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Mary pours me a glass of sweet tea without even asking because, of course, I want a sweet tea.
“Mary. When I asked you whether Micah would be okay with us hanging out, I think you misunderstood my meaning. And that’s my fault for not being more clear.”
Mary gives me another one of those rapid blinks with her gorgeous dark lashes, the thing she did even back in the day when she wanted to be sure that I could tell she was really listening to me.
“What did you mean?”
“I mean dating.”
She sits up straight in her chair. “Dating around or dating exclusively?”
“Just you for me and me for you. That’s it.”
Mary squints like she doesn’t believe me. “Why?”
I’m surprised she still doesn’t think I’m serious. “Why? I’ve been thinking about you all day, which made me realize something.”
“What?” I hope that look in her eye is wonder and not abject terror.
“You’ve been in the back of my mind since you disappeared. I always wondered what would have happened if I had simply gone for it. People came and went in and out of my life, but I felt like something was always missing. And that’s you. You are the missing piece.
“And if that scares you, I understand. If you want to run away screaming, that’s okay.”
After several beats of Mary just staring at me, blinking behind those black frames, she chews on her bottom lip, thinking.
“Beau, that doesn't scare me. It would scare me if I thought this was a temporary thing for you, a publicity stunt, or a project. The hero throws money at a poor school, befriending the single mom with a teenage son and no idea how she'll pay for college in a few short years. It’s not that, is it? This isn’t a project for you, is it?”
“Fuck no.”
“Good. Because I’m happy. I’m not interested in moving into a big fancy house in the city or going to parties with NFL wives. Or girlfriends.”
I smile at the way she blushes and corrects herself.
“I know that about you. You were never into material things.”
She presses her lips together, fighting a grin.
“And if things get serious between us, I’m not quitting my job. I love teaching. And whenever you’ve decided your next move, I won’t leave Dauterive behind. This is my home. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I’m 33 now. I have to think of these things.”
I nod. “I understand that.”
“So,” she says, cocking her head to the side, “be very sure that you’re serious about starting something with me. I don’t mess around. I haven’t had a serious relationship since…well, since Micah’s dad. If you change your mind about me, it’s going to hurt worse than me missing prom.”
At this, I have to control my tongue. Mary hasn’t had a boyfriend in fifteen years? Then I’ll have to make sure I take special care of her.
“I’m gonna make time for you. Just like I said I would,” I tell her.
“It’s not going to be easy, with your schedule and me working and mothering full time.” Mary’s lips twist skeptically.
“Don’t doubt me, Sweetness. That’s a challenge for me to make even more of an effort. I’ll bury you in so much effort.”
Just then, her phone receives a text notification. Mary gets up to check it, where it sits charging on the countertop. After a pause that has her typing a reply, she says, “It’s Micah. He’s asking to stay overnight at his friend’s house. The friend’s mom can take them to practice in the morning.”
I try not to look too excited that we have more alone time. “If you let him stay over, that will give us more time to talk and hash this out.”
Mary smiles, types in a reply, and sets the phone down again.
“Talk, hash things out, Netflix and chill. The night is young,” she says with a mischievous glint.
