Page 43 of Walk on the Wilde Side
"She told me that much, about the strange guy looking in the window."
"Oh that." I'm stupidly relieved that she isn't talking about the kiss. It makes sense because Nev keeps everything personal private.
"Yeah, that. Kind of a big deal. Isn't that what you went down there for?" Kinsley asks.
"Yep. Didn't see the guy."
"Well, she was out of sorts. We were supposed to go out together for pizza bites, but she decided she wasn't in the mood. Anyhow, I thought I'd get more details out of you, but you're as closemouthed as Nev. See you later."
"Later."
Ronan and Colin are hanging out with the three women. I text Ronan. "Do you think you can find a ride? I'm heading home."
It takes him a few minutes to pull out his phone. He reads the text and nods my direction. I call Jameson as I walk out of the Gold Rush.
"Hey," he answers.
"How's Squirt?" I ask.
"She's fine. She's in bed. How were the pizza bites?"
"Well, I had to fight Ronan and Colin for them, but they were good. Heading home for the night. Shitty end to the week, eh? Do you think that fucker is going to come up with the money on Monday?"
"Not sure. You were definitely right about that guy. Something way off about him. It's good Nev ended things."
"Yeah, definitely. All right, well, tell Squirt I hope she feels better. Talk to you later."
I climb in the car and stare out at the blackness. Gold Rush is near the end of town, off the highway and a good distance from the shops and neighborhood lights. It's the ideal location for a dive bar, especially one that occasionally hosts loud bands. As crappy as the workday ended with no pay and a sniveling, untrustworthy developer insulting our work, all because he couldn't pay us, things only got worse. That was all on me. When Nev called I didn't hesitate to jump in the car and rush to her shop. I pictured myself the big protector. Nev so rarely asked for help that I was thrilled she needed me. I let that big ego boost go to my head, and the next thing I knew my usual guards were down, and all I could think about was kissing her. I'd kissed her once before, in our teens, at our start of summer party. No one saw. We were alone in a rock cave, a hideout my sketch-ass grandfather had once used to hide from the law and angry husbands. The same thing happened that day. I'd let my guard down, so I could feel the only girl who'd ever meant anything to me in my arms. The kiss ended and we parted and never spoke of it again. I wanted to kick myself for kissing her. Back then, I knew Nev was not for me, but I couldn't deny myself any longer. That same thing happened tonight in the sandwich shop, but now it's more awkward because we're adults.
I start the car and decide to drive over to her house. I'm not entirely sure what to say, but I have to make sure my stupid, greedy kiss hasn't ended our friendship. I can't imagine not having Nev in my life, even if it means loving her from the sidelines. At least I'll be able to see her, talk and laugh with her and make sure she stays safe.
I drive to her house. There's a light on in the front room. It's not late, but I know she likes to go to bed early because she gets up early for work, even on Saturdays. I hesitate for a second, wondering how I'll react if she doesn't invite me in or if she tells me she doesn't want to talk. She left quickly and coolly after I walked her to her car. I might very well get the brush off. I'll have to deal with it like I do other life disappointments, and I'm damn good at that because my life is mostly one massive waterfall of disappointments.
I get out of the car and walk up to the door. I decide to text. She was clearly unnerved by the unexpected visitor at the shop window. I don't want to add to that. "I'm on your front stoop, but I understand if you don't want—" Before I can finish my lamely long text the door opens. Nev is holding a rolling pin in her hand.
"Did I come in time for some home-baked pie?" I ask. Sometimes humor is all I've got.
Nev lowers the rolling pin. "It's you. I heard someone on the stoop and after seeing that car—" She rolls her lips in.
"Car?" I ask. "Nev, what's going on?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Obviously, I've turned into a paranoid maniac." She waves me in with the rolling pin. "Now every car has some sinister reason for being on the street."
"Did you see a car or not?"
"There was some loud car that rolled slowly down the street. I was reading my book, and I heard it but didn't think anything of it until it went by again. Rattled my windows. Again, I thought well some guy in his souped-up car is lost. Then he drove by again. I peeked through the blinds, but I only saw taillights as they left the neighborhood. Didn't see or hear it again. Do you want some popcorn? No pie, sorry." She swings the rolling pin around once. "Just thought I could clobber someone with it if necessary."
I'm so fucking relieved that she's talking and that we're us again that I push the car out of my mind. "I'd eat some popcorn."
Nev is wearing low-slung sweatpants and a cropped T-shirt. The pants slide lower on her thin hips, and the T-shirt inches higher as she reaches into the pantry cupboard for popcorn. I have to pull my gaze from her small waist, the smooth skin on her back and her perfect ass.
She sticks the bag in the microwave, leans against the counter and crosses her arms. "I have to stay here and guard the popcorn. You know that dangerously fine line that, when crossed, turns your perfectly delicious popcorn into charred ashes." She smiles. "Excuse my babbling. I had a few glasses of wine, and as you know?—"
I smile. "You're a total lightweight."
"Yep. Goes straight to my head and body."
I gaze down at her body. She's been hot and curvy since middle school, and while a lot of girls went out of their way to show off their new curves, Nev couldn't be bothered. She didn't need to. She was head to toe incredible without ever having to try.
