I was hiding some shit too.
Later that day, after a shower and a beard trim, I hustled on a quick errand before I knocked on Claire’s back door.
It was partially open, and I didn’t wait before nudging it all the way.
“Little grease for your pounding head?”
She was dressed in a loose sweatshirt that hung off one shoulder, shorter-than-fucking-short shorts that barely covered her legs, and no makeup.
Would’ve been the perfect setup, except for the scowl on her face.
Smitty came running out and circled my legs.
“What’s that?” She pointed to the bag in my hand, brow furrowed, scowl deepening.
“A couple of greasy shrimp eggrolls, chicken lo mein, General Tso’s chicken, and vegetable fried rice, hold the egg. Sound good? Now can I come in?”
“If you’re sharing that, then yes.”
“You know I am. I got it for you, Richards.”
She slipped to the side, and I wound my way to the counter.
“What do you know about Chinese takeout? They have that where you’re from, farm boy?”
“Very funny. Hardy har har. You got anything better than that? And I’ll have you know we did have an authentic Chinese place about thirty minutes from where we lived. When we’d go get the truck serviced, we’d stuff our faces.”
Grabbing some plates, I unpacked the food, pulled out a stool, and barked, “Sit, Richards.”
I made a heaping plate and set it in front of her.
“Not sure why you’re being so nice. I was a complete bitch last night. An immature one at that.”
“S’okay.” I piled some food on a plate, allowing her time to take a bite.
“No, I was out of line. I had a little too much to drink, and I was in the middle of worrying about something related to Mary, and then I saw you…with her…anyway, this morning…I got my period. That’s not an excuse. I guess I’m saying…I’m not that old, you know.” She nervous-laughed. “And also, I guess emotions and hormones got the best of me. Ugh, I’m rambling. Again.”
My fork clanged on my plate, and I gathered her close, my fingers tangling in her loose hair, my lips on her forehead. “You don’t have to apologize. First, stop with the age shit. Second, you saw something you didn’t like, and it was easy to make assumptions. Hell, I would’ve done the same. But I’ll tell you this, it made me feel damn good to see you get a little protective of what’s yours.”
Her hand wound its way around my neck and tugged on the longer hairs at my nape. “Are you mine?”
“Damn straight. And pretty soon, I’ll be pushing us to move forward. Brace yourself, Richards.”
“Will you be the kind of guy who buys tampons at the grocery store?” She pinched my side, and I leaned back to find her smiling.
“I’m a farm boy, remember? I don’t know jack shit about Chinese takeout, but I don’t get grossed out easily. I can buy a box of tampons.”
She laughed, her smile continuing to touch her eyes, soft crinkles at the corners. I liked being the one to make those come out.
“Come on, eat before it gets cold.”
She turned and took a big bite of an eggroll. “Mmmm. You do know Chinese takeout.”
I forked some lo mein into my mouth, never taking my eyes off Claire and the eggroll.
She wasn’t completely smiling, but she wasn’t scowling anymore.
“Wanna bite?” I asked, lifting a forkful of noodles toward her mouth. She accepted by wrapping her mouth around my fork and lifting her eggroll-filled hand up to my mouth.
