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“No, ma’am,” I replied. “Lee and I are having a good time with each other.”
She pressed her lips together, and I didn’t miss the subtle disapproving shake of her head. “Be careful with that one, Annie. As the Trisha Yearwood song warned, that boy’s a Walkaway Joe.”
My back straightened, and a lightning bolt of defensiveness, maybe even protectiveness, shot through me. I didn’t know what the hell song she was talking about, but I understood what she was implying. Bug may be a matriarch in town, and I had been taught to respect my elders, but I sure as shit wasn’t going to let her talk negatively about Lee.
“I mean no disrespect, but I believe between the two of us, I have a better handle on Lee’s character. Don’t you think?” I raised an eyebrow in challenge, hoping the nerves that simmered under my skin weren’t written all over my face.
“Very well,” Bug said before turning her back and walking away with a shake of her head.
I exhaled a sigh of relief and wiped my palms on the tops of my jean shorts. It didn’t matter that Lee was a playboy and we had agreed to these dates for all the wrong reasons. He was still my best friend.
I quickly printed out the pages I wanted to take back to the Sullivans and hurried out of the library.
On the walk home, temptation got the best of me, and I pulled up the song that Bug had referred to.
My heart sank when I realized she just might be right.
* * *
Lee
Everyone from the station is doing the firefighter run. Meet you after the race.
I grinneddown at my phone. Every year the Outtatowner Fire Department participated in the Fourth of July 5K run. Only they ran in turnout gear—pants, suspenders, andno shirts.
Brooklyn and Emery, the other female firefighters, also participated, and it always made me smile when they led the pack with the men huffing and puffing behind them.
I sure as hell wouldn’t be missing an opportunity to openly ogle Lee as he ran past me shirtless and sweaty. A tingle settled between my legs, and I wondered how soon it might be before I could see him shirtless and sweaty in another, more private setting.
I had been keyed up since our brewery date, but with Lee’s adjusted work schedule, we hadn’t had any alone time since Wednesday night.
Fourth of July fell on a Tuesday, and even six days of not seeing him felt like a lifetime.
In a single dark hallway, Lee had somehow tipped my world upside down while making it feel as though it had been righted for the first time in my entire life.
I didn’t know what to do with all the emotions I seemed to have on a daily basis.
Was this still fake?
Had Lee always felt this way?
What changed?
Why now?
Could I get over my own insecurities and anxieties in order to give myself over fully to Lee?
What would I do if things didn’t work out between us?
How would I ever tell him the truth?
When Tuesday morning came, you bet your ass I had found a prime spot along the race route and set up a blanket and chairs for the Sullivan group. Those participating in the 5K would run ahead of the parade and then join their group before the parade began. The firefighters would lead the pack and then circle back to their trucks in order to honk their horns and toss out candy to the children.
I wasn’t a runner, so I nestled into my lawn chair and waited for the rest of the Sullivans to arrive.
Winding through the crowd, I spotted Penny and raised my hand to call her over. Behind her, Lark was carrying a small beach bag, and next to her was Kate. I waved my arms to catch their eye.
“Oh my god, how did you get such a good spot?” Kate asked.
