Why Now? by Carey Heywood

today.”
    Laughing I reply, “Deal.”
    It’s not until we’re on our way back to their house, with enough food to feed a small army, that Reilly smacks my arm.
    “Hey,” I cry. “What was that for?”
    “I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner,” she mumbles, rooting around her purse for something.
    “Why’d you hit me?” I press.
    She pulls her phone out and looks at me. “The fact that these incidents are happening in vacant houses is a great story. I’m going to call my producer and see if I can run with this.”
    Already lifting her phone to her ear, she doesn’t wait for my response. By the time she hung up, she convinced him to send a cameraman out.
    “Shouldn’t you clear this with Jake first?” I ask.
    She flips the visor down and starts messing with her hair. “He’ll be cool with it.”
    He was not cool with it.
    “You did what?”
    Reilly cringes. “Come on, Jake. People need to know stuff like this is happening. Plus, it’ll make a great story.”
    Jake shuffles to the other side of the room before going back. “The insurance guy is going to be here any minute. Last thing I need is a film crew here.”
    “Oh,” she murmurs to herself, ignoring Jake. “I wonder if I can interview the insurance agent while he’s here.”
    Jake’s eyes widen and he reaches up to pull at his short hair. Reilly is lucky he loves her; it might be the only reason why he isn’t strangling her right now.
    “Reilly,” I start but she isn’t paying attention.
    She’s pulling a notebook out from her purse and talking to herself as she jots down notes.
    After I watch her walk out of the room, I turn to Jake. “I told her to check with you first.”
    Resignedly, he stops punishing his hair and stares after her. “She’s impossible to argue with.”
    “Do you want me to go after her?”
    Shaking his head, he moves over to the counter. We cleared a portion of it off to pile the takeout bags there.
    Grabbing a couple of them, he motions for me to follow him into the backyard. It’s probably a good thing there wasn’t any patio furniture since it most likely would have been stolen or destroyed.
    He sits on the top step of the brick patio and pats the spot next to him, inviting me to join him. Since I had lunch and no desire to eat my feelings, I didn’t get anything for myself. That doesn’t stop me from taking the fry Jake offers me.
    There’s nothing at all weird in sitting here . . . alone . . . with the guy I was in love with for more than half of my life. Nope, I can handle this. It’s no big deal at all.
    The teenage me would have had heart palpitations over eating something Jake touched. Obviously, since my heart only stuttered once when he offered it to me, I’ve come a long way since then.
    In fact, his nearness is doing nothing to me at all. He could be anyone sitting next to me, a perfect stranger even. Except, why does he have to smell so good? Turning my head away from him, I look out into their backyard. Thankfully, there is little damage out here for Jake and Reilly to worry about.
    Sitting here, next to Jake of all people, my vision blurs as heat hits my cheeks. God, why was I such an idiot?
    My vision clears; a French fry enters my view, making me smile. Reaching up, I pluck it from Jake’s fingers and eat it. If he offers me another one, I’ll say no thank you and tell him I’m not hungry. There’s no reason to keep—
    Another fry comes my way and I take it. You are such a dork, Kacey. Do not take another fry. Make a stand. Be strong.
    I take the next fry he offers, and the five after it. If I get a stomach ache, it’s my own darn fault.
    “Jake, the insurance guy is here,” Reilly says, sticking her head out the door.
    He gets up and she takes his seat, carrying her own takeout bag.
    When she sees me chewing, she says, “I thought you weren’t hungry.”
    “Don’t ask,” I grumble.
    “Want another fry?” She asks and I consider smacking her.
    Instead, I shake