Looking down at my tits popping out of my dress, I said, “If I knew we were seeing your parents today, I would’ve worn something less slutty.”
“You’re dressed to be fucked. And that’s exactly what’s going to happen in there. Trust me.”
What? Okay, that’s just disturbing.
Rather than ring the doorbell, Landon used his key to enter the house.
“Are they not home?”
He smiled at me. “They’re not home. I didn’t immediately admit that because I was enjoying your little freakout.”
“Thanks a lot. Where are they?”
“Florida.”
Suddenly, it made sense. We were crashing at his parents’ place while they were away. Relief poured over me. We would, in fact, be alone the entire time.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been inside this house when your parents weren’t home. Why does it feel like we’re being sneaky? Back in the day, we mainly hung out in the garage apartment or outside. The main house always seemed off-limits. Aside from the last time we visited your parents, I think I’ve been in this actual house only a handful of times.”
“Want to see what my parents did to my old room?” He nudged his head. “Come on.” As we entered the space, he laughed and said, “Nothing. They did absolutely nothing. Can you believe it?”
The room looked like a typical teenage boy’s room. There was a poster of an exotic car on the wall, along with a ton of sports trophies and banners. We hadn’t gone into his old room the one night we came here for dinner when he first visited Michigan. So, this was my first glimpse at it.
“Oh, my God, Landon. They haven’t even touched it.”
“Scary, right? After I left for Cali, my mother was devastated. It was as if preserving this room was the only thing keeping me alive, keeping me as her son. It actually makes me sad.”
“It shows how much they really love you.”
I wandered over to a picture collage on the wall that featured, among other things, wallet-sized photos of high school friends and a couple of prom pictures. I leaned in closer to examine one of them. Landon looked so clean-cut in his vest and bowtie. My…how things had changed.
I ran my finger along one of the photos. “You and Kelsie.”
“I forgot about these. I should’ve taken them down.”
“It’s okay. I’m not the jealous monster I was when we first met. At least, I’m trying not to be. But I do envy her for getting to go to the prom with you. I never went to prom at all, let alone with Landon Roderick.”
He stood behind me, placing his hand on my shoulders as I continued gazing at his high school memories. “You wouldn’t have wanted me then. I was on the cusp of a self-destructive implosion. I look at that naïve kid now, and it’s like looking at a stranger. He had a lot to learn and a lot of fucking up to do before he became me. The man I am today is who you belong with.”
I turned around to face him. “I’m so lucky that I found you when I did. I suppose maybe if I hadn’t moved, something might have happened between us or worse, I would’ve had to watch you with Kelsie. Either way, I would’ve lost you to California. That was inevitable.”
“It’s funny how the things that we once looked at as tragic are exactly what needed to happen, in retrospect.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that we wouldn’t be together right now if I hadn’t left, if my father hadn’t made that rash decision to pack up and move.”
“Crazy, right?” His hands slid down my back as he squeezed my ass and grunted. “I can’t wait to fuck you in my old bed later.”
“There’s something really naughty about that.”
“I will tell you this…the boy in that picture would’ve died of a heart attack if he’d ever known then that he would be bringing a girl with tits and ass as obscenely gorgeous as yours back to this room someday.”
“And he certainly would’ve had a heart attack if he knew those tits and ass belonged to Rana Banana.”
“Without a freaking doubt.”
He lowered his face to my breasts and licked through the fabric of my dress, circling his tongue over my nipple and leaving a wet spot that made me yearn for more.
After Landon reluctantly stopped, he said, “Alright…I can’t get too carried away yet. We haven’t finished the tour.” He put his hand on the small of my back. “Let’s go look around a little more.”
On our way into the living room, I accidentally bumped into a small end table, causing a vase to fall and shatter to the ground.
“Shit, Landon! Your mother’s going to kill me.”
“Nah. She won’t care. She doesn’t even live here anymore.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
Landon’s face turned red. “Welcome home, Rana.”
“Huh?”
“This is our house now. I bought it from them.”
My eyes practically bugged out of my head. “You…what?”
“My parents had been thinking about retiring down in Florida for a while. They finally decided to go for it.”
“I didn’t think your parents were old enough to retire. How did I not know about any of this?”
“They were in their early forties when they adopted me, so yeah, it’s time. They plan to spend half the year down there and then summers back up here. They got a small apartment down the road to hold onto for when they come back. They just left yesterday for Naples. This house was too much upkeep for them, and they were looking to unload it anyway. So, I jumped on the opportunity, told them I was interested in buying it. You didn’t know any of this because I wanted to surprise you. Clearly, it worked. You look shocked.”
Looking around, I stammered, “I…I am.”
“I figured it’s still close enough to your dad and Lilith. I would’ve never bitten the bullet on it otherwise. They left all their furniture and stuff behind, but of course you can decorate it to your own taste.”
“Are you sure we can afford to live here?”
