Move-In & The Town Sees
Bo
The military doesn’t understand the concept of sleeping in. Even now, with nowhere to be except to walk around the block, I still wake at the crack of dawn, if not before. I’m as quiet as I can be while I get ready for the day, just in case Pearl is still sleeping or if David is bunking on the couch after last night’s long movie night. I think they are onto theHarry Potterseries now, and a double header makes a long night. If I knew I could get away with it without Pearl tanning my hide, I’d just leave and come back through the bedroom window on nights like these. Most of my friends have either moved out of town or are in relationships, so alone is my best company.
After my morning workout, which includes a morning run and a few PT workouts, I showered and got ready for the day, and was headed out for breakfast when I heard Pearl on the phone.
“I know. I tried to tell him, but if you were in his shoes, what would you do?” There was a silence in which I assumed the other person was talking.
“It’s not that. I love that boy as if he were my own,Melodie. He’s been so lost lately, and when I heard what happened to his CO and that he was coming home, I was so happy. I was too afraid to tell him about David. He may have decided not to come home.” There was another silence.
“Really, she wouldn’t mind? I know she’s been renovating the old Anderson home.” This time, the silence was so long I almost left the room when I heard her hmmm in agreement. “Ok, if you’re sure it was her idea, I’ll bring it up to him when he gets out of the shower. Okay, but it’s his decision. He can stay as long as he wants. Alright. Bye.” I was sure she hung up this time when I heard her put the receiver down. She had one of the old ones that had a cord that was like eight feet long and hung on the wall.
When I walk into the kitchen, Pearl is making coffee and humming along to Michael Bublé singing,“Haven’t Met You Yet,”when she spots me.
“Hey, how’d you sleep?” She seemed to be forcing casual.
“Good, did you want me to fix the leak under the sink today?” She mentioned it yesterday before David came over.
“Actually, David fixed it before the movie. It was a quick tighten, nothing big.”
“Huh, okay, well I guess I’ll just…” I motioned to the back door.
“Actually, before you disappear, can I ask you a question?” She sat down next to me and placed a plate of eggs, pancakes, and bacon that she was making when I walked in on the table in front of me. I dug in. I missed her cooking so much. The military wasn’t bad, but in general, you ate now and tasted it later. Here, I could eat at half speed and still taste it.
“Sure, what’s up?”
"So, Melodie called this morning while you were in the shower," she says, digging into her own plate. Her tone was as casual as anything, like she was commenting on the weather.
I look up from my eggs. "Yeah?"
"Mm-hmm." She pours two mugs, slides one across the table. "She mentioned that Falon suggested that she has a guest house on her property. Needs some utilities like a stove, washer, and dryer, but it's livable."
My heart beats double-time, making my morning run feel like butterflies rather than a workout.
"Oh, yeah?"
"Now, David and I are fine, you know. He really likes you, and it pains me that you feel the need to leave and give us privacy every time he comes over. I mean, how many times are you going to walk around the block?" Pearl continues, stirring cream into her coffee.
Heat crawls up my neck. "I'm not?—"
"Bo." She gives me that look. The one that says she's known me since I was ten and can spot a lie from three counties away. "It's sweet. But unnecessary."
I take a long drink of coffee.
My phone buzzes on the table.
Falon: Hope you don’t mind me texting so early. I spoke to Mom yesterday, and she mentioned you were staying with Pearl. I know Pearl and David are dating, and I’ve seen you walking the block. Now, you don’t have to if you don’t want to, but I have a good-sized guest house just out back. It needs a few things, like an oven and a fridge, but you're welcome to it. Let me know, and I'll grab you a key.
I stare at the message, feeling a little exposed.
Pearl watches me over the rim of her mug. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, it’s Falon. She asked me about the guest house.”
"And? You going to answer?"
I should say no. I should tell Falon I'm fine at Pearl's, that I don't want to intrude, that living thirty yards from her is a spectacularly bad idea given the promise I made to Tyler and the fact that I've been half in love with her since I was sixteen.
