“Yeah, you did. I’m engaged to her sister, Mia. Josie moved here a couple of months ago and needed a place to crash and some help. She’s been here ever since. Damn, she’s like a little sister to me.”
“I didn’t…”
Derek chuckled as he leant back in his chair and tucked his hands behind his head. He had a smug smirk on his face and part of me wanted to wipe it off. Presumptive asshole. “You mightn’t have said it in words, but your body sure as shit did.”
I didn’t know what to do or what to say. I’ll admit I did check out her sweet ass as she sashayed through the door, but I thought I’d been more discreet than that. I wanted to tell Derek he was wrong. Shithead wasn’t though.
Glancing at my watch, I saw it was nearing midnight and I had a full day tomorrow. Tomorrow I was going to attack the gutters. After the rainstorm in the middle of the week, I needed to get up there and check them out. I’d taken a quick look and they were so full of leaves and sticks and shit, I knew it was going to take me all weekend to get them cleaned out. It had to be done though…unfortunately.
“I’m gonna head.”
“Yeah, it’s getting late.”
Silently we walked through the house, towards my bike. I didn’t want to fire it up. It was loud. One of the things I loved most about the machine was the sound it made when it roared to life. Tonight though, I found myself wanting to walk it away from the house. I didn’t want to wake anyone. I didn’t need to be that jerk.
“Th-thanks for this,” I stuttered. I couldn’t believe I stuttered. I felt like a nervous juvenile. It was bullshit.
“Any time, man.”
Grabbing the handle bars, I turned the bike around and headed out onto the street. I was throwing my leg over the seat, when I heard Derek call out behind me.
“Wait up!” I watched as he jogged down the drive and stood in front of me. “Next weekend a bunch of us are heading out to the river water-skiing if the weather holds. If you’re interested it should be a good day.”
“Hey, sounds awesome.”
Anything other than maintenance and cleaning sounded awesome at this point. I’d been at it every day for over a month and needed a break. But every time I sat down to relax for even a second I saw something else that needed doing. And one five minute job turned into two five minute jobs and before I knew it I was exhausted and bleeding.
“Going out Saturday. If you’re interested let me know and we’ll set it up.”
“Thanks, Derek. I mean for…” I thrust my hand out between us, hoping he’d shake my hand and it would convey all the words I wasn’t saying. Words weren’t my thing. Especially not to another guy.
“All good!” He took my hand and clamped his free hand on my shoulder. “I can only imagine what it’s like being the new guy in town.”
“I don’t think you can.” I laughed. I laughed hard. Derek had no idea. People he’d probably known his whole life, people he knew acted one way, well, with a new guy in town, they didn’t act like that. “See ya next weekend.”
I fired up the bike, yanked on my helmet, and waved before I pulled onto the asphalt and headed home to my cold, lonely bed.
