Saving Rain

by Kelsey Kingsley

Her front door opened, and then came a voice I didn’t recognize. “Ray?” Ray exhaled with a disgruntled sigh as she quickly took a step away, and I was disappointed, but I was also so elated that I almost didn’t care. Almost. “Yeah, Mom,” she answered without looking in her mother’s direction. She kept her eyes on me as she grimaced with an unspoken apology. I couldn’t stop smiling. “Are you ever coming inside, or do you live on the porch now?” Ray rolled her eyes. “I’m coming in. Just give me a minute.” Her mom exhaled noisily. “Okay. Oh, and, you know, it’s a little rude not to introduce me to your friend.” I peered around Ray to give her mother—a gray-haired woman, wearing an amused smirk—a wave. “Hi, I’m Soldier. I, uh … I live next door”—I gestured toward my little house—“over there.” She crossed her arms, never letting the smirk leave her face. “I know who you are.” Given my reputation, I wasn’t sure that was such a good thing until she added with a little teasing grin, “My daughter and grandson have made it their new hobby to talk about you.” “Oh,” I replied, knowing damn well by the heat in my face that I was blushing like a fucking jackass. But so was Ray. “Thank you for that, Mom. So very much.” “Mmhmm,” her mom replied cheerfully. “It was nice to finally meet you, Soldier. I’m Barbara, by the way.” “Nice to meet you too.” “Ray, I’ll give you one more minute, but after that, I can’t guarantee your son won’t be the one to interrupt your little moment,” she jabbed p...