“Thanks, bestie.” He grinned, then took in a breath. “We should keep the windows open for a bit longer and let the paint fumes air out.”
“Agreed. Mind eating dinner on the front porch? I can heat up the brisket from lunch.”
As we made our way to the small table in the front, Skylar pointed at my guitar.
“Can you play something for us after we eat?”
I nodded. After polishing off the delicious leftovers, I took the guitar and started playing the familiar tune I’d been pickingout over the weeks. If it made me think of Kess, then no one needed to know that but me.
“You’re a great guitar player, Rowd,” Sky said, looking up at the stars.
“Thanks, Sky.”
14
KESS
I heldthe ladder as Emery efficiently climbed up to the roof of the barn. Even though my feet were planted solidly in the dirt, my stomach turned to think of him going up that high.
“Don’t throw up on my brand-new ladder,” Emery called down with a grin.
“Tell you what. Don’t fall into a mangled lump on the ground, and I won’t.”
“I only have you here because when I get up on the ladder without an adult around, Woody withholds sex.”
“I’ve accidentally walked up on the house while y’all were finishing up, and I’d hate to deprive you of that man’s ass.”
Emery laughed as he scrambled onto the roof.
“Son of a bitch,” he swore, then climbed back down the ladder.
“Something wrong?”
“Forgot my tool belt.”
“Phrases I have never heard Emery McAvoy say for a thousand, Alex.”
He ran into the barn and returned a few seconds later, strapping a camel leather tool belt to his waist.
He patted my shoulder. “Shouldn’t take too long. Looks like one of the solar panels came loose, which would explain why the car was taking forever to charge.”
“Can I guess that the first time Woody saw this setup, he made fun of you?”
“Something like that,” Emery said, a soft look in his eyes.
“You two are the most improbable couple I have ever met.”
“I think we just get each other, like two puzzle pieces completing what the other doesn’t have.”
“That sounds...pretty damn amazing, man.”
“It is,” he agreed as he disappeared over the roof.
For the next few minutes, the air was filled with banging and cursing as Emery dragged the solar panel back into place, verified it was connected, and secured it to the roof.
Finally, still cursing up a blue streak, he made his way down the ladder, his right thumb in his mouth.
“Dare I ask?”
