“Beautiful.”
“Yeah, if you like that sorta crap,” Jimmy said.
“Let’s look at the media room,” Haylee said.
When we stepped in, I saw why she was interested in it. There were two very comfortable-looking sofas, a large-screen television, and elaborate audio equipment. The room had a malt-colored shag rug.
“We can watch something good and have our pizza in here,” Jimmy said. “As long as we don’t leave a mess.”
“Oh, don’t worry. Kaylee is a perfectionist when it comes to cleaning up,” Haylee announced.
“And you’re not?” Matt asked.
“We are different, Matt. I make the mess; Kaylee cleans it up. Right, Kaylee?”
“You do make the mess,” I confirmed, and Matt laughed.
Even Jimmy widened his smile. “Make a mess of me,” he told her, and they kissed, right there in front of us.
I hadn’t known Haylee could kiss like that. It looked like a movie kiss.
“Let’s move on to the kitchen,” Jimmy said. “I think we’d better get the food ready. I’m going to need my strength tonight.”
He took Haylee’s hand and started out.
I looked at Matt, who shrugged. “I didn’t think it took all that much strength,” he said, and we both laughed.
We followed them, me still holding Chin, who seemed just as curious about what this night would bring but also a little fearful.
Maybe he sensed it in me.
8
When Jimmy had said we could “watch something good,” neither Matt nor I suspected that he meant something pornographic. I assumed Haylee knew, because she wasn’t that surprised. She had that impish little smile bubbling on her face as Jimmy set it up. The moment the movie began, I could see immediately that the story was going to be stupid. It didn’t take more than three minutes for the first woman in the film to take off all her clothes. Jimmy and Haylee were laughing when the man did the same, but neither Matt nor I could utter a sound.
“It’s not what I’d call a movie to watch while eating,” Matt said.
“Where did you get this?” I asked. “Is it something your parents watch?”
“Hell, no,” Jimmy said. “Bobby Lester sold it to me for twenty bucks. My mother would have heart failure if she knew we were watching it, so don’t tell anyone.”
“Why don’t we just listen to some music?” Matt suggested.
“Really?” Jimmy asked. “You don’t want to watch this?”
“It feels more like someone’s bachelor party. Kaylee’s uncomfortable, and to be honest, so am I.”
“Oh, you poor dears,” Haylee said. “So sensitive.”
“Maybe you should be, too,” I said. You could have sliced the anger in the air between us. It was that thick.
“It’s all right. Haylee and I can watch it
ourselves. I have a TV in my bedroom,” he said, and turned it off. He flipped another switch, and we heard jazz. “My dad’s collection,” he said. “More comfortable?”
“Fine with me,” Matt said. “That’s Dave Brubeck.”
“Brew, like in beer?” Jimmy said.