“And pants and shorts especially for me.” Colt flashed her an arrogant grin.
“Something going on there?” Carrie Jo asked, and scrutinized Colt’s face. “Oh my God, there is. You’re finally over Lisa. Hallelujah!”
“There’s nothing going on. We’re neighbors, that’s all.”
“Then how come you’re blushing?”
“I’m not blushing. Guys don’t blush.”
Jack asked, “What about you, Carrie Jo? Who you seeing these days?”
“I’m off men for the foreseeable future.” She went on to list all the reasons why men sucked, which Colt had no interest in hearing. Strangely enough, Jack continued to loiter at her desk and listen to her bitch.
Colt shut the office door behind him so he could get some work done. Later, he planned to go down to the garage and have a look at the kayak Pond had delivered. While he was pissed that the mayor was trying to separate him from his family, he didn’t want to go down in flames at the races. He had a reputation to uphold.
Midway through the day, he strolled over to Old Glory to grab a burger and finalize plans for his gig the night of the End-of-Summer festivities. It was slow and Boden hosed down the back of the bar. Colt grabbed a stool.
“You want to try this new stout we just got in?” Boden asked.
“Not while I’m on duty.”
Boden leaned over the bar. “You’re out of uniform.”
“Not completely.” Colt stood up so Boden could see his badge and gun belt. “No beer, but I’ll have the Old Glory special.”
“Coming right up.” Boden called the order in to the kitchen. “How goes it?”
“It goes.”
“The mayor still up your ass?”
“Not so much since the city council meeting.” Colt didn’t bother going into the kayak races. Who knows? Maybe Pond had good intentions.
“You all set for your show?”
“Yep. The band’s looking forward to it.”
The band was a ragtag collection of musicians from the area who all had day jobs. Lisa had been the only member who’d been a pro. Since she’d left fifteen months ago, they hadn’t played too many shows. For a long time, Colt just couldn’t bear to do it. Then life got in the way. But he’d like to start picking up a few gigs here and there again. Music had always been a big part of who he was and it was a shame he’d let Lisa ruin it for him.
In fact, later, when he got home from work, he picked up his acoustic guitar, sat on the porch, and strummed a few chords. Before he knew it, he was running through one of the band’s favorite set lists. When it came time for “Crazy about You” he stopped, never wanting to hear the song again. Instead, he played “Galway Girl” and stared across the way to Delaney’s house. Usually this time of the evening she was out on her deck watering the flowers or drinking a glass of wine. She was home; her car was parked at the top of her driveway. He hoped she wasn’t avoiding him.
As if he’d willed it, she stepped outside with her watering can. He whistled and she turned and waved.
“Want a glass of wine?” He’d stopped at the market on his way home and got a bottle just in case someone dropped by. Ah, jeez, who was he kidding?
She called back, “No, thanks. I’m working.”
Then why was she watering her flowers? It sounded like bullshit to him. He put his guitar down and crossed the road.
“We’re not going to be weird, right?” he asked.
Her lips turned up in a wry smile. “I hope not, but first I have to get over my mortification.”
“Ah, come on, nothing to be mortified by. I wore the pants today.” He’d changed into old jeans as soon as he’d gotten home.
“You did?” This seemed to cheer her.
“Yep. TJ wants to sell them at Garner Adventure.”