Downstream from them, two elderly men wearing baseball caps were sitting on a log with their shoes off and their feet stuck in the water.
After a moment of regarding them thoughtfully, Sammy knew who they were. "They're wizards," she said. She looked down at her own feet then up at Mitch. "Can I do that?"
"Stick your feet in the water? I don't see why not," Mitch said, but Enrico got down and put his hand in the water.
"It's not too cold," he said. Then he helped Sammy take off her sandals. How could Mitch be mad at him when he was so good to Sammy?
While he held one of her hands, Mitch held the other. Sammy stepped into the water then squealed. "It's cold. You said it wasn't cold, Rico."
"I said it wasn't too cold," Enrico said to her as he laughed.
Mitch had to pick her up and he got splashed with cold water. "You're safe now," he told Sammy.
"Put me back in," she said. "I think I saw a fish."
Now Enrico laughed even harder. Mitch put her back in the water while he and Enrico held her by the hands and there was more squealing. Looking over Sammy's head, Enrico gave him a bright smile then remembered himself and turned away, leaving Mitch to frown. He didn't want Enrico to feel like he couldn't even smile at a moment like this.
A text let Enrico know that his grandmother had finally managed to extract herself from her friends. They met her by their cars, but she didn't want Enrico to go back with her.
"You go along with them, help Mitch unload," she told him.
Enrico gave Mitch a questioning look just like he did a few other times today. If it wasn't for that look, Mitch might have said that he didn't need any help. But it was clear that Enrico didn't know where they stood, so Mitch didn't object to having him come along.
Mitch was hoping this whole thing would just blow over, but now he knew he needed to set things straight. Once they got to the house, he could have it out with Enrico.
The whole way there, the thought of it tied him up in knots though. Gripping the wheel too tight, Mitch just wanted to let it go, forget that kiss, forget how it left him feeling like he got a punch to the chest.
Ever since then, the ground hadn't been solid under his feet. And he had a feeling that confronting Enrico about it would only make things worse. That guy wasn't someone who could be easily put in his place.
But for a while Mitch didn't have to worry about it as they were busy just unloading supplies. By the time they were done, Mitch still wasn't ready to talk to Enrico. He didn't see a way around it though. It had to be done.
Hanging out on the back porch, Sammy was busy consoling the kittens for leaving them alone. She was telling them all about her day and every now and then asking, "Are you listening? Natalie? Veronica?"
Since she wasn't giving Mitch an excuse to delay his conversation with Enrico, he just had to get through it.
Stepping out in front of the house with Enrico, Mitch took a deep breath and faced him. "I need a word with you." At Mitch's grave voice and grim expression, Enrico visibly braced himself. "Why are you cringing?" Mitch asked him.
Enrico eyed him with a guarded look. "Just getting ready for whatever you're going to say. OK. Let me have it."
Mitch sighed. Of course Enrico wasn't going to make this easy. "I was going to say we need ground rules."
"Like what? Should I wait for you to kiss me?" Enrico asked provocatively.
Why couldn't he keep his pretty mouth shut and just agree to behave himself? But the truth was Mitch didn't want Enrico to feel he couldn't be himself around him.
Mitch tried again. "I told you I was straight."
"You did," Enrico acknowledged.
"But you had to find out for sure, I guess," Mitch said.
"You didn't exactly pass with flying colors," Enrico said and his eyes flashed a challenge at Mitch.
"What was I supposed to do to pass?" Mitch demanded.
Enrico had his answer ready. "Not like it so much."
Mitch flinched and looked away. He wanted to, but he couldn't deny it. But just because it felt good physically, that didn't mean anything. It just meant that Enrico's lips were lush and sweet, that his tongue could pierce Mitch's resistance. Mitch shut his eyes on those thoughts, those memories. With his head bowed and his hand covering his face, he must have looked pained.
