Me: How did your date go?
Hana: You know how the parmesan comes in a shaker?
Me: Yeah.
Hana: He ate the whole thing.
Me: All the parmesan?
Hana: Yes.
Me: How full was it?
Hana: Full.
Me: That’s amazing.
Hana: Definitely not lactose intolerant.
Me: Cheese monster.
Hana: Cheese maniac.
Me: Did he let you have any?
Hana: I would have hurt him otherwise.
Me: Fair enough.
Me: You going to see him again?
Hana: Yes. He’s cute and I need to know what other wild shit he does. This is now my purpose in life.
Me: HA.
I push my hair out of my face. Stretch and yawn. The conversation continues below my window. And it’s not like I am trying to creep on them and listen, but it’s rude to interrupt. Best to keep quietly listening and wait for a break like a civilized person. Noah stands with a hammer in his hand and new fence palings lay at his feet. Grace, meanwhile, is smiling and laughing and touching his arm. There’s a chance it’s the angle I amlooking from, though she seems to be standing quite close to my neighbor, who is just a friend. Seriously close to him. Weirdly so. Inappropriately so.
There’s finally a pause in their conversation, so I lean out the window and say, “Hello.”
Grace turns her megawatt smile my way. Guess she’s a morning person. I’d heard they existed, but never quite believed.
Noah tips his chin at me. “Figured I’d take a look at the fence.”
“I did call another handyperson. They were going to drop by later this week.”
“Now you can tell them they don’t need to. Your cousin let me around back. Hope that’s okay.”
“Of course.”
Grace laughs. “You look like you need coffee, girl.”
“Yeah. I do.”
I am not jealous. It would just be easier to face the world if the two of them didn’t look so good together. Noah is, as usual, a visual delight in a pair of jeans and a tee with a backwards ball cap on his head. While Grace has blown-out hair, full makeup, and is wearing a pair of linen shorts with a cream knit tank. Her fit is fire. The way her long hair tumbles down her back in perfect curls. How many hours has she been awake for? And why is she yet again touching my Noah?
I mean neighbor. My neighbor.Shit.
Grace is back inside by the time I head downstairs after seeing to the essentials. Which includes applying concealer, mascara, and a lip stain. Today I’m wearing a black maxi sundress with shoestring straps. Not only does it have pockets, but it feels dramatic. I had forgotten how dressing could be fun when you’re not always trying to hide.