“They own it outright, so they’re not in any rush for the money, but I insisted on giving them a down payment, which I’ve already done. They gave me a good deal, though. The mortgage is not that much more than what we pay in rent. We set up a monthly payment plan, so they’re not getting screwed. It’s a good feeling to know that we’re not dealing with a bank. We wouldn’t lose the house if the truck ever went under. I wouldn’t want to ever put us in that kind of a position.”
“I never dreamt I’d have a house. I don’t think I could’ve ever afforded this on my own, probably never in my lifetime. You’re certain we’re not getting in over our heads?”
“I’ve got it covered. Don’t worry.”
“This is really happening?”
“Only if you want it to, baby. They can always sell it to someone else if you’re not happy living here.”
Glancing over toward the large kitchen, I couldn’t believe it was mine. “I do want this.”
“I figured we could stay here over the next couple of days, christen every room, make it our own, maybe do some decorating. Then I’ll slowly move our stuff in until we’re fully out of the apartment.”
“We can take our time,” I said. “I love the idea of not having to move everything in at once.”
“I want some time to fix a few things up first. I’d like to replace a couple of the appliances and get central air put in.” He walked toward the front entrance. “Let’s check out the garage.”
The thought of getting to see the inside of the old garage apartment again was giving me the jitters.
What actually met my eyes, though, was nothing like I was expecting and left me speechless.
Framed black and white photos that had been blown up hung all around the otherwise empty space. They were photos of Landon and me, both individually and together through the years. There was one I hadn’t seen before of the two of us at the beach in California. The walls were painted white, and he’d installed recessed lighting into the ceiling. It literally looked like an art gall
ery. Aside from the four walls around us, there was no trace of the dingy apartment we’d lived in all those years ago.
When I turned around to face him, he was right there, just inches from my face and holding a note that was folded into a triangle.
“The final one. Open it.”
What’s happening?
I unfolded the note to find that inside was a beautiful round diamond in the most unique setting I’d probably ever seen. The entire band was constructed of small diamonds and the sides were looped into what looked like two number eights.
“Read the note,” he said before taking the ring.
I looked down at his familiar handwriting.
Rana Banana,
I’ve asked you a lot of stupid questions over the years. Trust me, this isn’t one of them. This next one is the most important.
Landon
P.S. I love you.
Then, he got down on one knee. The lights above us were shining into his gorgeous eyes.
“Rana Saloomi…our journey back to each other was not an easy one at times, but I feel like everything that happened in my life happened so that I could end up in this very spot right now. I am so deliriously in love with you. And I’m so proud of you for facing your biggest fear this year. Your love and dedication, not only to me, but to those who are lucky enough to be loved by you inspires me every day. Thank you for loving me and for always tucking a piece of me away in your heart, even when we were on significantly different paths through the years. But especially, thank you for getting drunk and dialing me that fateful night. I will always be grateful for the fact that my baby is sloppy when she drinks a little too much. You’ll never have to drink alone again. You’ll never have to be alone again. Marry me?”
It was the easiest question I’d ever had to answer. “Yes!”
Landon placed the ring on my finger before lifting me up into the air.
We were truly home, back where it all started and now where our story would begin again.
Still holding the note, I wrapped my arms around his neck. When he put me down, I looked closer at the ring he’d chosen.
“I love the setting.”
“It’s two figure eights, one on each side. It reminded me of your dance move. The jeweler didn’t know what the hell I was talking about when I told him that, but anyway, I thought it was as unique as you are.”
We just held each other for a while then took a walk around the room to look at the photos again.
“I can’t believe what you did to this space. Now I know why you’ve been randomly disappearing on Sunday afternoons.”
“This room brought me you. Now it’s yours to do whatever you want with. We’ll have to figure out a cool use for it in the future.”
I agreed, “Something that fits us.”
“Sex dungeon, it is, then?” He winked.
We drove into the city that night to celebrate our engagement.
On our walk back from the Hibachi restaurant to the truck, we happened upon something that stopped me in my tracks as we passed a brick building.
“What’s wrong, Rana?”
I walked up to the poster hanging at the entrance to get a good look at it. Then I looked up at the neon sign that read, Life’s A Drag.
“We need to go inside,” I insisted.
“You want to see the drag queen show?”
“Yes.” I grabbed him by the arm. “Come on.”
After we paid our admission at the ticket booth, Landon went to the bar to get us a couple of drinks. I’d told him to get me something strong.
We sat through two performances. I refused to tell Landon what was happening until I was certain. When the D.J. announced the third performer, I nearly spit out my drink, because it only added to my suspicions.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our next act tonight is everyone’s favorite raven-haired beauty. Please, welcome back to the stage our resident belly dancer, Lanaaaaaaaaa.”
The sound of the percussion in the song vibrated through me. Landon was looking at me and trying to make sense of it. He followed behind as I moved through the crowd in a daze to get closer to the stage.
