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“Fine. I’ll wait.” June licks her fork clean, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to have an aneurysm from wanting that tongue onme.
When Darla brings the check, we reach for it at the same time, but I easily tug it out of June’s grasp.
“You don’t have to buy me dinner,” she says, a small frown pinching her brow.
“I understand that I don’thaveto, but I want to. Dinner’s on me.” I slip my card into the folio, and Darla whisks by to take it from me. “Darla’s fast.”
“Now I feel guilty because you shouldn’t feel like you have to buy me dinner. I should be the one to pay, since you saved me from wasting all the work I put into this outfit.”
“Are you under the impression that I often do things that I don’t want to do?” I ask, narrowing my eyes slightly. She should know me better than that after all these years.
“You helped out Luna today, and I’m pretty sure you would have rather been somewhere else.”
“She’s my sister, and if she needs a hand, I’m happy to lend it. I don’t do anything that I don’t want to besides pay a shit ton in taxes, and I only do that because I’m not in a hurry to see the inside of a prison cell. I wanted to buy you dinner, so I did. Thanks for coming back inside with me.”
“Well, thanks for dinner,” she says, but she still looks uncertain. “I guess.”
“Would it make you feel better if I agreed to let you buy me coffee or lunch or something sometime?”
“Yeah, probably.”
“Then you have a deal.”
Her mouth opens and then closes again. Darla returns with my card, and I sign the slip.
“Why aren’t you always this easygoing?” June finally asks.
“I am, remember? You’re the one who’s a little—”
“Bitchy.”
“I was going to say uptight. I’m going to regret saying that forever, aren’t I?”
“Pretty much.”
I offer her my hand, but she stands without my help, and I follow her through the restaurant, waving at people we know as we pass them. Then we’re pushing through the door and walking into the chill of the early autumn night air.
“I have to go to the chapel for a bit,” she says softly when we reach the driver’s side.
“It’s after nine.”
“I know, but I have to take some measurements. I’ve taken them before, but I want to double-check them before I place my order for lumber.”
“Smart. Want some help?” I grin and rock back on my heels. “I promise that I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
As if to prove the point, I shove my hands into my pockets.
“Okay, you can hold one end of the measuring tape.”
“At your service. I’ll follow you over.”
She nods and turns to get into her truck, but before she opens the door, she turns and wraps her arms around me.
“Thanks for dinner,” she says. Then she abruptly lets go and climbs into her truck.
She backs out of her space and takes off toward the chapel, and I can’t help but smile.
“You’re welcome.”
