. Many men have been crushed by feelings over a woman. The last thing I want to see is you get hurt over this whole situation.”
Anger rises at the idea that Mia would do anything to hurt me, but I know he’s just trying to be open minded and make me think about everything. Since starting at Topsy Turvy, Willie has been nothing but the best giver of advice and support. In the end, he means well, but I’m probably not listening to any of his suggestions. I’m all in as far as I’m concerned with this girl. White dress, kids, picket fence… the whole ten yards…
“Thanks for the advice.”
He knocks on the bar top before getting up, and an echo rings out across the bar. “You have yourself a good night and good luck. I’ll be seeing ya.”
His words replay through my mind the rest of the night while I continue making drinks and refilling beer. Maybe it will be the story of a lifetime and maybe it’ll all go down in flames. Regardless I’m not backing down from the challenge.
Mia comes in five minutes early, like always by the telltale sign of her perfume. That cotton candy smell I just can’t get enough of these days- an alluring scent filled with possibilities and what’s to come.
“Hey, Brooks. How’s it shaking?” Her lips part into a gorgeous smile with that quirky tilt.
“Slow start this morning, but things have been picking up this afternoon. About twice as many