“Now will you tell me what happened?”
He nods, looking at the table top. I follow his gaze to a screwdriver with a black and yellow handle. “I’m a grown man. I’ve been a grown man for a long time. I was tightening the screws in my TV stand. It’s old but it’s fine, just needs some attention now and then. The damn screwdriver wouldn’t work.”
I give him a look.
“My hand works just fine, thank you very much. Not my fault the damn thing flew up and hit me.” He takes another bite and chews angrily.
“I think you’re lucky you were working with a flathead and not a Phillips.”
His bushy eyebrows lift, and I grin. I’m proud of myself.
“Well, look who knows her screwdrivers.”
“I’ve picked up a few things from Connor.”
“Try not to pick up an STD. Or that other one, what’s it called? Gonorrhea.”
I exhale and cross my arms. “Walt, you are beyond words.”
“What? I’m just saying. I’ve noticed his truck over at your place an awful lot during late hours.” He sets down his sandwich. “Do you know what you’re doing with that boy?”
I think back to last night and try not to let the smile I’m feeling show on my lips. After dinner at his parents and a banana split at that cute shop in town, we were so ready to be alone that we couldn’t make it to either of our houses in time. He’d pulled into the farthest parking spot at a deserted park and I climbed on top of him. Thank goodness for tinted windows.
I push down the memory and turn my attention back to Walt. “What do you mean?”
Walt swallows the last bite of his sandwich and drinks the remainder of his beer. He places the empty can sideways on the plate. “I mean, does the boy know this place is only a stop for you?”
“I’ve told him.”
“What does he say about that?” He sits back, his stomach pushing against his plaid button-up. The white fabric of his undershirt peeks through a button he has missed.
“He doesn’t say much. He hasn’t asked me to stay, if that’s what you’re getting at.”
“I’m not getting at anything. It was just a question. But the boy must have some opinion on the matter. Most men would.”
“He asked that I say goodbye first. That was all he said.”
Walt folds his arms. The frown on his face looks more at home than his infrequent smiles.
“What?” I ask, agitation in my voice.
“Do I get a goodbye too?”
I look down to my empty hands in my lap. “I didn’t agree to say goodbye.”
“Did you say no?”
My head shakes, the small hoop earrings I’m wearing gently bump my skin.
“Then don’t say no to me either.”
I cough, hoping the sting of tears I feel behind my eyes will stay back there.
Leaving becomes harder each day that I stay.
* * *
“Didyou guys know Brynn has another special man in her life?” Connor leans back in his seat and looks from Anthony to Julia, then back to me. We’ve just placed our order for dinner.
