Page 47 of Tumbleweed Temptation
Something in Javi’s stance relaxed. “Really.”
“Yeah, why? We’re just friends. We’ve always been just friends.”
“I don't know. I always got a different vibe from the two of you, but if the two of you aren’t a thing, would you be interested in going out with me?”
Not this again. He hadn’t asked her out in a few months, so she’d thought maybe he’d moved on, found someone else. She kept her shields up.
“I’m not really looking to date anyone right now,” she said.
“Why not? You’ve been single a long time. I have too. We’ve been friends, and they say that’s always the best way to start.”
“Maybe it’s because we’ve been friends so long,” she said, hoping her voice was gentle even though she had to raise it over the sound of the band. “It would just be really weird.”
He pressed his lips together and nodded, looking down, then raised his gaze to hers, his eyes bright. “I could, you know, take my shirt off for this cook-off of yours, if you think it would help.”
She laughed despite her discomfort. “I don't think it will, but thanks.”
She pulled out of his arms and turned back toward the table. She drew both notebooks close to her, like a shield, even though she’d already entered as much of Sofia’s scribblings into her own spiral as she could. She wished she’d taken Austin up on his offer of that beer, but in light of her conversation with Javi, she didn't think taking it from him to drink after him was a particularly good idea.
A loud cheer drew their attention, and they turned to see Matt Dunfry enter the yard, accompanies by four friends. Austin straightened, narrowing his eyes.
“Guess the kids are feeling better.”
Javi waved a dismissive hand. “They come out every Friday when they don’t go to Kimmel for the game, play some washers, get wasted, head home. They don't drive, though. I have to be grateful for that.”
Austin pushed himself to his feet, and Ginny reached for him, alarmed.
“What are you doing?”
“Just being a good neighbor. Going to see how Melissa and the kids are doing.”
“Austin, just leave them alone,” she said, worried when he couldn't even get his foot out from the picnic table bench. He’d only had three beers, right? But Austin was heading over, and Ginny turned to Javi, her eyes wide.
“Um, Javi, do you have the authority to arrest someone?”
“I—drunk drivers and people with warrants. Why do you ask?”
“No reason. Yet.” But she watched Austin set his feet apart, rest one bottle on the table, hold the other against his chest. What were they talking about?
*****
“HEY, HOW’S THE FAMILY?” Austin asked Matt, wondering where he got the balls to encroach on Matt’s time with his friends, some of whom he remembered from high school. They’d been on the team with Matt. What team? Every team. Kimmel had a small high school and they made the most of their athletic students.
“What’s it to you?” one of the guys demanded. “You got a thing for his wife?”
Austin didn't recognize that one, but his words made Matt tense up all over.
“She works for me. Just wondering.”
“They’re all doing okay,” Matt muttered, not looking at Austin as he spoke.
“I was thinking they must be doing better, if you’re out with your buddies, leaving her to take care of them by herself.” Maybe he shouldn’t have had that second beer.
“That’s not any of your business, how I run my house,” Matt said, his voice a growl beneath the sound of the music.”
“No, it’s not,” Austin agreed. “The way you raise your kids, the way you treat your wife, that’s none of my business. I just came over to congratulate you on taking such good care of her that you feel that you need a night out, and she should be home taking care of the kids.”
“I worked this week. She didn’t. Hell, she’s only worked one week the whole time we’ve been married, so you need to just butt out.”
