Page 12 of That Summer
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When I returnedfifteen minutes later, the house smelled amazing just like it did every night. Deb took good care of me. I needed to get her mind off of Jeff. Not permanently, but I didn’t like seeing her unhappy. In the short amount of time I’d been at the farm, she had been nothing but kind to me.
“I hope you’re hungry,” she said and reached for the platter I was holding.
“Starving.”
“Good. I whipped up some queso dip too.” She set the platter down.
“You’re amazing.”
“Please,” she waved me off, “I just needed to eat my feelings.”
“Tell me why you’re scared to go out with this guy.” I leaned a hip on the island she used to make food.
“I’m not scared to go out with this guy. I just haven’t been on a date in twenty-five years.”
Dear Lord, that was longer than I’d been alive.“So, you’re scared?” I teased.
Deb turned and started to add the cheese mixture to a bowl she had sitting on the counter. “I’m more nervous than scared.”
“Why’s that?” I went to the pantry to grab a bag of tortilla chips, ready to taste her cheese dip that was making my mouth water.
“Because,” she started and grabbed plates for us, “what if he tries to kiss me?”
I smiled and opened the bag of chips. “If you’re not feeling it, turn your head. He’ll get the hint.”
“I don’t want to be rude.” Deb reached for a knife and began slicing the meat.
“It’s not rude—”
“Has that happened to you?”
I chuckled slightly and dipped a chip in the cheese. It had in fact, happened with her niece. “Yes, but only once.”
She shook her head slowly and rolled her beautiful blue eyes. “And it wasn’t rude?”
I grabbed three flour tortillas from the cotton tortilla holder that kept the tortillas warm. “I got the hint real fast and never tried again.”
We started making our tacos as we continued talking.
“What if I do want to kiss him?”
“Then kiss him.”
“I haven’t kissed another man in—”
“Twenty-five years?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sure it’s the same.”
“I just know the whole thing is going to be awkward.”
“Then don’t go.” I dunked another chip into the cheesy goodness.
“I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life. I’m only forty-five.”
