“Oh, thank you.” Jesse took the phone and tried not to make a big show of clearing his throat. “Hello.”
“Hi, Jesse. Fun night last night, huh?”
“An absolute blast. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine, thanks to you. Was a little jittery for a while when I got home, but sleep helped.”
Jesse almost asked if she’d bundled herself up in that Baby Yoda onesie, but he kept that comment to himself. “Good.”
“So, I put my phone on rice last night, but it’s still dead, so I’m calling it. I wanted to go get a new one, but my dad is meeting your grandmother after church to rub their love in people’s faces on the town square—”
“Damn straight,” Jesse heard Mr. LeRoux say in the background.
“I’m very happy for you, Dad. Anyway, I don’t have a car here and I figured you could take me to the closest cellular device retailer and we could talk.”
“I think that’s a good idea.” Jesse checked his smart watch, which had survived the plunge. “Pick you up in two hours?”
“See ya then.”
Jesse handed back the phone. “Thank you. I’ll see you this afternoon.”
“Maybe tonight,” Miss Leona said, lifting her shoulder. “I might have plans.”
“I’ll make sure the kids are fed then,” Jesse joked. Kinda.
“No. They are big girls and they can feed themselves. Go have fun with your date.”
Jesse held up his hands in surrender as Miss Leona tilted up her cheek in his direction. He gave her a light kiss, then watched as she practically skipped across the cul-de-sac, talking to her new boyfriend on the phone.
* * *
Jesse arrived at LeRoux’s house right on time. Before he could turn off the engine, Lily-Grace walked out the front door and turned to lock up behind her. Jesse didn’t know how to be anything other than a gentleman, but his mouth ran dry when he got a good look at her. Her outfit was simple, just skintight jeans and a pair of white sneakers and a pink crop top, but Jesse had to wonder if she understood just how good she looked. He climbed out of his truck and walked around to open the passenger-side door for her. She walked right up to him, then lightly punched him in the shoulder. A love tap really. Was she nervous?
“What was that for?”
“No idea. Couldn’t kiss you, so it seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Did you want to kiss me?” Jesse asked, shocked.
“No. I don’t kiss friends.”
“Oh.”
“Hey. Let’s go get new phones.” She started to move around him, but stopped when he didn’t budge. “Or not?”
Jesse cleared his throat. “There’s something I want to tell you before we go.”
“Okay, what is it?”
“I’m not a virgin.”
“Oh that? Jesse, I don’t care. That’s your private business and whoever that hag was last night did not have the right to—to—I don’t know. She wanted to get your attention and tried to be cute doing it, but it backfired. I get to go shopping with you today.”
“Well, that had more to do with the pool, but yes. In working on my ... temper, I’m trying to be more open and honest. Most of the women last night were pretty out of control, but I was upset because I don’t have a lot of experience with women. I have my reasons, and while I know I shouldn’t be, I am embarrassed.”
“I appreciate you telling me, and you don’t have to be embarrassed with me. In my opinion, sex is best when it’s with someone you love or someone who is really fucking good at it. Both of those things are hard to find, so I don’t think you’re missing out.”
“Yeah, well.” Jesse let out another breath and told Lily-Grace what he’d never told anyone else out loud before. “I’m not very good at it. There are layers to this embarrassment.”
