Page 44 of Small Town Frenzy
I gallop down the stairs to her, saying, “I’m going to be highly disappointed if talk is all you did in there.”
Looking back before I round the split in the staircase, I reply, “I never disappoint.”
Her laughter echoes above as I work my way out.
I’m still smiling like a loon by the time I reach the guard gate. Joe wasn’t on duty earlier, but he makes a show of it now. “Another drop-off, Mr. Greene?”
“Helping Ms. Dover and Ms. Dover move some furniture.”
“Brawn wins again. I’m more of a brains guy myself.” The punch would be swift and right to the mouth. Joe wouldn’t know what hit him before dropping to the ground. Such a fucking tough guy when he’s wearing a Winery Security badge like he’s FBI.
He can think I’m as dumb as rocks all he wants, but I’m the one Cricket will be texting later.So who’s the real fool?Anyway, I know better than to get in fights with people who think they’re real police. I will be the one paying the price, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting to knock him out. “You have a good day now, Joe.”
He pushes the button like he has the power to access nuclear weapons. I’m not bashing the job because it’s solid work, but what exactly is he securing at a winery?Such a punk ass.The gate rises, and I nod before driving away from him.
Rolling down the windows, I let the April breeze blow through the cab. I can’t stop thinking about Cricket. She’s beautiful and seems into me, but she’s also a mother. I don’t know the age of her kid, or if the father is still in her life. Those tidbits feel important for me to know how to navigate the situation. But we can talk tonight. She seemed to have more she wanted to ask anyway, so we should get it all out on the table before we’re in too deep to turn back.
When I park the truck in front of the house, I see Beckett playing hoops. Tagger’s son has gotten tall. Not surprising since he’s a big guy, but his kid is only ten or so with a lot of growing ahead of him.
I shut the door to the truck and walk over to the makeshift half-court in front of the barn. “Hey?” I hold my hands out.
He tosses the ball to me. “Can you make that free throw?”
Jumping, I shoot for the basket. Circling the net, I can taste victory, but then it rolls off the side in defeat. “Can’t win ’em all.”
Beck starts to laugh as he retrieves it. “I thought it was gonna go in, too.” He tosses it from the side and makes it.
“Good job, man.” While he dribbles the ball, I walk closer. “You going to play for the middle school team?”
“Can’t until seventh grade, but I’ll try out next year.”
“You got good aim, which is half the game.” I hear a high-pitched chirp and look down to find a bug covered in dust on the dirt court. Kneeling, I smile when I see what it is.My little chirp.I bend to pick it up so I can relocate it to the safer plains of the field behind me, but pause when Beckett’s shoe speeds past my reach, landing on top of it with a loud stomp. My eyes shoot up to see Beckett standing with a grin like he’s destroyed the enemy. “Damn, dude, it was a cricket, not a cockroach.”
“Same thing.”
I stand back up. “No, they’re not. Crickets are a good insect to have around.”
“Sorry.” He doesn’t sound sorry, but I also shouldn’t be as affected as I am by what he did. I’ve done the same. It was just a bug. So why’d it feel personal?
Don’t overthink it, Greene.She’s a woman who has a kid. Does that make me feel differently about where we were headed? Of course. That changes things. More important things will need to be considered. It’s not frivolous fun anymore. I need to be careful with her as much as she needs to feel I’m someone worthy of introducing to him. That’s not something that can be rushed.
Her questions are valid.
I’m not in a hurry, but am I willing to stay to see where things go with her?
I catch the ball again and shoot. This time, I make it. Reputation saved. “You have fun, dude.” I hold my hand out for a low five, which he smacks. “I’m going inside.”
I’m ready for a tall glass of tea and to kick back on the couch for a bit. See if any games are on and return to the puzzle I left on the coffee table. Otherwise, I’ll be sitting around staring at my phone the rest of the day, waiting for a certain pretty woman to text me where and when. And feel like a fool if she doesn’t.
Not that I don’t think she’ll text. She will. But it won’t serve me well if I’m only hanging around this town hoping for her to give me the time of day. I need to get my shit together and really think about the next steps in my life.
The Riggins house comes to mind. An opportunity in disguise? Is it a chance to have a piece of the peach pie for myself? I have no idea, but it’s not a bad situation to be in.
It’s not as nice as her so-called cottage, but the old farmhouse isn’t so bad, especially if I fix it up. But I’m no fool. Thoughts like I’m having about Cricket Dover only lead to one thing—me breaking her heart. She’s a mom. I can’t do that to her. Getting ahead of myself won’t do me any good, though. But I’m also not ready to walk away from her. I adore everything about her, especially that mouth.
We’re adults who know what we’re getting into.
No one is getting hurt.
