Page 25 of Genesis

Carson laughed. “No.”

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“Everybody, this is Carson,” I say as we walk into the house. Paul and Samuel look our way from watching the football game. They lift their chins in hello to my new friend.

“Food ready?” I ask.

“Almost,” Paul says, picking up his beer from the table. I lift my hoodie off and hang it on the coat rack as Carson and Johnny take a seat in the living room. I have other plans, though. I walk past them into the dining room, looking at the table that’s already filled with bowls of green beans and sweet potato souffle.

“I hope you made some pecan pie,” I say, walking into the kitchen.

Ma turns around, grinning at me. “I wouldn’t forget your favorite pie.”

I give her a kiss on the cheek, seeing there are three pies on the counter. “You made extra?” I ask.

“That’s for Mr. Simpson down the street.”

“Mr. Simpson?” I ask with a smirk.

“Oh hush,” she says, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. She unties her apron. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to take this pie to him. Watch the stove for me, please,” she says to Bexley. Ma hangs the apron, grabs the pie, and exits the kitchen.

Bexley turns to look at me. “Johnny get moved out okay?”

I scratch the back of my neck. “Yeah. Made a little mess, but we cleaned it all up.”

She nods, leaning back against the counter. It’s odd seeing her here after all these years. Good, though.

“How have you been?” I ask.

“Great,” she says. “You?”

“Good,” I reply. I open the fridge and grab another beer, twisting the top off and tossing it into the trash beside her as she crosses her arms. Her eyes move over me before settling on my face.

“Why didn’t you visit?” she asks.

“I could ask you the same.”

She shrugs with her face. “You stopped coming to my window. I figured you were done with what we had.”

“What did we have?” I ask, moving closer to her.

“Secrets,” she says, her eyes moving to my lips.

“Secrets,” I repeat. “Did you miss me?” I put my beer on the counter.

“Is that what you want to hear?”

I don’t answer. Instead, I ask another question. “You and Samuel dating?” I need to know exactly what the deal is here.

She tilts her head slightly. “Are you seeing someone?” she tosses back.

“No one in particular.” My eyes bounce down her body.

Her tongue goes to the roof of her mouth as she looks toward the floor. “It could have been you, you know?”

“Me?” I ask.

Bexley looks back at me. “Come on, Danny. You’re many things, but you’re not stupid. You knew how I felt about you.”

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