“Vinyl can be worth a lot of money, and you can’t replace it easily. I’d say, this is one thing he can hold onto.”
“Deal.” She closes the box and pushes it back against the wall. “He can keep them.” Standing up straight, she brushes off her jeans. “As promised, that is the last box. Thank you for helping.”
“The pleasure is all mine. I really enjoyed spending time with you.” Her smile lingers in what I have come to recognize as herflirting smile. “So, you are heading back home tonight. Are you going to return any time soon?”
“Oh yeah.” She dramatically scans the rest of the boxes. “I haven’t made a dent, and I’m not a quitter. I’ll be back up next weekend.”
“I look forward to it. Give me a holler, and I’ll come help.”
“I hate to bother you again. This is an awful lot of work, but I do look forward to seeing you again. Maybe we can do something else, too?”
“Yeah…I’d like that, too.” I’m not a genius, she’s fishing for me to ask her out, but something feels off. It’s not for lack of flirting, but there’s a knot in my gut, begging me to play it safe. “Ah, my boys actually have a game on Friday night. If you make it back early, you’re more than welcome to come watch.”
“A football game?” Her gaze angles away, as if floating back to her memories. “Boy, I don’t think I’ve been to that field since you blew out my knee.”
“You’ll be safe.” I hold both my hands up as if I’m under arrest. “I promise, I’ll watch my big clown feet, and nothing bad will happen. You might have some fun.”
“Maybe I’ll make a point to get off work a little earlier so I can come.”
“Yeah, I’d love to see you again.”
“Me too.” I zip my lips, vowing not to go into the longest goodbye again. This time I gaze into her eyes, enjoying how they seem to change colors as they sparkle under the faint garage light. Part of me craves to wrap my arms around her and pull her close. From the look she is giving me, I know she’d kiss me. We’ve known each other twenty years, it’s not like it’s too soon, but another part of me wants to savor the sweetness we have between us right now. I don’t need to rush anything.
I pull the string on the garage light, and we walk together out of the open overhead door. We are quiet as we walk side by sideto her door. I wait on the grass as she hops up the steps and I call to her, “Night, Gia.”
“Night, North.” She flashes a wave at me and her soft smile beams before she ducks inside.
Sighing, contentedly, I head across the yard to my house, humming the tune toMy Girl,when something catches my eye. A box is sitting outside of the garage on the driveway. I don’t remember putting it there. Maybe Gia dragged it out to make more room? It should be fine there until morning, but you never know…it might be something valuable. Just to be safe, I circle back, grab the box, and take it inside my house. I can run it over to Mr. Bella tomorrow when I see him outside.
Once inside, I place the box on the kitchen table. The top flaps aren’t taped shut, looking as if we already went through this box. I don’t remember it though. Curiosity piques, and I lift the corner of one flap. Bulldog red, blue and white meets my gaze, and a poster of our old high school football team comes into focus. Now that I know it’s nothing personal, I flip open the flap and take the poster out. It’s a game schedule with our old team roster.
Boy, Mr. Bella didn’t get rid of anything.
Near the top of the photo, Rocco and I stand next to each other, arms around each other’s shoulders, being the best friends we were back then. Shaking my head, I now know loyalty was only one way. I tried my hardest to be his best friend, even staying away from Gia after he asked me to, but that loyalty didn’t get me anywhere. When news of his cheating scandal broke, I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. He made up lies about his teammates to frame them. I defended him publicly, which almost ruined my career as a coach.
I wish I believed he’d learned his lesson, but I’ve noticed a pattern where he always gets what he wants. His life has taken him on such a different path, and he’s known for hanging outwith some of the shadiest business owners, and even politicians. I know one thing…he’s not a man you want to cross.
A spiral of shivers trickles down my spine.
Rocco doesn’t even talk to Gia anymore.
She said so herself.
Rocco can’t possibly still be obsessed with keeping us apart. That was high school. Kid stuff. Gia’s a grown woman now
Could he still care?
twelve
Gia
“You sure are cleaning fast.” Grace stands back as I shuffle my empty dessert pans through the dish area, blast spraying each one before pushing them into the automatic dishwasher. Normally, I wait for the hired dish boy to do this. However, he’s been on his break for longer than usual, and I’m anxious to get on the road. “I have plans to go to a football game.” Hot water steam fogs the little wispy hairs that frame my face, and I brush them to the side.
“I thought you swore off football after Rocco…you know.” Grace is always the curious type, poking her nose into my business, but she does it in the most loving way, I can’t even pause.
“Not NFL. High school. Actually, my old high school where I used to cheer. However, I’m going to watch thecoach, not the players.” I can’t resist a lofty smile as I do one final inspection over the kitchen, not wanting to leave any messes. I’ve restoredit to predinner status with gleaming countertops, and every pot and pan is hung neatly in its place. The only thing left to do now is pull meat from the back freezer for tomorrow, but Grace always insists on doing that on her own, since she’s the head chef.
When I finally draw my focus back to her, her feathered brows waggle at me. “Oh, is that so?”
