Page 15 of The Apple Tree

“Can I ask about Josh’s mom?” I jumped the track to a completely different subject.

His smile faded. “What do you want to ask?”

“Does he have one?”

“No. I pushed him out of my vagina.”

“Duh. You know what I mean.”

“Of course, he has a mom.”

“But you’re not married?”

He shook his head.

“Were you ever married?”

Again, he shook his head.

“Is she alive?”

Kyle eyed me for a few seconds. “I don’t know.”

“Does Josh?—”

“It’s late,” he said, cutting me off.

“It’s a little past eight on a Thursday. You call that late?”

He pushed off the counter. “It’s my way ofrespectfullytelling you I’m done talking about this.”

I stared at my feet and whispered, “Sorry.” Mom was right. I was a little too nosey and had a bad habit of speaking without thinking of the consequences of my words.

“Don’t be sorry. Can you walk home by yourself?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes. But I’m not going home. Mind if I borrow your flashlight?”

“For what?”

“It’s my turn to stargaze by the creek. And I wouldn’t be opposed to you loaning me a can of beer too. Since I’m not your student, your silly rules shouldn’t apply to me.”

“I can’t be your accomplice any longer. You said it yourself. There are bears.”

“I’ll take your gun.”

He nodded slowly. “Yeah, that seems like the best idea. I don’t see any ethical dilemma at all with giving an eighteen-year-old a flashlight, beer, and a gun.”

“If you wouldn’t mind, I could use the blanket too. By any chance, do you have a bag of Ruffles?”

When Kyle’s grin swelled, my heart pulsed to a different rhythm while euphoria zinged through my body like electricity. I’d had my share of celebrity crushes—older men who made me want to be a mature woman. But Kyle was the first tangible older man who made everything inside me go haywire.

“Eve, can you imagine how much I’m second-guessing my decision to leave you in charge of Josh? I don’t think you have a sound decision in that pretty little head of yours. And who eats Ruffles? Classic Lays are the only way to go.”

I was fully aware it wasn’t a compliment. However, my selective brain only latched on to the part where he suggested my head was pretty. “If you must know, and I think youmust, I know the difference between right and wrong. My dad’s a pastor. It’s in my holy blood. I’m only reckless with myself. Never with others. When it’s necessary, I’m one hundred percent trustworthy.” I brought a stiff hand to my forehead and saluted him. “And thank you for the pretty head compliment.” I twirled my hair around my finger. “But I think thelittlepart is inaccurate. Most people would agree that my body parts are in proper proportion.”

Kyle surveyed my body and quickly averted his gaze as he rubbed the back of his neck. Then he reached into his pocket, pulled a ten-dollar bill out of his wallet, and handed it to me. “Thank you for watching Josh,” he said.

I shook my head and laughed. “I can’t take your money. My plan failed, and it’s not your fault. Besides, Josh is so good. He just played in his room, got ready for bed without a fuss, and fell asleep before I finished one book. And it’s been a nice changeto spend the evening outside my bedroom without watchingThe 700 Clubwith my parents.”

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