Jesus.
“And when you do, say something nice to her.”
“Sounds easy enough.”
“Ha.” She snorts. “You always put your foot in your mouth.”
“Hey…” That stung. She’s probably right but a guy doesn’t like to keep hearing about his faults, especially from his own child.
“You do. You know it. Just practice saying things like, ‘You look pretty today’, or ‘I like your shoes.’”
I’m no longer leaning on the counter because this requires my full attention. “You want me to say some shit about her footwear?”
“It was just an example.”
Instead of that, I’dliketo tell her how much I admire her tits, but I’m guessing that isn’t what Zoe’s talkin’ about.
“I get the point. I’ll try.”
“Good.” Zoe steps close, pushes herself up on her tiptoes and kisses my cheek. “You really are a catch, Dad.”
“I’m aware.”
That gets a laugh out of her. She leaves the kitchen, heading to her bedroom. She’s staying here tonight which is nice. Maybe we’ll watch a movie or somethin’. Too bad Nathan isn’t hanging out too. I miss my kids. This house is too quiet anymore. The silence gives me too much time to think. Like about the fact that my house is empty. The other side of my bed is empty. The chair next to me at the table is vacant. Sure, I can bring someone home for a night, but I’m sick of that shit.
I suppose that’s why Prudence is on my mind so much and why I picture her here with me. It’s probably time, just like Jackie said.
ChapterNine
Prudence
I’mon the floor pulling everything out from beneath the counter to clean when the shop door chimes. There are dust bunnies here that have reproduced like, well, bunnies do. “Be right with you.”
When I don’t hear another sound, I push myself up onto my knees and peek around the cash register station. It’s him. Heading my way. I frown and say softly, “Crap.”
“Happy to see me, I see.” He’s half smiling, half smirking at his words.
Oops, he heard me.
Pushing myself up the rest of the way, I give him my retail employee smile. “Sure.” I nod. “Can I help you find anything?”
“Just passin’ by. Thought I’d stop in and say hello.”
What the heck? “Okay.” We stare at each other for way too long. I keep thinking he’s going to add something, but he doesn’t. Weirdly, the quiet isn’t terribly uncomfortable.
“You look pretty today.”
I look down at my Iowa Girl tee and jeans and frown. There’s a mustard stain on my right boob from lunch. I swipe at it absently, thinking that’ll do the trick. Nope. I was tempted to grab another shirt from the display but figured, why? It’s Monday. This place is dead on Mondays. It’s cleaning day.
“You look…” Rugged. Handsome.
Crud. I started the sentence, so now I’ve got to finish it. “…comfortable.” Oh, lord. I hate it when people tell me I look comfortable. It’s an insult, really. It’s when I’m in a baggy tee and sweats. He’s wearing his usual black T-shirt with the Vicious Cycle logo on the front. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him an anything else. Sure, the color of the shirts varies from gray to blue to black, but it’s always a Vicious Cycle shirt. He’s got on jeans that I can only imagine how his ass looks and probably motorcycle boots because that’s all I’ve I seen him in.
“I am comfortable. Thanks for noticin’.”
His eyes haven’t left mine. It’s beginning to freak me out, so I look to my right and see Laura on her side of the store. She’s pretending to dust one of the displays, but I know her. One, she doesn’t dust. That’s my job because I enjoy it. There are plenty of things she does around here that I’d prefer not to. We’re a good team that way. And two, she’s nosey as heck. When I turn my head back, Nate’s eyes are lower. On my chest. He points to my left boob. “Is that mustard?”
Great. I swipe at it again. “Yeah.” I’m feeling defensive about it now. I’m tempted to ask “What’s it to you?” but I don’t.
