Peter, Take Care of My Girlfriend

Sorry sweetheart, going to be late. Peter will take care of you.

April blinked back angry tears at the sight of the text message on her phone. Take care of me? She wondered, what does that even mean? Chewing the inside of her cheek she put the finishing touches on her makeup and stepped out of the bathroom. Peter had been leaning against the kitchen counter, distracting himself with his phone until she was ready.

“All good?” he asked her, slipping his phone in his pocket. His facial hair was similar to Jack’s but black instead of a rusty brown.

“Not exactly,” April said, “Jack is going to be late. I know we are supposed to go to his friend’s party, but I’ve been craving sushi all week. Do you like sushi?”

“Uh, yeah, I like sushi. I can drive—the rental company gave me a Prius,” Peter said, gesturing with an outstretched hand. During the drive, April forced herself not to look at her phone. She had met Peter a handful of times. Peter and Jack were good friends—they had taken April on her first hunting trip almost a year ago. The rest of the time had been playing video games or helping Jack on his farm. All that time they hadn’t talked too much and Jack was never too far away. April tried to make an effort to strike up a conversation as she gave him directions.

“How was the flight?” She asked.

“Uneventful, quiet even,” Peter commented, “It’s strange being back in Calgary, so many people and cars. I barely saw a soul in Alaska.”

“I thought you were working on that fishing boat for the summer?”

“Nawh, got laid off a couple months ago.”

“Oh, I had no idea. How come it took so long for you to visit again?”

Peter shrugged, “Time moves different up North.”

April wasn’t exactly sure what he meant—maybe he was referring to the full days of sunlight? She didn’t dwell on it as they had just pulled into the parking lot. Straightening her dress she followed him into the restaurant, “This is my favourite sushi place. Used to come here all the time after University classes.”

When they were settled at a table April passed Peter a sheet of paper. It had a long list of items with small boxes next to them, “I’ll let you take first pick. Just choose with your stomach instead of your eyes.”

Peter took a look at the paper, his brow furrowed, then passed it to her, “I’ll just have whatever you are having.”

“Ooo, okay, in that case…” April picked up a pencil and set to work ordering all of her favourites. Gyoza, tempura, and a variety of rolls. Shifting the paper to the edge of the table for the waitress she wrapped her hands around a tiny cup of green tea, “Jack can pay for it. Serves him right for being late.”

They smiled at each other, falling into a silence that wasn’t completely uncomfortable. Her eyes shifted to a couple sitting at another table nearby. Their table was empty with the exception of a half-empty bottle of Merlot and two wine glasses. They were holding hands across the table. She again thought about Jack’s text, Peter will take care of you. Was she thinking too deep into it? Did he just mean Peter would drive?

Peter cleared his throat, “Work going well?”

Her eyes returned to his, “Oh, it’s fine. It is incredibly boring, but it gives me plenty of time to write. It’s nice to finally be living on the same side of the city as Jack. Driving can be such a nightmare here.”

“Writing? What genre?” He refilled their small cups of tea.

“Um… romance,” April lied, “I’m sure you wouldn’t be interested.”

“Never know. Lots of time to read up North.”

“I guess,” she said, picking up her set of chopsticks. She didn’t want to talk about the series of erotica novels she was currently working on—not in such a public place. She removed the paper sleeve and snapped the top of the wooden chopsticks apart before rubbing them together to smooth out any splinters. Peter mimicked her actions.

The gyoza arrived at the perfect time, steaming and lightly drizzled in sauce. A radish cut in the shape of a flower garnished the corner of the dish. April expertly grabbed a couple of the pan-fried dumplings and placed them on her plate. Peter made an attempt, failed, then attempted to stab one instead. The potsticker slid from the plate, onto the table.

“So, when is the last time you had sushi?” April asked slowly, watching.

Peter, having successfully stabbed one of the dumplings this time, took a bite. He fanned his mouth, “Hot!”

Chewing and swallowing he looked down at the other half of the dumpling still stuck on the chopstick, “Um, actually, this is my first time. Jack said to take care of you, so I thought this is what he meant.”

April’s eyes widened, “He said that to you? Those exact words?”

“Yeah,” Peter said between another bite of the gyoza.

April clapped her hands and laughed, “Well, fuck him then. I’m glad you agreed to sushi. I haven’t been able to convince Jack to try it.”

“It’s good so far,” Peter said, not convincingly.

April showed him how to use the chopsticks properly and explained what everything was that she had ordered. He still dropped a piece of yam tempura in his lap, and mistakenly put far too much wasabi on his first teriyaki chicken roll but otherwise seemed to be enjoying it. He was even willing to try some things she didn’t like.

“Not to turn you off your dinner, but it’s like eating a slug,” April said when a small bowl of salmon sashimi arrived. Peter hesitantly raised the striped, pink strip of raw fish to his mouth and slurped it down. When he had finished the first, he reached for another slice, “I like it actually. Better than moose tongue.”

April made a face, “Ugh, I can’t believe Jack eats the tongue. The last one he left in the fridge too long. It looked like a science experiment gone wrong.”

They laughed together. April’s mood had lifted as she grew more comfortable. Having cleaned every plate, April made one last order of green tea ice cream and asked for two spoons. Peter was giving it a taste when his phone rang, the screen lighting up. He slid it across the table to her, it was Jack. She answered, playing coy, “Who is this?”

“April? Very funny. I know, I screwed up. I’m almost there. Just on the ring road now. You weren’t answering your phone… How is everything going?”

“Oh, it’s great. Peter showed up early and he is great company.”

“Good, that’s really good. How is the party?”

“We skipped it and are having sushi instead. We are at that place you always make an excuse to not come to.”

“Really? Okay, where should I meet you two then?”

“At home. Just going to finish our ice cream and we will be there soon.”

April hung up, “As mad as I am about him being so late, I don’t want to keep him waiting—how dumb is that?”

Peter shook his head, “I would never be late for you.”

Then he coughed and stammered, “I mean if you were—you know—”

“You are so sweet,” April smiled, taking the last bite of ice cream.

When they arrived back at April’s house Jack was waiting on the front steps, a smug look on his face. He was barely suppressing a smile as he gave April a hug, “So you two had a good night?”

April squinted at him quizzically, “Yeah but… what did you mean by ‘Peter will take care of you’ anyway?”

Jack looked to Peter who returned an equally puzzled look, shrugging. Jack was suddenly struggling for words, unusual for him, “I mean Peter said he finds you attractive. I just, you know I… figured you would know what I meant. It’s been a while since we saw him. I just thought we could all have a good time together. Is all,” his eyes looked pleadingly at Peter then back to her, “If you want to. Hunny?”

Jack flashed an uncertain smile while Peter avoided all eye contact. April’s reaction was instant, “Oh my god! Why didn’t you just say you wanted to have a threesome. Jesus Christ Jack, it’s not like we haven’t talked about it before. You know I’m into it. Take care of me—Peter isn’t just going to go down on his friend’s girlfriend with such a vague statement like that.”

“So… you do want to hunny?” Jack asked.

April had her fists clenched at her sides. She took a breath and regained her composure. She didn’t know Peter well, but she did like him. It had been a good night. She rolled her eyes. Then, suddenly feeling shy, she took Jack’s hand. Her voice quiet, “Will you tell him what I like?”

“Absolutely sweetheart, I can show him what to do.”

Moving past the awkwardness into April’s bedroom she found out Peter was very good at following instructions. Like the sashimi he was willing to try everything at least once. He did take very good care of her, late into the night. They both did.

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Written by Kelsey Reich on April 2/2021 in Ontario, Canada.