Page 36 of The Fireman and the Flirt

Derek: I’ll adjust. Are we all set for Monday morning at Eden Falls? I promise I won’t fall asleep at the showing.

Cary: If you do, there are no extra-large beds in tiny rooms you can crash on. It’s an empty house.

I was so tired, at this point, laying on the floor sounded comfortable.

Derek: What are you doing for the holiday?

I held out hope that Cal invited him to the feast. He’d make a great dinner guest, one of those people who would keep the conversation going.

Cary: I’m going to my aunt’s house out in Poughkeepsie.

Derek: Poo

Derek: I mean boo.

Cary: Poo works, too.

A smile broke through my tiredness.

Derek: Who’ll be there?

Cary: Me, my parents, my Aunt Claire, and my two cousins.

Derek: Older cousins? Younger cousins?

Cary: A little younger, but not by much. They were like quasi-siblings growing up, which was awesome because I’m an only child. We don’t see each other as often since they moved away, but when we do get together, it’s like we’re twelve all over again. This time with cell phones.

Cary: Is this too much information?

Derek: No.

I didn’t know why I was asking questions about his cousins. I supposed any little factoid about Cary was interesting for some reason.

Cary: I’ll be back on Friday night.

Cary: Just in case there’s anything you need to go over with the house search.

Cary: But you’ll probably be working at the firehouse.

Cary: So nevermind.

Time was tight, but maybe we could hang Friday night? We could go to a bar, grab a drink…I stopped myself from texting that. That didn’t sound like a business meeting. That was a date. I was tired, but I couldn’t allow myself to cross that line and risk Cary severing our relationship again.

Derek: This weekend will be tough. But we’ll meet up on Monday.

Derek: To see the house.

Cary: To see the house.

Cary: Because you can’t buy a house until you see it. Although I did have a client from London buy a house sight unseen.

Derek: That won’t be happening here.

Derek: Hey, I’m drinking some Caroline’s coffee right now.

I held up my to-go cup and took a selfie. The picture cut off my face under my eyes. Oof, I figured I should cease texting before I really made an ass out of myself.

Cary: We’ll have to work on your social media skills ??

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