If We Ever Get an Hour Together (A Van McCann fanfiction)

Over My Eyes

Lucia: 

Nick and Larry have gotten along and traded phone numbers when I wasn't noticing at Gabi's last week. Now we were casually invited to Larry and Van's apartment for homemade curry. 

"They're a funny pair huh?" Nick asked as I drove. I twisted my hand on the steering wheel. 

"Yup." I braked a little too harshly, causing Nick to grab the dashboard dramatically. I tried to laugh, but something was going on with my stomach. 

Here Nick and Larry were getting along, and suddenly we were scoring private invites to Larry and Van's apartment. And this would be a time without Gabi being in the middle. I felt bad for feeling so good about it. But if the last time had been any indication, maybe Van didn't think I was as much of a raging bitch as I thought. 

Hopefully. 

I parked outside the apartment building. It was a posh looking place downtown. It seemed fitting for them somehow. I straightened myself out once I stepped out of the car and walked in front of Nick to the front door. The bottle of wine tucked into my purse banged against my hip as I walked. 

A short elevator ride later, we walked through a narrow hallway to the apartment at the end of the hall. Larry opened the door for us and stepped aside to let us in. "Come in, come in! Nicky boy! Lucia, you're looking well tonight." 

"Be careful there." Nick joked while I smiled. I looked past the small hall into the living room. Van appeared, crossing his arms and smiling. 

"Nice to see you two." He said. 

"Hey, Van." I swallowed. Larry played the gracious host, inviting us into the living room. In an ironic twist, I found myself seated in the middle of Nick and Van. I ground my teeth, shifting slightly whenever I felt too pressed against Van. I took a deep breath and inhaled a whiff of Van's cologne. It was overbearing to be so close to him and his good-smelling cologne. 

"So Van tells me you're a class writer Lucia?" Larry balanced a beer bottle on the little table in front of us. 

"Amazing," Nick spoke up. "I'm trying to get her to let me read some of her new pieces. I'm tired of having to google her like the common folk."

"You're right about that," Van shifted next to me, his knee knocking against mine. I inhaled. "She's pure talent."

Nick said something, but all I could hear were Van's words repeating over and over in my head. I looked over at Van and saw him looking at Nick while he continued to speak. He didn't even give me a glance. 

"Curry's ready I think." Larry stood up. 

Van followed. "You'll like what Larry cooked up. He's a second Betty Crocker or whatever. Especially with the curry."

Larry laughed. "Bug off. If it weren't for your assistance I'd have burned the entire place down. Van here's the real cook. He wanted to spoil you both." 

I looked at Van while we sat down at the table. He was across from me, Nick setting his glass down next to me. "We brought wine, Lucia has it in her purse." Nick looked at me.

"Right," I stood up. "Nick was the one who bought it. He's the wine man, I am simply his carrier." 

Nick laughed. "Oh come on. Lucia was totally wanting to buy out the whole store. 'Are you sure they'll like that one, Nick? Maybe this one. Maybe a backup wine bottle just in case.'"

I rolled my eyes. "Maybe I care about what my friends think, sorry." 

Larry smiled, and even Van cracked a grin that left me momentarily distracted. "I'm sure we'll love it, any alcohol is good alcohol in my book," Larry said, standing up for the wine bottle.