“It’s fine.” Edison’s eyes tripped down the length of my frame before he remembered we were in mixed company. “I was just telling your dad about my tin roof.”
“He’s thinking about replacing it. I think he should keep it,” my dad said.
Edison frowned. “When it rains it can get kind of loud.”
“Best sleep I ever had was your momma and mine’s first place. Good food, a fine woman, and a tin roof, that’s all you need.”
“Rain on a tin roof is like a lullaby. I agree with Daddy, you should keep it.”
“Noted.” Edison licked his bottom lip and my pussy constricted. I could sense the seat of my panties moisten.
“I watch a ton of home improvement shows. If you ever need expert advice, I got you.”
“Are you supposed to be the expert?” my father asked.
“With the hours of screen time I’ve clocked, I could gut a room and restore it if I had a mind to.” Turing to Edison, I asked, “Are you ready to go?” I kissed my father on the cheek. The last thing I wanted to do was stand on the porch talking about roofing materials.
“Nice seeing you again Mr. Palmer.” You have to love a good southern gentleman. Chap grew up in California and referred to my father by his first name. I hated it.
As we descended the stairs, my father called after us. “Have my daughter back home at a respectable hour.”
Edison placed his hand over his heart. “Of course, I would never dream of disrespecting your home by bringing her back too late.”
My father erupted into a fit of laughter. “I’m joshing. It’s been a long time since my baby girl’s been home and I could play the scary father role. You two are grown and I trust you to keep her safe.”
“Thank you, sir.” Edison shut the car door behind me before making his way to the driver’s seat.
When he drove off, I teased him. “No sir, I would never do anything to defile your beautiful daughter.”
“Shut up.”
“You know you guys from the south get away with murder. A little country twang and you have people agreeing to just about anything. Abscond with their daughters to do God knows what. Late night hang outs, driving down dark back roads, promises of just the tip and nothing more.”
Edison’s eyes grew wide. “Which dude from high school was telling you he was only going to put in the tip?”
“I fell for it every time. Next thing you know we’re both acting shocked like ‘Oh no how’d that whole dick slide inside.’”
“Fancy, we haven’t been in the car for a full minute. Can we save the dick talk for later?”
“Okay, note to self, Edison would like to talk about his dick later.”
I couldn’t tell for sure, but I liked to believe his face was flushed. “Fancy Palmer.”
My naughty giggle filled the cab. Making him blush was one of my favorite activities. Edison wasn’t a prude, at least I don’t think he was, but he didn’t like talking about S.E.X in mixed company. A girl knew if she kissed Edison, he wasn’t going to tell. “Where are you taking me?”
“Does it matter?”
“No, I’d go anywhere with you.”
Edison’s head swiveled and his eyes slammed into mine. He had kind eyes, always had. Edison was the guy you called when you were in a jam. When I drove my car into a ditch driving back home after a non-sober high school party, I called Edison. When Ricky Moore assaulted me at a band performance after I said no to his advances, I told Edison. And the next day before first bell, Edison beat the piss out of Ricky.
“Eyes on the road, mister.” I can’t believe how many years passed since we’d last seen one another. You expected time to make things muddy and awkward, but being with Edison after all this time felt natural. The test of true friendship was the ability to pick up where you left off. Even after years apart, the bond hadn’t deteriorated.
As we approached the main part of town, Edison offered some clues. “I was thinking you’ve been gone for a minute. So why not show you the sights you’ve been missing?”
“The sights in Hume?”
“Yeah, we’ve made some improvements since you left.”
