Page 38 of A Class of Her Own

“Are you sure you don’t want to call animal control?” he asked.

“It’s a few hundred dollars,” I replied.

“Ah, money you don’t have on account of paying all those HOA tickets, huh?”

I clicked my tongue. “And to think we were just barely getting to be on speaking terms, and you had to bring that up.”

He chuckled. “What’s your plan after he’s gone? And how are you going to know he’s gone?”

“I’ll know. And then I’m going to spray white vinegar around the perimeter of my yard to keep him away.”

“What if his winter den is here?”

I hadn’t considered that, and, now that I was considering it, I felt bad about it. “How do I know?” I asked.

He patted my arm. “Don’t worry about it. You said he was crossing your yard. His den is probably somewhere else. Speaking of dens, you crawled into mine this morning. And now, I think I’ll invite myself to have something warm to drink while we watch for Rocky to relocate.”

He moved toward my house, easily covering the distance with his long legs as I hustled behind him. “You’re not staying here all day. He won’t be out until later, when the sun goes down. And Rocky? Who says you get to name him?”

Brooks held open my sliding glass door to let me pass through first, stomping snow off his boots before he came in. “Meredith, that skunk looked me right in the eye and told me his name. I’m simply trying to honor that shared experience.”

I started to shrug out of my coat, and his hands were there, gently helping me out of it and hanging it up on the hook. “Look, I don’t . . .”

He laughed. “I’m not really going to stay. I just really, really love the reaction I’m getting out of you over it.”

I flashed to those fifth graders in the lunchroom, poking and tugging on hair and generally annoying the girls to get a reaction out of them. Apparently, men did the same thing, only in a more nuanced way. I refused to categorize it as flirting like I did with the school kids. I clasped my hands together to help center myself. Because Brooks was right, I was coming unglued over every word that came out of that man’s mouth this morning. And I had been the one to get him involved.

“My jumpiness this morning is simply because I’m deeply concerned about Rocky.”

He nodded. “Rocky is a pretty great name. I’ll come back at dusk tonight, and we can see what happens.” When I opened my mouth to argue, for what point I did not know, he lifted a finger. “It’s the cost of using my wood to make the ladder.”

I nodded and walked him to the door, then watched as he headed down the street back towards his house, both dreading and strangely looking forward to the night ahead.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Brooks was not the only one who showed up for a skunk viewing party that night. It was my own fault for telling my friends about the day’s adventures. Only Aryn and Ruby had been free that night, but they’d both come over right as the afternoon grew dusky.

“This is so exciting,” Ruby said, clapping her hands against her chest. “I took extra time with my hair and makeup tonight.”

“You do look especially cute tonight,” I said kindly. I mean, she did look really cute with her high ponytail, warm leggings, and long wool sweater. “Is there a certain reason why?”

She gave me a look. “Um, I’ve never been to a viewing party before. I’m assuming there will be pictures taken.”

A knock at my door announced Brooks’s arrival, and Ruby gave a little squeak.

“The cute neighbor is here,” she said.

I’d been walking toward the door to answer it, but at that comment I turned, and Ruby almost slammed into me. “I have no idea what’s happening with you, but do not make this weird, please.”

Bless her, she did her best to smooth out her expression, but those eyes were still dancing a jig that would not be stopped. “I’m here to support you and the skunk, and maybe stare at Brooks when he isn’t paying attention to see how he looks at you whenyou’renot paying attention.”

“Oh my gosh,” I sighed, but had to slam my lips together to keep from laughing at the bizarre conversation I was having. “He doesn’t stare at me.”

Aryn was down the short entrance hall, one hip cocked against the table, her hands in her pockets. We exchanged a look, and she grinned as I turned to open the door. Brooks was standing there looking much nicer than he had earlier. His hair was combed, his clothes fresh, and a nice scent came off him -- different from the warm, natural way he’d smelled that morning.

Ruby was getting impatient behind me, and, before I had a chance to greet Brooks myself, her hand jutted over my shoulder.

“I’m Ruby Jenkins, and I’m so looking forward to watching for a skunk together,” she chirped. “We met when you came during our friend’s bridal shower.”

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