'Check, check, and check. Let’s do it.'
We worked together, getting all the ingredients we’d need, and a bowl, spoon, and measuring cups. I measured everything out as Haley stirred it all in. She stared into the mix, looking thoughtful.
'Do you think that Robin was gay all along?' She looked at me.
'From the movie?' She nodded, putting some muscle into her stirring as I had everything in that needed to be. 'Well, I don’t know.' I thought as I threw the egg shells into the trash, wiping my hands on my sweats. 'I guess so. Maybe just a love, instead of a sexual thing, you know?'
'So, you don’t think had things been different that she and Jane would have slept together.' I shook my head.
'No, not really.'
'Hmm.'
'What about you?' Haley put her spoon down, and grabbed the can of Pam spray to grease the cake pan. 'I’m not sure. I don’t really see them together in that way, either, but I don’t see anything wrong with it.' Pan generously greased, just as the box instructed, she poured the mixed batter into it, and then carried it over to the oven as I hopped up onto the counter and watched. I was surprised by the addition to the conversation, but went with it.
'Neither do I. I mean, when that miniature golf chick was flirting with Whoopie Goldberg’s character, it didn’t bother me at all. I mean, go Jane.' Haley hopped up on the counter next to the stove, and smiled at me.
'No kidding. I really liked Jane, but Robin, I thought she was really interesting. I think she would have driven me nuts, all her little quirks, but she was cool. Pretty, too. Who played her?'
'Mary-Louise Parker.'
'And how do you know that?' Haley cocked her head to the side, a smile on her face. I shrugged. 'I thought you don’t really follow movies that much?'
'I don’t, but I’ve liked her since I saw her in ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’.'
'So that’s where I’ve seen her. Huh. I wondered.' She grabbed the spoon from the mixing bowl, began to lick the batter off it. I watched, nearly drooling. I loved raw cake batter. Just like cookie dough. Yum. 'Want some?' I nodded, she smiled. 'Come and get it.'
I hopped off the counter, my eyes on the spoon the entire time, watching as Haley’s tongue came out of her mouth, licking the tip of it until the metal was clean and shiny.
'Here.' She drug her finger along the inside of the bowl until her entire index finger was covered in the batter. She held her hand out to me. I just stared at it, not sure what to do. 'Come on, my finger is clean, really.' But my thoughts weren’t.
I leaned in, and tentatively poked my tongue out, touching the very tip to the tip of Haley’s finger. She was grinning at me.
'It won’t bite, there, stud.' I pulled away, glaring up at her. 'Come on, you know you want it.' I looked into her eyes that were narrowed, challenging. What are you doing, Haley? I took a step closer, my eyes still on hers. I felt the need to meet the challenge, even though I’m sure it was only me who was playing the game.
I opened my mouth and wrapped my lips around the offered finger, running my tongue up the full length, gathering the sweet, rich batter as it went. I took it slow, sure to get every single bit. Haley watched me, her eyes darting to my mouth, back to my eyes, and then back to her newly cleaned finger.
'Well, I guess you did want some.'
We laid in the dark, the electric blanket on nearly high as it seemed the snow was seeping through every single nook and cranny. Well, the cold, anyway. I was tremendously glad to have Haley’s body heat next to me; I basked in it.
As I stared up into the dark ceiling, pulling the covers up closer around my chin.
'What would you do for a million dollars?' I asked, turning to look at where I knew Haley was laying. I heard her yawn quietly.
'Hmm. Let me think.' She paused. 'I’d blow the president.'
'Haley!' She chuckled, reaching over under the covers to slap my leg.
'I’m only kidding. I guess I’d run naked through New York City.'
'Really?' I turned so I was facing her, holding myself up on my elbow.
'Well, I guess I’d have to give that one more thought. I mean, a million bucks would certainly be nice, but, you know.'
'Where would you stop?'
'I wouldn’t do anything that cost me or my family their dignity. You know? I wouldn’t sleep with anyone, or anything.'
'So I take it any likelihood of a future career as a high-priced hooker is out, huh?' I asked, grinning.
'Why? Looking for some fun, big boy?' I could feel her eyes on me, though I couldn’t see any part of her. I had closed my blinds and curtains on the windows to keep as much cold out as possible.
'Ha ha.' I could hear her low chuckle. 'So you wouldn’t even kiss someone for that much money?'
'No. You?'
'Oh, God, no. I think it would take a lot more than money to make me kiss anyone after my experience.'
'Did he hurt you, Andi? I mean, it was consensual, right?'
'Oh, yeah. He may have been a jerk, but he wasn’t a rapist.'
'Oh, good. I would have had to go and cut off his dick, and I really didn’t want to go back out in the cold.' I smiled, touched.
'You’d do that for me?'
'Oh, yeah. If anyone hurt you? Sure.'
'So would I.'
Again, I felt her eyes on me. 'I know you would, Andi.' We were quiet for a bit, listening to the snow outside. Such a strange sound. I don’t think people often realize that snow makes any sound, like rain is known for it. You always hear that in song lyrics, rain beating on the roof, or whatever. I liked the sound of snow, and knowing it was out there. It always made me feel safe, like I was blanketed in.
'If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go?' I asked, rubbing my feet together, trying to warm them up.
'Where would I go. That’s a good question. I really haven’t been many places outside the US, other than Mexico and Spain.'
'You’ve been to Spain?'
'Yup. Family trip when I was fifteen. I guess I’d have to say Australia or France.'
'Why?'
'Well, Australia is beautiful, and I love the French language.' I chuckled.
'That’s certainly an interesting reason to want to live in a country.'
'Well, fine, then. What about you?'
'Canada sounds nice. I’d want to stay somewhere with this kind of weather.'
'The cold and snow?' I nodded, then realized Haley couldn’t see me.
'Yup.'
'Huh. Interesting.' Another yawn filled the room, this one loud, meaning business.
'Tired?'
'Yeah.'
'Me, too. Goodnight, Haley.'
'Night, Andi.'
I winced as I felt something crawling up my arm, but was too deeply entrenched in my world of darkness to really care. There it was again getting further up, now it was on my upper arm. My mind showed me this picture of a massive, hairy spider, come in from the cold. Its little eyes, all hundred of them, looking for a nice place on my skin to bite into, or to lay eggs.
With that thought, my eyes popped open, and my hand began to frantically swipe at the Jaws of spiders.
