“Between Kolby and my story about Malcolm, Blair, and Quinn, we had enough conversation pieces to discuss on the drive from San Antonio.”
“For real,” Savvy exclaimed. “We need tonight to be fun to make up for all of the crazy stuff we’ve had going on. Please let there be a better selection of men here.”
“I’ll scan the line since I’m above everyone’s head. Most of the guys here are too short for me anyway. It’s hard to find men six feet one and taller to accommodate me in three-inch heels.”
“I’ll manage the short ones and send you the tall ones. Okay?” Savvy laughed.
“Sounds like a good plan to me. Right now, I think you’ll be the only one finding someone at this party.”
“Hey. See the guy at the back of the line? He favors Wynton Marsalis.” Savvy wiggled her fingers in front of her face as if playing a trumpet.
Olivia spotted the Wynton clone and laughed. “He sure could pass for his twin. Not as cute though. Wynton is F-I-N-E.”
“Girl. The way he plays those trumpets has me wishing I was his instrument,” Savvy sighed.
“Me too.” Olivia fanned her hand to cool herself off from the thoughts about Wynton.
Savvy and Olivia glanced at the guy again. They both air-played a trumpet and laughed.
“Wait. I think he noticed us making fun of him.” Savvy stopped moving her fingers. “Don’t look,” she giggled.
“What? Oops. I didn’t think he could see us from the back of the line.” Olivia whispered and peeked in his direction. She didn’t spot him where he stood a moment ago.
“Good afternoon, ladies.” A voice greeted them from behind their backs. They turned around to find the man who had been at the end of the line gazing at them. Another guy, with a post-high-school athletic body from thirty years ago, stood beside him with a tired expression on his face.
“Hello,” Olivia replied sheepishly. She snuck a glimpse at Savvy whose cheeks flushed red from embarrassment.
“Hi.” Savvy tried to stifle a laugh.
“I couldn’t help seeing the two of you staring at me. I figured you must’ve had a good joke since you were both cracking up laughing. “What’s funny?” His dimpled smile spread across his face.
“Oh. We were reminiscing about going to a Wynton Marsalis concert,” Savvy offered.
“Yeah. Has anyone ever told you that you favor him? We think you kind of do,” Olivia asked. She checked him out with discretion since he now stood in front of them.
“No one ever told me that they thought I look like him. Thank you for the compliment.” His eyes danced between the two of them and he continued to grin. He had a lazy left eye that drifted to focus on Olivia’s shoulder.
“Are you a fan of his?” Olivia returned his smile yet studied him with scrutiny. She realized he didn’t look anything like Wynton up-close. Other than cute dimples, he wasn’t attractive.
“I have every one of Wynton’s cassette tapes. Yes, I said tapes, which shows I’m much older than the two of you. My jazz music collection is quite extensive.” He laughed. “By the way, my name is Brinson.” He extended his hand to Olivia.
“Hi. I’m Olivia and this is Savvy.” They took turns shaking his hand. “I think we’re all about the same age.
Savvy chimed in. “I have to admit, I still can’t give up my cassette tape collection. I even have a working Walkman tape player with Mega Base.”
“No way.” Brinson’s brows raised as if impressed. “Here’s one for you. Everyone can’t relate to using a pencil to stick in the hole of the tape to rewind it.”
“Or putting a tiny piece of Scotch tape on it when it broke,” Olivia said.
“That’s right.” Brinson chuckled. “I’ve got another one for you. I still have a boombox. I blast it on Sunday afternoons when I wash my car in the driveway.”
“Boy. Stop it. I know your neighbors are mad at you.” Olivia enjoyed the trip down memory lane.
“I got mad when the CD launched. I had to get all new music since they stopped making cars with cassette tape players in them.” Brinson continued with the recollection.
“Right. Me too. Now, everyone downloads music and streams it. I’m still trying to figure out my MP3 player,” Olivia added in.
“Kids these days have no idea what they missed out on.” Brinson’s friend joined the conversation after standing like a zombie on the side. “Sorry I didn’t introduce myself. My name is Nell. I didn’t get much sleep last night. Brinson arrived in town and kept me up hanging. We haven’t slept since he got here.” Nell stifled a yawn.
“Partying all night? I know y’all have to be tired,” Savvy said. “Do you live here in Austin?”
“Naw. I live in San Antonio. Brinson is visiting from Oklahoma City for the weekend,” Nell responded.
“Oklahoma? You’ve come a long way for a party,” Olivia teased Brinson. “Aren’t there things to do in your home town?”
“I always come for the relays. My boy is acting like he doesn’t hang on the regular. Man, this is what we do. He’s being lazy right now.” Brinson slapped Nell on the back to wake him up.
“Quit playin’, Brinson. You know I had a big landscape job right before you arrived. I didn’t get any rest. Between hittin’ up all the clubs and drinkin’, my head hasn’t hit a pillow in almost two days. We need to bounce from this day party and head back to San Antonio. I have to get some sleep.” Nell yawned again.
“Dawg. You know you better drink a Red Bull or coffee or somethin’. We gotta drive to Lake Charles tomorrow to hit up the casino. We need to make some paper.” Brinson didn’t seem to let Nell have any kind of excuse for not hanging out.
“Oh wow. You two are getting your partying in. Maybe we need to run around
