“Er—nice boyisn’t usually a term used to describe me, but I’ll do my best.” I picked up one of the tickets and looked it over before saying more quietly, “We’re going on a date tonight.”
George clapped his hands together. “All right, my baby brother’s got a date. Finally! I’m gonna have to call Annie and tell her.” He met my raised eyebrow. “He hasn’t been out in a few years,” he clarified.
“I got it. We’re going to a seafood place. He said it was nice.”
“He’s really bending over backward for you.”
“He picked out all the green peppers from the omelets I made this morning.”
George snorted and covered his mouth with the back of his hand. “Sounds like Silas. Good try, though. They have a chicken dish at The Pier, where he’s bringing you. Make sure he doesn’t order it. Guy needs to expand his horizons a little.”
“Aye, aye, Captain.”
Nancy came into the kitchen and passed over another ticket. “Bridge finally called in with their order.”
“Did you hear the news?” George asked as he took the slip. “Silas is going on a date.”
“Holy cow, are you for real? With who?” she asked.
George jutted his thumb at me, and I awkwardly waved.
Her jaw dropped open and then she squealed. “How exciting! You boys will have so much fun! I can’t wait to tell my husband. He’s good friends with Silas,” she said to me.
“Is all of Lancaster going to know about our date by this evening?” I asked cautiously.
George pondered for a moment. “Likely Dalton and Whitefield too.”
“Awesome.”
“Oh, don’t worry. Besides the few shitheads, folks around here will be tickled pink for both of you.” He gave me a friendly pat on the back.
We got to work after that. George did half of the order that was his bread and butter, and I was given the half that asked for “whatever Gideon’s making.” That day it was spicy mac ’n’ cheese, which I had thought might appeal to Silas, since his eating habits were pretty childish.
“I ordered some daikon and pork belly,” George was saying as he packed up the food and slid the bag over to me. “So you could try that ramen dish you mentioned.”
“That’s great!” I said. “Thanks. I think you’ll like it. Maybe it won’t be as popular in summer when it’s hot, but I ordered it all the time during winter in LA.”
George just smiled. “Winter in LA, huh? We’ll see what you think of winter come November, Gideon.”
“Is it bad?”
He didn’t answer, just waved me off to go do the delivery.
After I had hurried out of the shop and gotten in the car, I realized we had both talked like I would be here in November. I hesitated on the ignition. Would I be?
The appeal of my former life was… drastically waning. What was waiting but an empty apartment, a failed career in tattooing, and no one special? But New Hampshire wassonot my style.
And yet….
I shook my head and turned the radio on in order to drown out the confused mess of thoughts I was having. I pulled out of the parking spot on the side of the road and headed to the covered bridge. The usually calm drive was interrupted by an animal crossing—a Canada goose honking for her goslings to follow as they waddled across the road. I ended up having to get out of the car and gently shoo two babies from the high grass, then stand in the middle of the road to stop an oncoming car so they could catch up with the rest of the family.
When I got to the bridge, I pulled out my phone as I approached the guys. “Hey, look!” I said to Silas, turning the screen to show him a picture of the geese I’d snapped. “I had a close encounter of the quacking kind.”
He took a few steps toward me and leaned down to look. “Cute.”
“Don’t talk about yourself in public.”
Silas laughed. “You’re funny.”