When I got a look at the eyes I’d spotted first on that poster—the familiar, crazy eyes—there was no longer any question. With my jaw dropped open, I turned to Landon before answering the silent question he was asking me through the troubled look on his face.
I mouthed, “It’s him.”
Lenny had apparently transformed into Lana. Everything about him was me…from the long, black wig, to the heavy eyeliner, to my exact, red, belly dancer outfit that was swiped from my closet.
Even the name was me. Lana—a combination of Lenny and Rana.
When Lenny’s eyes landed on mine, he didn’t even flinch upon noticing me—just kept on dancing to the music. His mouth curved into an amused, almost taunting smile as if he’d been waiting for this moment, for me to discover that he’d morphed into me.
I suddenly needed air. Landon chased after me as I rushed toward the door.
When Landon and I finally caught our breaths halfway down the block, we looked at each other in disbelief.
“Holy shit, Rana. All this time…he’d been studying you. He didn’t want to kill you. He just wanted to be you.”
UNCONVENTIONAL
I was probably the least traditional bride in the world.
My flowers were picked from the garden my father had grown at Landon’s and my house. My dress, while designer, was snagged from a secondhand store. And it wasn’t white; it was champagne, a lace, vintage style. I didn’t have bridesmaids, either, because close female relationships had somehow evaded me.
A lack of adult female companionship was not something I was happy about. I’d let a lot of my high school friendships fade away after the pregnancy and hadn’t developed close bonds with any women in my twenties. It didn’t help that most of my co-workers at the restaurant were old Greek men. Aside from a couple of female cousins on my father’s side that I’d see once in a blue moon, there simply weren’t many trusted females in my life, no one I considered bridesmaid material—of course, aside from the one obvious female who was missing today. There was definitely a hole in my heart without Lilith here.
So, it was just Landon’s mother, Marjorie, and me holed up in the private room reserved for the bridal party in the church. Landon was around somewhere with his father and Ace, who’d flown in from California. My groom hadn’t seen me yet, and I was trying my best to keep it that way.
Landon and I didn’t want a big wedding, but my father asked if we would get married at St. Cecilia’s. It was the least I could do for Papa, considering I’d pretty much broken all the premarital rules he’d ever set for me. I knew the church wedding would mean a lot to him. We invited about fifty people, mostly from Landon’s side—relatives and friends of his parents. There would be about ten people from my side, including my grandparents.
Marjorie adjusted the thin, floral headband atop my head. As much as I loved her, I couldn’t help wishing Lilith were here with me instead. I’d hoped that she would come today, but it didn’t look like that was in the cards. We sent her an invitation, but that might have been pushing it, considering we still hadn’t even spoken since the night she found out the truth. According to Beth, she just hadn’t been ready to face me. That was something I had to accept.
I wasn’t expecting to feel this emotional. Even thoughts of my mother were creeping in. As much as I tried not to think about the woman who abandoned us, a part of me wanted her to at least know I was getting married and to tell her about all of the things she’d missed in my life. She didn’t even know she had a granddaughter. I just couldn’t swallow my pride long enough to try to find her. That was mostly because I truly believed she didn’t care and that I would end up even more upset.
Marjorie looked alarmed when she noticed me starting to cry. I didn’t even know what exactly had prompted it because the thoughts in my mind had been constantly changing by the minute.
“Rana, what’s wrong?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Do you want me to get Landon?”
“I really shouldn’t see him. It’s bad luck, right?”
“Well, I’m pretty sure that’s a bunch of malarkey.”
The truth was, I really did want to see him. We were running early with an hour to go until the ceremony. That seemed like forever to have to wait, especially in this state of mind. He was truly the only person on Earth who could ever make me feel better with merely his presence.
“You’re going to ruin your makeup,” she said.
“I think I already have.”
“Let me go get you a tissue.”
Rather than Marjorie returning, I heard Landon’s voice behind the door.
“My mom told me you need me. I’m coming in.”
“Wait. Are you sure you want to see me?”
“There’s nothing more in the world I want.” He didn’t wait for permission when he opened the door.
Landon stood there, taking me in. “Wow.”
I stood up, looking down at the skirt of my gown. “You like it?”
“Rana, you’ve had many looks that worked for me over the years, but you truly look like a Bohemian princess right now. So freaking beautiful, baby.”
Tugging at his silk tie, I said, “You look so handsome in this vest.”
He noticed my tears. “Don’t cry.”
I sniffled. “It really hit me today that all I have for sure in this life are you and my father. I’m just feeling really emotional, especially when I think about Lilith.”
“I knew you would be. I know you want her here more than anything.”
“I do. I hate that it’s taking away from the happiness of this day.”
“You can’t help it. I’ve been thinking about her, too, and even Beverly more than usual today. I think it’s normal to think about the people we love who are missing from our lives when something happy is about to happen. It’s in our nature to feel undeserving of joy when there are unresolved feelings of sadness or guilt within us.”