For my first “date” with Phil, we went to a party at Karen Leighton’s place. I was nervous about the reaction we’d get when everyone saw we were dating. But when we walked in together—nothing.
We’d shown up together at parties for years, so nobody cared. I even saw people looking behind me, as if they were wondering who Phil’s real date was. And even though I was the one who wanted to take things slowly, I was pissed that nobody noticed.
Phil wasn’t the type to cling all night, so we both got something to drink and went our separate ways. Karen lived with her mom and two sisters. Her mom was pretty easygoing about parties and drinking and stuff. The Leighton women liked having a little testosterone around, so all of them were serial daters. Luckily for them, since they were all tall, blonde, and relaxed, they had no trouble finding dates. Karen went straight from one relationship to the next. That was another reason why I wanted to take things slowly with Phil; I figured you needed some time and space between relationships or else they didn’t mean a thing. I certainly didn’t need a guy around all the time.
It was nice to be at a party where I knew everyone for a change, so I mingled easily. However I sensed a different vibe around me now. Before I was Kelly-the-jock and guys were my buddies, but now I seemed to be Kelly, a girl who dates and is a possible hook-up. Guys were definitely relating to me in a new way, and frankly that was gross. I went to a pretty small high school and I was way too familiar with these guys. Kissing Phil had made me see him in a whole new way, but I certainly wasn’t going to make out with every guy I knew to find out if they had potential too. Barf.
That’s probably why I ended up sitting on the living room couch and talking to Aidan Woodhull, a new guy who had moved here from Liverpool. I didn’t know anything about Liverpool, but Aidan was happy to fill me in. He had a cute accent and a really dry sense of humour. He made jokes without smiling, so it took me two beats to even laugh. It turned out that he had relatives in Dublin, which was where my great-grandmother came from. My mom was always mentioning Dublin even though she had only been there once. Aidan had a total obsession with a soccer team called Everton, which he proceeded to tell me about in agonizing detail. If Canadians were this boring about hockey when we moved somewhere else, people must be fleeing at the sight of a maple leaf or a Roots sweatshirt. I started listening again when he switched topics.
“So Kelly, I’ve seen you about at school, but I’ve never seen you at a party before.”
“Um, well I’ve been going to different parties.” Not to mention hanging out in the back seat of Volvo SUV's.
“That’s a shame, innit? You’re really fit.” He edged closer and pulled a loose thread off my cardigan.
“Well, I try, I play hockey. And I run and go to the gym.” For some reason, Aidan found this funny and started to laugh loudly.
“You’re very refreshing! It’s a bit warm in here, fancy getting a bit of fresh air with me?” Aidan put his hand on my arm and I was about to say no when we were interrupted.
I didn’t even know Phil was in the living room, but suddenly he slipped onto the couch beside me. He put an arm around me and used his other hand to turn my face towards his. Then he leaned down and kissed me, hard at first and then he opened up my lips and Frenched me. Right in front of everyone! If it weren’t for the jolt of total lust I was having, I would have whacked him. As it was, I shoved him in the chest and he stopped.
“Hey, Aidan.” Phil’s words were neutral, but his tone wasn’t. I think he and Aidan played soccer together on the school team. “I see you’ve met my girlfriend.”
I had to give Aidan credit, even though Phil was being very in-your-face, he didn’t back down. Aidan merely smiled and said, “Oh you’re with Phil, are you? Perhaps I’ll check back next month then.” And then he left. Aidan might have only been here a few months but he already knew Phil’s reputation for short relationships.
Everyone in the room had quieted down and was now staring at us. If I wanted people to know we were going out, I had certainly gotten my wish.
“Phil, I can handle these things myself.”
“I thought I could save you the trouble and make sure every other guy knows what’s going on, so they don’t make the same mistake.” Phil shrugged. Then a smile crept onto his face and turned into a huge grin. “Besides, Kelly, I’m pretty stoked about us and I’d like everyone to know that you’re with me now.”
I made a little face. I didn’t like it when Phil got all macho, but he was kind of irresistible when he was really happy. That was the thing about Phil, when we were alone together he was so nice and relaxed and funny, like when we were younger. But if we were out with a bunch of people, he was all tough and cool. I didn’t like Cool Phil that much, but I figured Goofball Phil was not the good kisser.
Still it all felt like too much, too soon. Plus he had promised.
“What happened to being a perfect gentleman?”
“That starts tomorrow.” And he pulled me a little closer to him on the couch.
“Na-uh. It starts now.” I removed his hand from my shoulder.
Phil gave me an appraising look, like he was sizing me up for a hockey fight. Then he grinned and said, “You're the boss, Kel.” And we started talking about the Canucks.