He shakes his head. “I was helping put away some of the chairs after the Fighting Book Bans meeting in the library and got invited. Did you know they have home-baked goods at those things?”
“Really?”
“Best thumbprint cookies ever. Don’t tell Audrey I said that though. She thinks hers are my favorite.”
“I’m glad you had a good day. The Fighting Book Bans group sounds interesting. Let me know when you’re going next time.”
“I thought you were only willing to leave the house for coffee, alcohol, or groceries.”
“Yeah. It might be time for me to expand on my range of experiences. This big, beautiful new life of yours is sort of inspiring me to go beyond, and dare to get out more.”
He smiles, and my knees go weak. “I’m glad to hear it. And I’m glad we’re friends.”
“Me too.” I smile back at him. “We should have a secret signal though. A sign for you to rescue and remove me from situations and conversations when I run out of steam.”
“That’s smart,” he says. “How about fake retching? You need to urgently go home and rest due to imaginary morning sickness.”
“Which brings us back to what I wanted to yell at you about earlier,” I say. “It’s going to eventually become obvious we’re not actually with child. And you’ve bought a house in town, whichsuggests you’re staying for a while. Share your future plans with me on this subject.”
“Bold of you to assume I know what I’m doing.”
“You have to have some idea.”
He groans. “I guess I do have one…”
“What?”
“Just off the top of my head.” He steps closer. “What if we had a bunch of sex and made some babies? Then we’d never have to tell anyone the truth. Brilliant, right?”
“Go find the fixings for a salad before I slap you.”
“How are your threats of violence such a turn on? It’s right up there with food on your gorgeous face. Makes me just want to fall at your feet and worship, you know?” He hesitates. “Hey, quick question, what do you put in a salad?”
“Rise to the challenge, Nash.”
“Will do.” He nods and peruses the store. “Audrey’s sure in a mood.”
“The news about you moving next door made my grandma go on a bender.”
“Heard she was at the bar doing shots with Rose late last night.” He smiles. “Don’t assume it was all about me moving in next door. Or not exactly in the way you’re thinking.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t reveal more,” he says, giving me side eye. “It’s not something she’d appreciate me talking about. And then there’s my healthy ongoing fear of the stick to consider.”
“I’m not convinced you’re as afraid of the stick as you make yourself out to be. And you can’t just allude to secrets and then not tell me what’s going on.”
“Are you going to threaten me again?” he asks. “Violent tendencies sure run in your family.”
“Please tell me.”
“No can do, my sunshine. You said something about a salad….” He makes straight for his new knitting friend Wade, who maybe knows how to make such a thing. Nash’s rear is still sadly perfection. The new blue jeans display it just right as he walks away. Getting to watch such things up close and personal is both an honor and a privilege for my humble hormones.
I can’t believe he’s keeping secrets from me about my own family. How rude. This is absolutely something I’m going to harass him about later. I wonder if the secret has to do with the man Grandma mentioned. The one she thought might turn into something serious. It’s worth some thought.
In the meantime, I head for the meat section to pick out some steak. Warm summer nights demand outdoor cooking. And it’s while I’m perusing the goods that I make a new friend. Sort of.
“You must be June,” says a pretty and petite young woman with white skin and a blonde ponytail. She looks to be in her early twenties and is wearing a cool tee withcraft hardwritten on it. “My name’s Amy. I work at Yarn and Co. and I know your grandmother.”
