Her head tilts from side to side. I’m pretty sure she’s arguing her options in her head. I don’t blame her. She doesn’t really know anyone here outside of work. Finally, she slips her hand in mine and allows me to help her out of her car. “Okay.”
The word is almost a whisper. A soft encouragement to herself that she can do this, and I can’t help but wonder how long it’s been since she’s gone out and done something just for her. “You can go home if this is outside your comfort zone.”
“No, I’m good. I can do this. It’ll be nice to have a night to myself. I don’t have to worry about the kids, and I won’t be the loser hanging out at home with her dad.” She straightens at that last statement.
“I think it’s pretty cool you hang with your dad. I spend time with my mom and brother when work allows.” I wait for her to close her car door before moving us in the direction of the house.
“It’s less cool when you live with him.” She groans at the admission. But walks beside me down the driveway.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket with my free hand, because holy shit, her hand is still clasped with mine, I turn on the flashlight. This far down the driveway there isn’t anything to light our path. It’s summer and I know there are various critters around. I don’t want to inadvertently come up on one. Lisa needs to add some sort of lighting down here.
“It’s not so bad. I was living with my mom until almost a year ago.” I shrug, “it’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
She snorts and stops, yanking me backward. “That’s easy for you to say. You’re what? Twenty-two? Twenty-three? It’s an entirely different thing when you’re in your late thirties and have two kids.”
“I’m twenty-six, actually,” I pull her forward. “Besides, age and circumstance don’t matter. You’re doing what you have to do.”
The only response I get is bugs chirping in the dark and the sound of music carried on the wind. It’s growing louder the closer we get to the house.
“How do y’all live in a place that’s so…quiet?”
“Technically, I don’t. I live in town and there’s usually some sort of road noise at all times of the day. The noise dies down the further from town you get. We’re just outside of town. Where Carlos lives is even further out, and if you think this is quiet, you’re in for a treat if they do any sort of party there.”
“It’s just not something I’m used to.” She takes a deep breath and lets it out, “even though I live in the suburbs, we’re still close to the highway. I can hear traffic most nights. And if not that, it’s some of my dad’s inconsiderate neighbors playing loud music at all hours of the night.”
“That’s how it was living at my mom’s house.” We’re even closer to the house, and I don’t want the easy conversation to end. I’m not sure why she’s opening up so much. It could be the curtain of night falling around us, or she feels some kind of peace. “Add no privacy and I was glad to move somewhere a little less busy.”
“Privacy sounds amazing.” There’s a wistful tone to her voice, and it kills me to hear it. I know her kids are teenagers, and that usually means a bit more alone time. Maybe they have a different dynamic than my brother and my mom. I swear he’s always holed up in his room when I’m there. It’s an act of war just to get him to do his chores. If he’s not in his room, he’s playing ball.
“You’ll get that one day.” We’ve made it to the front yard, and I turn off the light on my phone before shoving it in my pocket. “But don’t worry about that tonight. This is a time to let your hair down and have fun.”
She scoffs, “easy for you to say. You know everyone here better than I do.”
“You can’t think like that.” We take the steps together. It’s only then she realizes her hand is still in mine, and she gently pulls it away. I miss the contact already. “Everyone already knows you from the bar. You’ll just get to talk to them without having to wait on customers.”
“You’re right.” She nods and straightens her back. This time not in embarrassment. She’s forcing bravery, and I admire her for it.
The music is loud, even though it doesn’t sound like it’s coming from a radio, or speaker. I notice a piece of paper taped to the front door.
Don’t bother knocking. We can’t hear you. Come on in.
It’s written in Devin’s messy scrawl, and I was right. He’s home a day early. The other cars must be from his bandmates and whoever they are dating at the moment.
“You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
I shift in front of her, grab the door handle, and turn. Hopefully she doesn’t pull away from the conversation now that we’re in front of people.
6
Joan
My eyes are gluedon Eric as he pushes the door open. He is surprisingly easy to talk to, and I have a feeling he sees into more than just my words. I can admit to myself that he’s a good-looking guy. And he’s closer to thirty than not, but could I actually give in to his requests and go on a date with him? I doubt it. I can only imagine what my kids would say.
“Y’all made it!” Lisa rushes the door and throws her arms around both me and Eric, pushing us together. If only she knew we were holding hands the entire way up the driveway. It was subconscious and felt nice. It’s been so long since I’ve had any sort of contact with anyone I found attractive. If I’m honest, I didn’t want it to end. Only the prospect of what my coworkers might think caused me to pull my hand from his.
Eric pulls away from her death hug, and she pulls me to her side. “Yep, and you should probably install some lights further down the driveway. I had to use my phone to make sure we didn’t come across any snakes.”
