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“Well, as I understand it, she didn't figure that you would want to do it on your own, and if you had hired someone in town, you would have hired me.” He winked, and I had to laugh.
“You're right,” I sighed. “The backyard is looking pretty bad.” I led the way over to the screen door, gesturing out, and Buck looked appalled.
“I don't mean any disrespect, but this is beyond 'pretty bad,'” he said seriously, but when he glanced over at me, he cracked a smile. “Don't worry. It's still light enough that I should be able to get it done for you right now if that's all right with you.”
“Oh no, you don't have to do that, and especially not right now,” I protested. “I keep meaning to do that. It's just that I'm running after the kids all day, and by the time they go home, I'm exhausted. I haven't even been cooking healthy meals; I've just been having whatever I can whip up quickly.”
“All the more reason for me to get out there and help you out,” Buck said. “Come on. I already work for your mother; no reason that I can't help you out as well. She's the highest paying person in town, you know.”
I shook my head. “I should have done it over the weekend, though, I was just being lazy. You shouldn't have to do more work to make up for that. And I don't have any cash, so I couldn't pay you myself. Maybe some other time.”
“It's only going to get worse, the longer you let it go on,” Buck pointed out. “Why don't I take care of it now, and you can buy me a drink sometime.”
“Okay,” I said slowly. I really could use more friends around Tamlin; at the moment, it was still just me and my mother and Dr. Jones. But Eric didn't seem like he wanted to be friends with me, honestly. I missed my group in Chicago. I missed going out in the evenings and having fun. Maybe I needed to organize a weekend back there at some point soon.
But for now, I'd take what I could get in terms of friends. In fact, I had an even better idea for how I could repay Buck with a drink.
“Hey, I've got this wedding that I'm supposed to go to on Friday,” I told him slowly. “I know it's short notice, but I'm supposed to bring a plus-one, and the guy that I was planning on going with can't go. Any chance you'd be interested? There'll be an open bar and free food; plus, I hear weddings are a great place to meet the ladies.”
Buck raised an eyebrow at me. “Are they now?” he asked, looking amused.
“Well, you and I would just be going as friends, of course. Nothing personal, I just wouldn't take you to a wedding as a first date; that would be kind of weird.” I was babbling, I realized, but Buck just looked amused.
“You're clever, aren't you?” he asked. “Get me to do one favor for you by agreeing to pay for it with another favor that I would do for you.”
I blushed, realizing that that must be the way that it sounded. I hadn't meant it that way, but now that he said it, I felt horrible for even considering it a possibility. “Sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “I didn't mean it that way. I'm perfectly happy to pay you to do the lawn, I just don't have cash on me at the moment, like I said. And when you mentioned that I could just buy you a drink...” I trailed off, feeling foolish.
Buck grinned and shook his head. “I'm just teasing you,” he said. “I haven't been to a wedding in ages. I'm not even sure I have a suit still. But I'll figure something out.”
“Only if you're sure,” I said quickly.
“Now you're starting to sound like the person who's unsure,” Buck said, raising an eyebrow at me.
“I just don't want you to feel pressured, that's all,” I said. “I'd enjoy your company, though.”
“Good, then it's settled,” Buck said, nodding his head. “I'll pick you up; how does that sound? I know most women wear heels to weddings, and I can only imagine that driving in heels is a pain.”
I laughed. “You have no idea,” I said. “I'd appreciate that.”
“Good,” Buck said. “I'm going to go get started on your lawn before I lose the light.”
“All right,” I said, watching as he we
nt out to the shed and pulled out the old lawnmower.
I felt surprisingly guilty about having asked him to take Eric's place, but that was silly. Eric had said he was going to be busy, and I had RSVP'd to have a plus-one. I knew it was a minor faux pas to RSVP for a plus-one and then show up single; I was just making sure that the bride stayed happy on her wedding day. Anyway, Buck and I were just going as friends, so it wasn't as though Eric had anything to complain about. If he wanted to be there, he should be there.
It felt like I was making a mistake, though, for some unknown reason, and the longer I watched Buck out in the yard, the more I wished that I could take the whole thing back. There was no hope of this not getting back to Eric; it was a small town, and people were prone to gossip. The chances of no one noticing that Buck had picked me up and dropped me off would be slim to none. I couldn't exactly ask him not to mention the wedding to anyone. He would want to know why I felt the need to keep it a secret, and it wasn't as though I could tell him that I had originally asked Eric to go with me because Eric and I were sleeping together.
Had been sleeping together, rather. It had been a while since we'd even exchanged more than the barest of greetings.
I sighed and ran both my hands back through my hair. I just wanted the week to be over already. Unfortunately, it was only just beginning.
Chapter Nineteen
Eric
I hated going into the office on Saturday mornings, but I didn't like the idea of sitting down and trying to figure out the Nana situation from home. Anyway, Emma treated it like it was a special event, to come into my office and doodle on the whiteboard for a couple of hours. At least one of us was happy, I thought, looking over at her.
