Page 64 of Mr. B

“Yeah. How the hell does that happen?”

“Everything we went through back then, and everything we’ve gone through since, has brought us to this moment.”

“Sore shoulder and all?”

“Yes.”

“Do you believe in fate?”

“Never really thought about it.”

He dropped his head lower as she rubbed the base of his neck. “I suppose fate brought us together again.”

“Possibly.”

“Could’ve just been bad luck.” She squeezed his shoulder, and he groaned. “I deserved that.” He turned to face her. “I don’t know whether to blame fate, luck, or karma, but here we are.”

“Here we are.”

He started to lean toward her, then stopped when he saw Lester approaching. “Now that’s karma.” He got to his feet and went to meet Lester.

“Got a bit of bad news.”

“What’s that?”

“Quite a bit of the firewood got wet. Seems there’s another leak in the boathouse roof.”

“Well, hell. Do we have enough for tonight?”

“Yes. And once the fire’s going, we can add a wet piece or two. But we’ll need to move it out into the sun tomorrow to dry out and get some more split. The rounds stayed dry.”

“Okay. I’ll get some boys on that tomorrow.”

Lester glanced at Cassandra, who had stayed on the porch. “Is she okay after the game?”

“She’s fine.”

“And you?”

“Good as new.”

“I saw what you did?”

“Um…”

“Pulled up so she could make the touchdown.”

“Right. She was so excited. I couldn’t take that away from her.”

Lester put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re a good man, Wes.”

“Thank you.”

“A little dense, though, when it comes to women.”

“Excuse me?”

Lester looked at Cassandra again. “When a woman like that sets her eye on you, you don’t drag your feet. You jump in with everything you’ve got.”