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“Well, you seem better. You should go.”
“Rain, I didn’t mean any—”
“It’s fine. I’m glad you’re better,” I told him, already halfway across the room to the front door, which I opened for him to leave through, the sooner, the better.
He stepped out and I stepped out after him, picking up the paper that had been tossed up on the porch while we were inside. My fingers lost their hold on it, and it fell again. This time, Jon reached for it too, and we banged our heads together. I couldn’t help but laugh. I managed to get hold of it again and became aware that a pair of rather long, well-toned legs were climbing my front steps. Straightening myself, I found myself eye to eye with a long-forgotten face. I couldn’t remember her name, but her face had not escaped me.
“Well, look who the cat dragged home,” she said, reaching up to push a strand of her long auburn hair back across her shoulder and taking me in with catlike green eyes.
“Can I help you?” I replied, not knowing what else to say.
“Looks like you’ve been busy helping out Jon instead,” she replied, shooting daggers in his direction.
“Allison, I got too hot in the yard. She just invited me in to cool off. What are you doing here?”
Allison Clarke, my puny brain finally managed. Cheerleading squad and a grade or two below me in high school. Apparently, she was still after the quarterback and had the very wrong idea what was going on around here, but I found myself not feeling the need to explain. Let Jon sort his business out.
“I was looking for you at the house you’re supposed to be working on but saw you coming out the door over here, so I walked over,” she said through gritted teeth, which seemed like my cue to exit the conversation.
“I have things to do inside. Nice to see you again, Allison,” I replied.
“Jon, do you need to go back in and help?” she snapped at him, rather than responding to me.
“Good grief, Allison. Nothing happened,” Jon replied, walking past where she remained on my front steps and making his way across the yard to the house next door. I went in the house and shut the door but could see her chasing after him across the grass. Though it was a complete misunderstanding, I couldn’t really fault Allison. I was guessing he hadn’t changed all that much over the years.
3
Jon
I don’t know if it was the aftereffects of passing out or the fact that Rain had gone from hot to cold in a matter of seconds, but I had been in no mood to placate Allison. We argued, and I sent her away. I wasn’t even sure why she was angry. I’d not once led her to believe our relationship was exclusive. In fact, we’d discussed the fact that it wasn’t on several occasions. I knew she wanted more, and I felt bad that I couldn’t reciprocate whatever feelings she was having for me. She was a good person, pretty and fun to be around, but she wasn’t someone I saw myself with in the long term. Incidents like what had just happened with Rain had become more frequent lately, the jealousy and passive-aggressive behavior rearing its ugly head all too often for my taste.
Perhaps it was time for a talk, but it wasn’t something I could do today. I felt better, but I was still drained, and all I wanted to do was sleep. I sent her away and packed up my tools to go home. I needed to rest and sort out my head. Prior to Allison, prior to Rain’s shift, I had felt something that had become unfamiliar in recent years. It was something I had put behind me a long time ago, and it had caught me off guard. I climbed into my truck and drove to the other end of town and crossed the city limits to the dirt road leading to the Old Pickens’ farm.
Trees lined either side of the road, some scraping the sides of the old truck. It was a reminder that I needed to trim them back. It didn’t hurt the already-scraped-up old Ford I drove, but I wouldn’t dare bring the Barracuda out through that mess. Visitors wouldn’t appreciate it either, though I rarely had those. Even Allison didn’t come out to the house that often, mostly inviting me to her place or meeting me at the cabin on the edge of Leigha Harper’s old property. I wondered if Rain remembered that old place. She’d be amazed at what I had done with it.
My phone vibrated just as I got inside. It was Allison. I started not to answer, but she’d just keep calling if I didn’t. I sighed and hit the accept button.
