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Why do melons have to get married?
Why?
Because they cantaloupe.
I groaned to myself. Good God. I guess this is your way of saying everything is cool between us?
I sure hope so.
I smiled in relief. I didn’t want you to have any regrets because I don’t. It felt good. Really good.
It did feel good. Really good.
Goofball. Glad to hear it. Don’t overthink it, okay?
Easier said than done. Do you even know me?
LOL. It was worth a shot. See you this weekend?
Absolutely.
Saturday morning, I finished repairing the dining chairs for the customer’s pickup on Monday, stopped home briefly, then headed over to my mom’s on foot to cut her lawn. The weather was mild and sunny, and it would make for a good afternoon to sand more cabinets.
“Ma?” I called as I walked through the front door.
“In here, Marc,” she replied from the kitchen.
The first person I saw was Keisha, sitting at the table. “Hey, big brother.”
“How’s it going?” I noticed that my mom was busy making some of the sweet tea we all loved.
“It’s all good.” When Keisha smiled, I knew her reply was genuine. She had really come into her own in her career and relationship. “Just getting off work?”
“Uh-huh.” I swiped at the dust on my jeans. I didn’t bother changing since the whole day consisted of one form of getting dirty or another. “Here to do the lawn and anything else Mom needs.”
“Mom and I are going shopping at the outlet mall this afternoon.”
“Sounds fun,” I replied, even though it didn’t at all. But they were tight like that and loved to hunt for bargains together. Sometimes they’d rope Carmen in too and stay out all day, having a load of fun.
“I don’t think the lawn needs cutting yet, Marc.”
I glanced out the window. She was right. The growth slowed in the fall before picking up in the spring, and since there’d been little rain, there wasn’t much difference compared to the last time I’d cut it.
“Soon enough, I’ll need to rake the leaves.” Though it would never be like the piles Delaney’s street would have with all those trees. “Let’s give it another week.”
“Okay, sweetie.” She handed me a glass of tea. Grateful, I took a sip, knowing it would be refreshing. “Want to tag along with us? We’ll be getting lunch too.”
“Actually, I’ll be heading over to Delaney’s.” I lifted my thumb over my shoulder. “I’m helping with his kitchen, remember?”
“How’s that going?” Keisha asked, looking up from her phone.
“Pretty good. We’re going slow, refinishing one section at a time,” I explained, and I realized right then that it was a metaphor in a way, for our lives, or maybe for our hearts. “While I sand the cabinets in his backyard, Delaney, and sometimes his son, Grant, paint inside.”
When they looked at each other instead of saying anything, I was confused. “What?”
“Nothing, just…” Keisha cocked an eyebrow. “That smile on your face.”
“Huh? I wasn’t—” Had I smiled? I didn’t even realize it.
“Oh yes, you did.” Mom winked. “So either you really like that side job you got going for yourself, or you really like that man and his son.”
“Of course I do.” I gulped and looked away. “Lane is my friend, and I enjoy being around him and Grant. Plus, I enjoy keeping busy. You know that.”
“Uh-huh.” When Keisha threw me a knowing look, I scoffed. I was going to kill her. But the truth was, I was already looking forward to my Saturdays with Delaney, and not only because of what happened between us, but because I really loved the work. And okay, their company.
“The two of you together are a pain in my ass.”
Keisha lifted a hand to high-five our mom as they laughed at my expense.
I shook my head as I placed my empty glass in the sink, then headed toward the door, waving my goodbyes. “Enjoy yourselves, but not too much.”
After speaking to an elderly neighbor on my way home, I made myself a sandwich, then headed over to Delaney’s.
It was our first time seeing each other since our make-out session last week. He was in the backyard, playing with Ruby, and as I made my way toward him, his skin flushed as soon as our gazes clashed.
“Can you make sure the latch catches?” he asked, and I pulled on it to verify that the gate was secure. “Thanks. It can be temperamental, and I don’t want Ruby getting lost out there.”
We took turns throwing her the tennis ball as we caught up on the plan for the day. But I’d admit, I couldn’t help noticing how well he filled out his flannel shirt and those muscled arms that had been wound around my neck, his strong fingers gripping my scalp. I’d get myself in trouble if I didn’t stop thinking about that passionate side of him and where it could’ve led. But also the heartrending, tender side too.
