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“I’d like to get the fishing shack primed for painting and maybe get some of the trees trimmed up. Then, I think we’ll go get your car and cruise the parkway for a while,” I say.
“Sounds good,” he agrees.
“Is there anything you need to do? I monopolized your day off yesterday. I’m sure you need to do laundry or run errands or something.”
“I did want to finish packing up Susanna’s things and get them stored in the garage before my next shift.”
“That’s an excellent idea and a big step. I’ll help you. We can do some boxing before we take our drive,” I suggest.
Our food arrives, and we fall into an easy conversation when a pretty blonde approaches our table.
“Corbin, how are you?” she asks.
He gives her a polite smile. “Hi, Monica.”
She stands there as an awkward silence fills the air.
“Aren’t you gonna introduce me to your friend?” she asks.
“Maxi, this is Monica, and, Monica, this is—”
“His date,” I cut him off and offer her a dazzling smile.
“Date? It’s eight in the morning,” she questions.
“Yeah, the date started at eight o’clock last night.”
I shrug, and her eyes go wide.
“I talked to Susanna a couple of days ago, and she told me you two had a tiff and I should come by the firehouse and check in on you while she’s on vacation. I just haven’t gotten a chance yet,” she tells him.
“No need to check on me. I’m doing just fine.”
“I can see that. Well, enjoy your breakfast.”
She struts off to join a group of ladies at a table behind us.
“If Susanna doesn’t know about us yet, she will now,” he mutters.
I shake my head. “What a bunch of high school drama queens,” I muse.
“You have no idea.”
The table of mean girls keeps glaring at us, and just to add fuel to the fire, I feed Corbin some of my gravy biscuit. He grins as he accepts the bite off of my fork. He knows exactly what I’m up to. If they want to act like we’re living in a teenage angst movie, I can do the same.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” he asks.
“I just don’t like the gang mentality. I didn’t put up with it in high school, and I’m not putting up with it now.”
“Thank you,” he says.
“For what?”
“I’m usually bombarded by Susanna’s friends when we’re apart. It’s nice to be able to eat in peace.”
I lean in. “You know, all you have to do is tell them to fuck off.”
A corner of his mouth curls up into a half-smile. “Not my style to talk to a woman that way.”
