Don’t think about her wet and naked in the shower, Cruz, don’t do it!I chastise myself.
“Would it make it easier if I sat in the living room?” I offer.
“It… it might,” she whispers, a look crossing her face that I don’t understand. I won’t push her on it; her secrets are her own.
“Then let’s go do it, and once you’re done, we’ll come out here, I’ll toss the food on the grill, and help you with untangling your hair.” When her brow raises, I grin and say, “Two sisters with long, curly hair. I learned early how to brush it out and I’m pretty good if I say so myself.”
“It all smells so good,” she says as we sit on my deck and I work her brush through her hair.
Even though she used conditioner, and she also brought out a bottle of detangler, it’s taken quite some time to get the majority of her hair brushed. Still, seeing the soft curls that are now drying in the light breeze has me grinning inside because she looks more like herself.
The baked potatoes are nearly done and I took a few minutes to put the asparagus on to grill. Once I’m done with this last section, I’ll get the steaks going, which means every stray animal in our neighborhood will likely be lining up soon.
“It’s gonna smell even better once I get the steaks on, Mindy,” I reply. “Used my mom’s special marinade and they’ve been in it since last night.” I hear her stomach growl and chuckle when mine answers.
“Seems we’re both hungry, huh?” she teases.
“Looks that way,” I admit. One last brush has me sitting back with a satisfied sigh. “And… you’re done, but you might wanna go check and make sure your part is okay.”
Her giggle has me smiling down at her. Right now, she sounds carefree, like she was before that night. It’s my hope that she’ll eventually have more good days than bad, but I know from talking to my sister that it’s going to be a process.
“Slow and steady wins the race, Cruzzy Boozy.”Serena’s voice whispers in my head, despite the temptation to once again roll my eyes at her childhood nickname for me. I swear to God I’ll be an old man and she’ll still call me that even though I threaten to tickle her to death.
Serena and Sadie are my older sisters, not by much, but enough that they try to mother me at times. Still, growing up, they were two of my closest confidants and companions, and when everything went down for me, they had my back.
Hell, most of my coworkers did as well, but for the prosecution, it was a slam dunk. Itwasmy ID badge that was used and regardless of the fact that I had proof I was out of town, I was convicted.
“Then let me go do that so you can focus on the steaks,” she replies, bringing me out of my reverie.
“Thanks again for dinner, Cruz,” she says while standing at her sliding glass door, shuffling her feet. “It was delicious.”
“You’re welcome, Mindy. We’ll do it again, okay?”
She isn’t as shrunken as she was when she first came out, and there’s now color to her face. I’d like to think it was the combination of the fresh air, good food, and all the stories I told her about growing up with my sisters. She laughed so hard a few times that she had tears rolling down her face.
Of course, she shared stories of her and Jolie, as well as her brother and Dex growing up. Her giggles still ring in my ears at some of the things she and her friend have gotten into over the years. I think I need to buy Dex and Brock a case of their favorite beer for putting up with their respective sisters, because I know what I endured growing up with mine.
“I’d like that, but maybe I can cook next time?” she asks.
“You’re the total package, huh?” I tease. “Beautiful, talented,andyou can cook?”
She scoffs then a funny look crosses her face before she says, “Thanks again, I need to head inside.”
“Good night. Be sure to lock up,” I reply.
“Will do. See you soon.”
With that, she quickly steps inside her place and I hear the lock engage. Sighing, I check to make sure the grill is completely cooled, then grab the last of the stuff from dinner and carry it inside. Now to find something to watch, I guess, while I replay the events of the night.
Slow and steady wins the race, Cruzzy Boozy.
