imagination getting the best of her because of a few hiccups on my part. I let the hot water take me away for a few minutes, then I don’t waste another second on James or his stupid opinion of me. For today at least.
* * *
“Meg!”
I wave to my good friend, neighbor, and Spangler Event Committee co-chair as I rush across the now empty field. This is where we’ll be hosting our third annual fall carnival in a few short weeks. We’ve pretty much got everything taken care of, but today we’re staking out where everything is going to go and there are a few loose ends to tie up. Including, but not limited to, a vandalized fence in the back corner of the field, where, I’m fairly certain, hooligans are planning on sneaking in without paying.
Oh my God. Hooligans . Seriously? Maybe I do need more friends my own age.
“Sorry I’m late.” I catch up to Meg.
She waits for me and reaches out an arm to put around me when I’m close enough. Then she squeezes a little. “I was getting worried about you, honey, what’s up? You sick?”
“No, no, I just . . .” I wave a free hand. “I had this thing with Ally first thing, and then James called, and--”
She quickly puts a hand up to stop me. “Up, bup bup. Say no more, I get it.”
I smile and we giggle together. It feels good. It always does when I’m around her. She has this way of making me laugh through my pain. Specifically, through dealing with James.
“Moving right along,” she says. “I um, kind of had to hire someone for that fence problem.”
I can tell by the way she drags her words out that she is not looking forward to telling me this news, which means it’s probably going to cost us. My shoulders slump. We’re already way over budget.
“Seriously? I was hoping we could just, you know, patch it up with something someone already has laying around.”
“Don tried to go that route earlier, but when he made his lame ass attempt, well, it turns out there’s dry rot damage and more of the fence just kinda . . . came down, so . . .”
She makes an air bubble with her cheeks and lets the rest of her sentence hang there in the air for me to fill in the rest of the blanks.
“Fine,” I say. Because honestly, what can I really do about it anyway?
“We were lucky to find anyone who was available to come fix it on such short notice. Everyone was booked – all week,” Meg says as we approach the work area. “I haven’t met him yet, I was just on my way back there to say . . . hi.”
The closer we get, the better view of the workman Meg gets, and when we’re right up on him, I can clearly see who it is now. “Are you kidding me?”
“Hmmm?” Meg frowns as she hums.
Me too. If the fact that this man is here isn’t enough to throw me off guard, the way he’s dressed is. Or maybe I should say, the way he’s not dressed, seeing how he’s shirtless. And sweaty. My head tilts, ever so slightly. And so very lean.
“Helloooooo?” Meg lowers her voice and nudges me. “What’s wrong?”
I’m gawking, but only a little bit. Meg’s elbow jump starts my brain again and I straighten myself.
“Nothing, it’s just,” I huff out a laugh because seriously, I cannot get away from this guy for the life of me. Him or his glistening sweat.
“He’s cute right?” she whispers with a seductively playful nudge.
I push her away and go back to resentfully ogling my neighbor. Oh God. I am an ogler. If Carter Blackwood notices us as we approach, he certainly doesn’t show it. Not until she speaks, anyway.
“This oughta do it for now.” He grunts when he pulls another board free. “But you should know it goes on for about two-hundred feet that way.” He points to our right.
I look that way, shielding my eyes from the morning sun. “It looks fine to me.”
With that comment, Carter stops working. His head lifts and his shoulders rise, then fall - like he’s taken a deep breath and let it go. Although he’s still faced away from
* * *
“Meg!”
I wave to my good friend, neighbor, and Spangler Event Committee co-chair as I rush across the now empty field. This is where we’ll be hosting our third annual fall carnival in a few short weeks. We’ve pretty much got everything taken care of, but today we’re staking out where everything is going to go and there are a few loose ends to tie up. Including, but not limited to, a vandalized fence in the back corner of the field, where, I’m fairly certain, hooligans are planning on sneaking in without paying.
Oh my God. Hooligans . Seriously? Maybe I do need more friends my own age.
“Sorry I’m late.” I catch up to Meg.
She waits for me and reaches out an arm to put around me when I’m close enough. Then she squeezes a little. “I was getting worried about you, honey, what’s up? You sick?”
“No, no, I just . . .” I wave a free hand. “I had this thing with Ally first thing, and then James called, and--”
She quickly puts a hand up to stop me. “Up, bup bup. Say no more, I get it.”
I smile and we giggle together. It feels good. It always does when I’m around her. She has this way of making me laugh through my pain. Specifically, through dealing with James.
“Moving right along,” she says. “I um, kind of had to hire someone for that fence problem.”
I can tell by the way she drags her words out that she is not looking forward to telling me this news, which means it’s probably going to cost us. My shoulders slump. We’re already way over budget.
“Seriously? I was hoping we could just, you know, patch it up with something someone already has laying around.”
“Don tried to go that route earlier, but when he made his lame ass attempt, well, it turns out there’s dry rot damage and more of the fence just kinda . . . came down, so . . .”
She makes an air bubble with her cheeks and lets the rest of her sentence hang there in the air for me to fill in the rest of the blanks.
“Fine,” I say. Because honestly, what can I really do about it anyway?
“We were lucky to find anyone who was available to come fix it on such short notice. Everyone was booked – all week,” Meg says as we approach the work area. “I haven’t met him yet, I was just on my way back there to say . . . hi.”
The closer we get, the better view of the workman Meg gets, and when we’re right up on him, I can clearly see who it is now. “Are you kidding me?”
“Hmmm?” Meg frowns as she hums.
Me too. If the fact that this man is here isn’t enough to throw me off guard, the way he’s dressed is. Or maybe I should say, the way he’s not dressed, seeing how he’s shirtless. And sweaty. My head tilts, ever so slightly. And so very lean.
“Helloooooo?” Meg lowers her voice and nudges me. “What’s wrong?”
I’m gawking, but only a little bit. Meg’s elbow jump starts my brain again and I straighten myself.
“Nothing, it’s just,” I huff out a laugh because seriously, I cannot get away from this guy for the life of me. Him or his glistening sweat.
“He’s cute right?” she whispers with a seductively playful nudge.
I push her away and go back to resentfully ogling my neighbor. Oh God. I am an ogler. If Carter Blackwood notices us as we approach, he certainly doesn’t show it. Not until she speaks, anyway.
“This oughta do it for now.” He grunts when he pulls another board free. “But you should know it goes on for about two-hundred feet that way.” He points to our right.
I look that way, shielding my eyes from the morning sun. “It looks fine to me.”
With that comment, Carter stops working. His head lifts and his shoulders rise, then fall - like he’s taken a deep breath and let it go. Although he’s still faced away from
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