Page 25 of Sundowners
We always had a code. I’d turn the light on in the kitchen to let him know I was okay. We’d done it since I was a kid, when I’d be alone in the house while Lola was at work. That was a long time ago.
“See ya.”
Thankfully the dizziness had passed by that time and I got into the house with no issues. I stripped off my clothes and fell into bed.
My phone dinged and it was Rey.
Light,dickhead.
I wentand turned the light on and fell back on the bed. I’d kept the downstairs bedroom, for which I was grateful at that moment. I didn’t like to navigate the stairs when I was dizzy.
Sorry.I’m half asleep already.
I sawthe lights from his patrol car pass across the front of the house and heard the crunch of gravel from his tires on the driveway. Our house was an old Craftsman that needed a lot of work. At one point my grandparents, their niece and nephew, and grandchild all lived there. Vanessa moved out first. Reynaldo still had one foot in the house and also kept a room at Vanessa’s. And then it was Lola and me. Now just me. Alone.
I’ll checkon you tomorrow
I wishedhim a good night and a safe shift and then I tossed the phone on the nightstand. The phone dinged again, and I almost ignored it, but since I was now wide awake, headache and all, I figured I’d check.
The first notification was an email from the library. The materials I’d asked for were available and when would I like to come down?
Excellent!I planned to look at religious organizations with large landholdings along the northern California coastal communities to see if I could find ties to the group I’d located in Spain. Apparently they were fond of seaside communes. That determined where I’d be for most of the day tomorrow.
And the next notification was a text. From Creed.
Your grandmother insistedI take your phone number. Probably I am violating ordinances and procedures by contacting you to ask you out.
This guy didn’t quit.And I liked it. I’d been the pursuer in the last couple of relationships I’d attempted. It was nice to be pursued for once. Especially by someone as attractive and intelligent as Creed Lowell. Nurse Creed.
Pretty sure you’reusing the digits as she’d intended. What did you have in mind?
I cursed.I should have set the parameters, I should have—
Mini golf.Arcade. Boardwalk food. Tourist observing. Sunset walk on the beach, unless that’s pushing my luck.
God,that sounded like the perfect date. A chance to flex my competitive side, an opportunity to gorge myself on all the crap food I’d missed while over in Spain. People watching was my favorite—I was a psychology major…
We’ll seehow good you are at mini golf. If you can beat me, the sunset walk is yours.
Uppingthe stakes could work in my favor. Letting him know he had to work for it…priceless.
I probably should tellyou I caddied a few summers in my youth.
“Ha. As if.”
That hasno bearing on mini golf. No indication of success whatsoever.
His response took ten minutes,and I had one eye closed by that time, thinking maybe I’d gone a little too far.
Cocky much?I like it. You’re on. Where and what time?
I textedhim Neptune’s Kingdom, the front entrance, and then tried to remember what time the library closed…
9
CHAPTER NINE
Creed
