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Tabitha cocked her head to the side. “You really hope that?”
Hobbs’s lips parted, to tell her sorry again, to let her know that Thaddeus seemed like a really great guy, even if he was a really great guy that Hobbs secretly hoped she didn’t like very much, when Gracie came streaking into the room. She ran in circles, her cold fur filling the room with the scents of the backyard—fallen leaves, chilly air, grass. George came trotting in after her. He jumped on the back of the beige sofa and settled there, alert and watching as Wyatt came running in after Gracie.
“Come, Gracie.” Hannah appeared, leash in hand. Gracie ignored her, but Hannah chased her down and affixed the leash to Gracie’s collar. “I think we should go, Chris. We don’t want to wreck Tabitha’s house.”
Hobbs broke his gaze with Tabitha and turned to his sister. Despite the chaos, she looked happy. Full of something other than loneliness, regret and fear. “Sure,” he said. “Thanks for inviting us, Tabby. Everything was great. I hope your aunt feels better.”
Tabitha drew a deep breath. “Thank you. I’ll go check on her once everyone is gone.” She turned to Hannah. “Next week, right? I’ll come over for massage.”
“Yes, please,” Hannah said. She petted Gracie’s head until the puppy settled at her side. “I can’t wait.”
“Night, Tabby. Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks for coming. And thanks for helping with the sandwiches.” She offered a sad smile, then headed for the dining room.
Hannah glared at him. “What did you do, Chris?”
“I’m not sure,” Hobbs said.
Even though that was a lie.
Once the last guest left, Auntie El came pattering out of the bedroom in her pink housecoat, hair a mess, glasses crooked on her nose. “I’ve been awake about half an hour,” she admitted. “I just couldn’t bring myself to come out.”
Tabitha wasn’t used to seeing Auntie El looking lost and ragged. She opened her arms and they embraced. “I made grilled cheese,” Tabitha said, her head on Auntie El’s shoulder. “But I used your brioche, so they were technically Thanksgiving sandwiches. And the turkey’s on the counter now. All cooked. The ham, too.”
Auntie El rocked her for a moment, even though Tabitha was the one trying to offer comfort. “You did good, T,” she said. “Tell your friends I came down with a cold and didn’t want to share it. I’ll talk to the reverend myself. Make my manners.”
“Everyone had a good time.” Tabitha and Auntie El parted. She thought about asking about the doctor visit, the sleep meds, Casey. But she kept quiet, sensing Auntie El needed time and space.
“Did I hear Thaddeus?” Auntie El said, her face brightening. “I thought you said he wasn’t coming.”
“I didn’t think he was,” Tabitha admitted. “He popped in late and ate a sandwich.” She thought back to Hobbs’s interaction with Thaddeus and didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry. Maybe because Hobbs was being so confusing himself. The other night he’d kissed her with a passion Tabitha had never felt before, one that had made her physically ache and yearn for his strong arms and soft lips ever since. She didn’t ache like that for Thaddeus, now or in their youth, or for any of the men she’d dated so fleetingly over the years. Sex hadn’t even been something she craved or enjoyed much in the past. With Thaddeus, she’d played along, acted the part that she knew to be normal, based on stories from girlfriends and scenes in movies, though she’d never really enjoyed their short, tidy interludes that included a carefully placed condom, some thrusting and grunting and a predictable finish of Thaddeus clenching, silent as the grave, then relaxing all of his weight on top of her. She’d lain there, bored, wondering what all the fuss was about, until he’d finally rolled over and driven her home. Dating other men had been different versions of that same game, and interactions with men since Afghanistan had been strictly platonic cups of coffee and tired excuses on her part. Captain Dorsey’s harassment had made her leery of physical intimacy, and up until that first kiss with Hobbs on Halloween night, Tabitha hadn’t been sure she ever wanted to get close to men again.
She definitely wanted to get close to Hobbs again. But he certainly seemed to have reasons to keep slamming on the brakes.
“Oh, I am so glad,” Auntie El said, her pallor brightening. “Thaddeus is a good catch. An excellent catch. You keep your eye on that one.”
“Times are different now, Auntie El,” Tabitha broached gently. “Women aren’t rushing out to find partners. We’re learning to be happy with ourselves.”
Auntie El snorted. “Well, while you’re being happy with yourself, just remember that the good ones get snatched up early. Men like Thaddeus aren’t going to wait around forever while you’re taking your sweet time being liberated. Take it from an old lady who knows a thing or two.”
“I see you’re feeling better.”
Auntie El smiled a little bit. “Soon as I get this insomnia sorted I’ll be just fine. You wait and see. Now I’m going to have some coffee and do my puzzle. Fix your old auntie a plate of ham, would you? On that brioche you sliced up.” Auntie El settled at the table, where Tabitha had replaced her puzzle once she’d cleaned up after the guests. “Toast it, please. You know I like it toasted.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Once Tabitha had laid a toasted ham-and-cheese sandwich in front of Auntie El, she sat down to the table, drew out her Journal of Invincibility and flipped to the back. It was about damn time she fixed that Badass List.
Help Auntie El.
Don’t act like a freak when you have coffee with Thaddeus on Friday.
Learn about motorcycles.
Possibly ride one.
Ace massage quizzes.
