AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“This is a nice place,” she said, following him to the small kitchen not that far back. It was behind the living room but one big open room. The bedrooms and bathroom were on the other side.
“Zane’s first house when he moved here. He redid it all. It was just him and Willow.”
“I know,” she said. “I know the story of it all.”
He figured she probably did. “It was my lucky day that the renters were moving out when they were. The timing right when so many things in my life never seemed to fall into place.”
She tilted her head at him, a soft look in her eyes and he regretted letting those words slip out. “I know that feeling.”
“Beer?” he asked again.
“Sure.”
She sat at the island, which was the only seating to eat in the place. The renters probably had a small table in the corner, but he didn’t need it. Most of the furnishings here were Zane’s, but he did pick up a recliner this week and a few more things.
The place by the water was nice and quiet and he realized it might be the first time he’d slept anywhere quiet.
He’d always been in rented apartments, the barracks, or staying at someone’s house.
Being here alone...it was the best sleep he’d ever had and knew he’d be happy here for a while.
He poured them both a beer. “I can start dinner if you want.”
“That would be good,” she said. “I’m hungry. Anything I can do to help?”
“Nah. We can just chat. The fries will go in the oven. The veggies in the microwave. The steaks in a pan. Simple.”
“I don’t know a lot of men that cook.”
“If I don’t cook then I have to get takeout or I don’t eat. Takeout will put some bulge on me. Got to stay in good shape.”
He wasn’t trying to make a joke, but she laughed the same. “I don’t think you’ve got too much fat on you.”
Her face was red and he liked she thought of that. “I could say the same for you.”
“I’ve always been on the thin side. Not that I exercise. I should. I guess I’m young enough that it’s nice and toned now, but at some point it probably won’t be.”
“I can’t believe out of all the things we could be talking about in our lives we are talking about this,” he said.
She took the beer out of his hand and had a sip. “You’re right. What do you want to talk about? Are you excited to start your new career? I know I was when I came here. I was almost jumping out of my shoes getting the offer and didn’t care my parents were upset I was moving. It was time for me to step out.”
He’d like to know more but told himself that maybe they weren’t at the point to get personal with her family. She might ask more about his and he wasn’t in the mood to volunteer things that he was trying to lock in a closet.
“It’s going to be different,” he said. “Long days for sure. Then when I’m placed, long nights added in.”
“You don’t care, though, do you?”
“Not really,” he said. “I’m used to it.”
“But it means you’re going to be gone a lot and for me to not get clingy. I get it. I’m not sure what I’m thinking either. Or more like I’m trying not to think of anything other than tonight.”
“Probably for the best,” he said. “We know where the other is. I don’t want to make promises at the moment because my life is up in the air.”
“Mine isn’t up in the air, but I’m in a good place with my job. I love the work I do and I work a lot too.”
It seemed they had an understanding of sorts. He held his glass up. “Then to tonight, and what tomorrow brings, we’ll deal with it then.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
