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“He’s… pretty great.” “Pretty great?” Ara mocks. “No, he’s amazing. I knew the instant we met that he was one of the good ones.”
Just as I get to the doorway to leave, I look back and flash an evil grin. “He has a Jacob’s ladder.”
“How was your day?” “Exactly what I needed. Thank you.” “I’ll have to book you more days like this then.”
She’s mine. I’m hers. Now if she’d get on board with this, that would be fantastic.
“Because you’re it for me, Erin. If I’m not the one for you, tell me now because I’m starting to feel like a fool.”
“Well, now it’s your turn to get loud.” “I’d rather not hear anymore, thank you very much!” The woman yells out from just outside our stall.
“I always hear you, Erin.” His grip tightens on the wheel, and he pulls onto the highway. “Even when you aren’t saying things.”
Silence envelopes the car. “He said it like it’s a flaw of mine.” I sit straighter, feeling myself gear up in defense mode. “I mean, I know he didn’t mean it as an insult, but it feels like one.” “The truth sometimes hurts, Erin.”
“I haven’t raised him by myself, Trey. I did it with Glitch.” And that’s how my boy’s become the great kid he is. I haven’t done it alone. But I will soon.
“He’s going to start a new life… with his wife. They’re going to have kids.”
“I’m… I just fell apart over nothing.” “It’s not nothing, Erin.”
“I was angry at my parents when they died. How shitty is that? I was so scared and pissed off. Like they died on purpose and flushed my future down the drain.” Hugging myself, I look away from him and say, “I’m a shit person.”
She wants a change and is afraid to make any. That’ll take time, I suspect, and I’m a very patient man. I’ve waited this long already, haven’t I?
I look up from the couch to check on Erin. She’s still sleeping.
I’d love to take credit for knocking her out last night, fucking her so good she passed the fuck out, but I’m man enough to also admit she’s probably just exhausted and catching up on some Zzzs.
Both days she’s slept in and gotten a decent amount of rest are the same two nights I’ve stayed with her. Does she realize that?
I don’t say that I barely slept last night because I stayed up watching her instead.
“Can I take a shower here?” “Of course.” She doesn’t have to ask me something like that. Whatever she wants, she’s going to have when I’m around.
“I don’t want to waste the opportunity to have a long, hot shower,” she explains.
Bet Glitch has no idea her hot water heater’s busted, because I know damn well he’d have it replaced, with or without her approval.
Then he sees my car in the driveway. My heart clatters because I’m not sure what I should expect, but it’s not the reaction Beetle gives. A smile tears across his face as he runs across the lawn.
Beetle breezes into the house and shoves right past his mother to see me. Happiness lights his face when he drops his bag and yells, “TREY!”
He deserves to be more than your dirty fucking secret, Erin.”
“Sometimes…” Beetle says, with enough venom to make me cringe. “She hides in her room and cries.”
“If you break her heart,” Beetle stands up and gets in front of me, “I’ll beat your ass.” I don’t doubt it for a second.
“I… I don’t think I even have any bubbles.”
“Here.” Beetle grabs the dish soap from the kitchen sink. “These good?”
It’s not the same as looking at a wall and knowing if it needs shiplap.” I snarf my coffee. “Shiplap? Do you even know what that is?” “Not a clue,” he says. “But I hear it’s a thing.”
“Really?” Erin clasps her hands behind her back. “So all it takes for one of you boys to fall in love is a good cookie?” She glances at me.
“I don’t need your cookies.” I’m already in love with you. “I’m a pie guy.” “Pumpkin, wasn’t it?”
“Marry me,” Cole practically begs. “Please, Erin. Be my wife.” I smack the back of his head again.
“I’ll offer you one. Work with me. I’ll pay whatever price.”
“On the contrary, I’m extremely difficult to impress.” Cole’s tone changes and the humor starts fading. “Which is why I’m dead serious.” He pulls out his wallet and hands her a card.
“No pressure or anything, but you’ve got an eye and, in this business, that’s a big asset. This whole time you’ve made decision after decision without a second-guess.
My firm’s hiring so if you want to move to the bay side and work with some of the best architects and designers in the business, give me a call and I’ll set something up.”
“What the hell are you thinking, hooking up with Glitch’s sister? Holy shit, Trey.” Cole’s humor is gone completely. “Does he even know?” “Yes, he knows.”
“Doesn’t she have a kid?” “Yeah. So?” Cole shakes his head. “I hope you know what you’re doing, man. You better have a plan.”
Cole shakes his head. “I wasn’t joking about that job offer. Make sure she knows it.”
“Have the life you deserve, Stanley.”
I’ve spent the better part of an hour imagining all the ways I’d like to kill him.
“You know the drill—vomiting, confusion, all that shit, get her to the ER. Drag her by her feet if she protests.” “I heard that!”
“Gotta watch her, man. She’s dangerous with that thing.” “You think that’s bad?” Trey laughs. “You should see the damage she does with a baseball bat.”
Erin pats her pumpkin. “I can’t wait to carve this baby up.” “You’re a very violent woman.”
Instead of using a spoon to scoop the seeds out, she always uses her hands. “You’re still a monster, I see.”
“Maybe after you’re done rearranging your pumpkin’s guts, you’ll take me upstairs and rearrange mine.”
I asked Beetle permission to ask for Erin’s hand in marriage last night and talked with Glitch about it this morning. They were both so happy, I didn’t think twice about this being a flop. But now, Erin’s got me worried.
