“Thanks for this.”
“You’re welcome.”
“How’d you know I’d be here?”
“When are younothere, Den?” We both chuckle because he’s not wrong. “I’m not a mind reader, though. I called your job to find out where and when you’d stop for the day.”
“Had this all planned out, eh?”
His face pinks across his cheeks to his ears. “Yeah, I just thought…”
“It’s really nice,” I say quickly. “You’ve made a good day even better.”
He looks at me with shy blue eyes. “Yeah? Tell me how it went.”
I open the container filled with steaming clam chowder, dig my plastic spoon into it, and take a large bite, burning my tongue from the heat, but I don’t care. Maggie’s chowder is the best in town.
As we eat, I tell him all about my day and how amazing my new job is. Even better, I don’t think about Geoff or my professor even once. Mike’s calming presence puts me at ease. That, along with sitting in the best seat in the house, eating the best food in Cannon Beach.
Chapter 11
Mike
I’veneverbeenaguy who cared much about clothes, but now, as I take in all the similar T-shirts and worn jeans on the bed, I’m starting to regret it. For some reason, I don’t feel like wearing the same old thing. Not tonight. It’s Friday, and Dennis and I have made plans to go to the local pool bar, and I want to look nice. Dennis always looks great and smart, and I don’t want to look like the same old Mike.
I rub my face, groaning into my hands. Jeez, how many white T-shirts does a guy need?
Then it hits me. Mom’s like me, and we never throw stuff away.
“Mom?! Mom, are Dad’s clothes still in the attic?” I know she hates it when I yell at her from upstairs, but this is an emergency, dammit. Suddenly, I feel like the entire night depends on the clothes I wear. If I wear something different, then perhaps Dennis will look at me differently, too.
When she doesn’t answer, I walk to my open bedroom window and look outside. It’s been nice and warm all week, and I enjoy the freshair flowing through my room. The weather has been perfect for working outside, like both Dennis and I do now.
Shit, I can’t believe I went by his job with dinner three times this week. Talk about needy. Not only did it make a significant dent in my bank account, but Mom also commented on my absence and insisted I eat at home last night, which I did. I can manage a day without seeing Dennis. Of course, I can.
I lean out of the window and look to the right, then to the left, where I find Mom all the way in the back, filling up Willow holes. I shake my head.
“Mom! I told you I was gonna do that!” She pauses, then looks up at me and smiles, brushing the back of her gloved hand across her forehead.
“Will you stop?” she pants. “I’m not some old hag. I can lift a shovel, you know.”
“I know, but it’smydamn dog.” Speaking of which, the queen herself is currently lying under the shade of a large tree, chewing on a bone, looking all smug and carefree. I only have myself to blame, though. I spoil her. Maybe it’s not a bad thing that she’ll be staying with Dennis half the time, starting next week. We agreed he would settle in at work first, and then she would be at his place more.
“Did you want something, sweetie?”
Shit. Fucking miles away again. It happens more and more lately now that Dennis is back. One thought of him leads to the next, and before I know it, I forget what I’m doing.
“Yeah. Right. Do you still have some of Dad’s old stuff in the attic? Like clothes and stuff?”
She tilts her head, looking puzzled for a second. I’ve never asked about Dad’s things before, but I know she’s kept some for me. I haven’tbeen able to look at it so far; it just hurts too damn much. Maybe today’s the day, though.
A smile washes over her face. “Sure. I kept some of his nicer clothes. They should fit you now.” There’s an edge of wistfulness to her voice. “I can’t believe how much you look like him.”
“I do?”
“So much.”
“Okay. I might take a look then.”
