“Want you?”
I nod. I can’t even speak.
“No harm. No foul,” Landon says, as if it’s as simple as that. “This isn’t a date. It’s a party. You show up. Hang out. If it gets uncomfortable, you say you’re tired and you leave.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“Because it is. Now show me your other outfit choice.”
I try on another pair of jeans—a dark wash. And I pair those with my boots and a burgundy button-up collared shirt. Then I put on my leather coat.
“That’s the winner,” Landon says. “You look nice. Now take a deep breath and go have some fun for a change.”
“Okay,” I tell him. “Thanks.”
When did having fun turn into a chore? It’s not like I don’t go out. I do. But the older I’ve gotten, the more friends have settled down. It’s not easy being thirty-one and single.
The drive to Aiden’s farm rolls along County Line Road. Ranches and farms blur by, illuminated by porch lights and the moon overhead. The gravel of the MacIntyre driveway crunches under my tires as I pull in behind Lexi and Trevor’s minivan along the side of the driveway next to the low fence. The bleating of goats fills the air when I step out of my car.
“Hey, Jesse!” Duke shouts, raising his hand in greeting. He’s warm by nature. Always makes everyone feel welcome and included.
“Hey, Duke!” I shout back. He stops in his tracks, saying something to Shannon and then waiting for me to catch up.
“Good to see you,” Duke says when I’m almost next to him. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Aiden asked me this week. I think it’s because of Alex.” I don’t know why I said that.
“Okay, then. I haven’t gotten to know her yet. What’s she like?”
There’s the million dollar question. “She’s nice.”
Duke sizes me up and grins. “Ahhhh yeah. I see that. Nice, huh?”
“Yep.” I open the door and step inside. Duke follows me, immediately distracted by people shouting his name.
He surprises me by not simply abandoning me to go say hello to other people. “Come find me later. I’d love to catch up.”
“Uh. Okay. Sure.”
Man. I’m so rusty at all of this. Get me on the job and I feel capable. Secure. Strip me of my badge and I feel like I’ve been thrust back into high school—all gangly limbs and awkward social skills.
Duke doesn’t seem to notice. He just smiles broadly, claps me on the shoulder and heads over to the spot where his friends are clustered like players in a huddle.
I scan the room and my eyes land on Alex. She’s near the fireplace, laughing with Lexi and Trevor. The ease in her posture hits me harder than I expect—she fits here better than I ever have. I grew up in this town, but somehow she belongs. I don’t fault her. If anything, her warmth pulls me closer, makes me want to experience my hometown vicariously through her.
Aiden sees me standing here, eyes on Alex, feet glued to the foyer floor. A few kids dash through laughing and chasing one another.
Aiden walks over, smiling and ruffling one of the children’s hair as they dash by. “Didn’t think we’d see you out here off-duty, Heinz.”
“Thanks for inviting me.”
“We should ask you more often, honestly. I’m glad Lexi suggested it.”
I don’t know what to say, so I just nod and look over at Alex again. Aiden follows my gaze and smiles. “She seems pretty nice.”
“She is. She’s a natural on the job. Easy to be around, but she takes the job seriously.” And she takes me seriously.
Alex looks over and a warm smile fills her face. She says something to Lexi and Trevor, putting her hand on Lexi’s forearm and giving it a light squeeze, and then she’s making her way to the entryway where Aiden and I are standing together.
