“I know,” she admits. “The dunk tank has been around for years, and people love it. But don’t worry; no one is mean-spirited or salacious about it. Plus, every time that you get dunked, a group of businesses from Burlington makes a twenty-five-dollar donation to one of several awesome Vermont charities.”
“Well, fuck, I can’t say no now, can I?”
“You really can’t, my friend.”
“I might have to duct tape various body parts into place, but I’m on board.”
“Danny!” She raises her hands up and rushes ahead to give her bestie a huge hug as he finds his way to us. “We killed it today. You?”
“It was great. People seemed really happy.”
“Have you seen Slowski? I’ve been too swamped all day to talk to him.”
“Yeah, I think he’s by the fried pickle stand now.”
She claps her hands. “Yeah, baby! I knew I liked him for a reason. Mama’s off to get herself some big ol’ pickle, if you know what I mean.”
“Ew,” he groans. “Okay, that’s enough of that. Go! Besides, I haven’t seen my girl all day.”
Mary Ann looks my way. “I love that she’syour girl, by the way. Sooo love it. Till tomorrow, my loves!”
When she’s taken off, Danny stands and eyes me for a bit. “I missed you today. Is that weird? It hasn’t even been that long, but I missed you.”
“I’m not sure how you had time to, but I like it. I saw how hard you were working.”
“I can do two things at once.”
“Yeah, Idoknow that,” I say with a smile.
He winks and brings me in against his chest. Christ, his muscular, hard chest that I am already dying to see again.
“I’m going to clean up my booth and grab something to eat, but I’ll be home soon, okay?” He tenses. “Okay, I didn’t meanhome. Sorry.Yourhouse. I’ll be back at your house soon. If that’s okay.”
I laugh. “Being back soon is very okay.”
I don’t say it, but I really like that he initially and so naturally said “home.”
My phone rings, and Danny laughs. “Is that ‘The Imperial March’ I hear? Who is cursed with that ringtone?”
“My mother,” I admit. “I haven’t talked to her in a while, so I should probably take this. But I’ll see you soon.”
“Yes, you will.”
When I answer her call on my way to the Pathfinder, I’m more upbeat than usual when I hear from her because of the pictures I sent her. Maybe we’ll have something positive to chat about this time.
“Hi, Mom!”
“Hi, Callie. How are you? How are things going?”
“Really well! You got the pics of the house?”
“I did.” She hesitates. “I’m just not sure about what’s happening there.”
“What do you mean?”
“The picture of the bathroom that you sent. It’s a lot.”
I unlock the door and start the engine. “How so?”
