Page 91 of Grit
“And I’m happy for you.” He smiled. “I heard about you and Cary.”
“How? How does everyone in this town know about my business?”
“You two were making out on the street, Lissa.”
“We were not making out!”
He shrugged. “Whatever. I really don’t want details. Really.” He shook his head. “Please, no details.”
“You think I want to share them with you?”
“Please don’t.”
“Good.” She nodded. “So that’s settled. Cary and I are… whatever we are. Abby doesn’t know anything yet, so don’t mention it. And you and Emmie are getting engaged.” Melissa grinned. “This is so great.”
“I know.”
“Tell me when it’s official.” She felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She got it out and read the message on the screen. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”
Ox frowned. “What is it?”
She sighed. “Probably nothing, but Abby is throwing up. No fever, but Mom needs me to come home and pick up some Popsicles on the way.”
“Oh rotten. Poor kid.”
Melissa glanced at her table. Everyone was drifting away, and Cary was starting to pack up. “I better get going.”
“Cool. I’ll help.”
“No need.” She was going to have to explain to Cary that she couldn’t come over. Dammit. “Cary and I rode together, so he’ll help me.”
“Okay. Tell the goat queen I hope she feels better soon.”
“Thanks, bud.”
Ox gave Melissa one more hug before he headed back to his shop, and Melissa made her way through the falling darkness to Cary, who was loading crates and jugs in the back of his truck.
“Hey,” he said. “Good news from Ox?”
She smiled. “Not official good news yet, but soon. Unfortunately, it’s bad news from Mom.” She held up her phone. “Abby’s puking.”
His face fell. “Seriously?”
“’Fraid so. I have to head home, and can we pick up some Popsicles?” She spread her hands. “I’m sorry, Cary.”
He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. Kids get sick. That’s life.”
“Tomorrow?” she asked. “I’m dropping Abby off in Kettleman after school. Well, as long as she’s over whatever this is. I could come over after that.”
He smiled. “Yeah. That sounds perfect.”
“Okay.”
Cary took the last crate off his table. “Ox and Emmie are good together.”
“They really are.”
“Almost as good as we are.”
