Why, I don’t know, but these days, I like being invisible. And with Shelley, I can be as invisible as I want to be. She doesn’t ask questions, and I like that. We have a mutual respect and boundaries, even though we’ve only been together for a short time. I never knew I'd end up liking an older woman, but there’ssomething to be said for it. At the moment, we don’t talk about the future. And that’s fine by me.
Shelly invited me to stay with her, but it wasn’t so much an invitation as it was a convenience. It just so happens that I’ve ended up staying at her place for the last couple of weeks, sort of by accident. I’ve been home enough to go pick up a few things here and there, even though I don’t own much. She gave me the code to her front door, so I can come and go as I please. Dallas isn't a small town, which seems questionable, considering how fast she began trusting me. You see, that’s the difference between living in a small town and not. You live in a small town, eyes are always on you, and if you go into someone’s house that isn’t your own, everyone will know.
Even though we met at the school I’m attending in Dallas, I still don’t quite know what program she’s taking. Like I said, I haven’t known her that long, and we don’t even have any classes together. We sort of met serendipitously, sitting in the computer lab together. I know that my mama would hate her, because she’s older. Which is why I haven’t mentioned introducing her to my family yet.
Her car isn’t in the driveway when I arrive, so I let myself in. With a simple text message, I let her know where I am. Her place is small, relatively speaking. I think it’s the smallest house on her street, but it’s nicely done, and modern. Although there isn’t any food in the house, I’m not hungry, and suddenly I feel lost. Normally, I’m at Billy's ranch, hanging with the boys, or I’m at home. What brought me here, I have no idea. I send Shelly another text message, asking her how long she’ll be gone for, trying not to come off as needy. I simply don’t want to stay here by myself for long.
A minute later she responds, telling me that she’ll be very late. I make up my mind to head back to the ranch and meet up with her later. As I drive back to the ranch, I immediatelystart mentally beating myself up for wasting my own time. I’m not much of a planner, and my hat usually rests somewhere that isn’t Shelly's, even though I’m trying to get used to it somewhat.
The debate starts the moment I pull up the driveway at Billy's ranch, as to whether or not word has spread about my brother's engagement, that is. Lord strike me dead for being the big mouth to spread the news instead of letting my brother have his moment. But when I see Nash's truck parked up further in the driveway, I’d be willing to bet that he’s already shared the news.
He does a double take when he sees me pulling up. It’s almost embarrassing, seeing as I was only with him less than an hour ago. “I figured you’d be off having a romantic evening with your girl.” Nash comments when he approaches.
“I could say the same thing to you, seeing as you’re the one that just got engaged." I volley back, not hiding the snark in my voice.
“Fair enough. Although, my fiancé, as you know, just healed from a head injury, so our celebration plans are on hold for now. What’s your excuse?” He asks playfully, chucking me on the shoulder.
The only response I have is a shrug.
“Hey, Levi.” Billy says by rote, coming around the corner, adjusting his tool belt. “Piper’s got some wicked stew in the house if you want some."
If Piper’s the cook, there’s no need to twist my arm. Besides, the last thing I want to do is start talking about weddings and school and shit. “You don’t have to ask me twice." I say matter-of-factly.
I wasn’t hungry when I was at Shelly's, but the minute I open the door, the smell creeps up my nose, and I’m a goner. Piper is sitting at the kitchen table, alone, eating what looks like a dinner roll. “Hey, Levi. Come and eat. There’s plenty."
She rises off her chair, and serves me a bowl of stew, adding a dinner roll to the lip of bowl. Freshly churned butter sits on a dish in the center of the table. As I sit down across from her, I feel a strange sense of home. Billy's ranch has become my home since I started working here. “The vases came for the ranch house today. I’ll show them to you after you’re done eating if you want.”
“I’m up for that."
“I was going to have a fire later. Burn off some of that old brush. Are you up for roasting some marshmallows?"
Piper has become somewhat of a sister to me. In fact, all the ladies around here have. I can’t say no to any of them. But I have to stop myself. “I can stay for a bit, but I’ve got plans later."
She gets this smirky yet cute grin on her face. “And just when do I get to meet these other plans?"
If it were anyone else, I might not react so kindly. “Not ready yet. We’re not there yet.”
“Tell me about her.” She suggests, putting more butter on the end of her bun and taking a bite.
I grunt softly as I sit up higher. “If I tell you, do you promise not to tell anyone?”
“You know me, Levi. I’m no saint. I’ve got plenty of secrets that will go to my grave."
“She’s older. I don’t know how much older, mind, but she’s got them wrinkles on the sides of her eyes."
“Crow's feet." She corrects. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean that she’s older. Lots of younger people get those."
God bless her. Piper wouldn’t judge anyone. She's still got so much innocence in her. “Her skin is different, too. And the way she talks, I can tell that she’s not from my generation."
Her eyes widen a little. “You mean, she’s like, a decade or more older?"
“I think so. I’m not sure. But I think that she was married once. Her engagement and wedding band sit on one of those little ring holders that my Meemaw used to have in her bathroom.”
“Are you sure she’s not still married?"
The hesitation is palpable. “I’m pretty sure. I’ve never seen any evidence of another man in her house before.”
She tilts her head contemplatively. "You ought to ask her, Levi. It’s easy to hide evidence. Although, I doubt that she’d be so foolish as to invite you over when she’s still married. But if I were you, I’d check.”
