Iquickly pocketed my phone and prepared for kitchen duty. “Onmy way,Ms.Ruth.”
Fifteenminutes before we opened for the first service, the doors opened and a wall ofLangsfordmen appeared.Nota single one of them was even average-looking, which was just unfair.Whenyou added in the significant others, they were lethally sexy.Ansonled the charge, heading directly for me when our eyes locked. “Yousaid you needed help.Useand abuse us.”
Behindhim, one of his brothers snickered.Hisparents slid around the group.Eleanorwas well-connected in town and seemed to know who was in charge.SheandRandallapproachedMrs.Barrett, leaving me to figure out what to have the brothers do. “Um,Iknow there are clipboards in the kitchen.We’vebeen loading the hot boxes with meals for the shut-ins.Mrs.Barrettwanted me to make sure you know you can’t just drop them at the door and go.Ifthe residents want you to sit and chat, do so, but keep it as short as you can so everyone gets a hot meal.”
“Yes, sir!”Billysaluted like a freaking loon, clicking his heels together before turning to the side so he stood in front of his brothers. “Youheard the man!We’vegot food to deliver so we can get home in time for the late game.”
Thatfootball game was probably the reason for even lower than normal volunteer turnout.TheWilmingtonBreakerswere playing againstHoustonthis year, and everyone would be huddled around theTVat home or one of the bars opening later for the occasion.Itwas also whyIwas glad this morning counted as myThursdayshift, andIdidn’t have to go in tonight unless something major happened.Allthe idiots were bound to be out celebrating, win or lose, becauseHarmonyGrovesuddenly had a connection to the team with a guy a few years younger than me dating the newest star on the team,HunterSims.Personally,Ididn’t see that as a reason to completely change holiday plans, but what didIknow?
Whilefive men in the group hurried into the kitchen,Ansonhung back. “Hey, thanks for texting.It’llbe good for us to get out and do some good.”
“Ishould be the one thanking you.”Yep, things were officially awkward.Asbadly asIwanted to study every inch ofAnson’sface for any hint as to whether he was being sincere or polite,Icouldn’t.Lookingat him, knowing how closeI’dcome to somethingIdesperately wanted for years, hurt.
Heseemed to be in a similar situation, looking everywhere but at me.Hepicked at the chipped edge of the counter even though none of theFormicacame up. “Iwas wondering…”Hisforehead wrinkled, and he rubbed the scruff on his jaw.Great.Now,Iwanted to feel that stubble against my palm.Ansoncleared his throat. “Sorry.Whatdo you have planned after this ends?”
“I’mgoing to be stuck here until the very end,Ithink.”Ilooked back to the drink station, whereKeithappeared to be clinging to every word my mom said.Myintroverted, quiet-as-a-mouse mom was talking up a storm. “Prettysure my mom’s sweet onKeithfrom the hardware store, and he’s the one who invited her.Inturn, she asked me to help.”
“Andyou passed it forward by recruiting my entire family,”Ansonteased.Forthe first time in almost a month, the chasm between us seemed to narrow. “Iknow my brothers want to get back to the game, butIdon’t mind sticking around to help if you need warm bodies.”
“Didn’tyou say your family eats later?”Ididn’t want to disrupt his holiday more thanIalready had.
“Yeah, but ifI’mhere,Momwill set aside a plate for me.”Herested a hand on my arm, turning me toward the kitchen. “Now, let’s get in there and see whatMs.Ruthneeds.She’ssweet but scary if you piss her off.Askme howIknow.”
Iwasn’t sure if that was rhetorical, plus curiosity got the better of me. “Howdo you know?”
“I’vebeen on the wrong end of her wooden spoon a time or two.”Again,Iwasn’t sure if he was full of shit.Iwas saved from having to look like a fool when he continued, “Shenever actually hit us or anything, but she wasn’t above chasing us through the house, threatening us.Iwas the good kid of the bunch, soInever really had to worry, butWaylon,Teddy, andRodwere definitely in the crosshairs a time or two.”
Ihadn’t realized there’d been a time whenAnsonactually hung out with people his age.BecauseI’dalways seen him sitting at the dining room table,I’dassumed he was a loner in school.Itnever dawned on me that might not be entirely true.
“Anson, so good to see you!”Ms.Ruthset down her scoop and wrapped him in a tight hug. “Youseem to be making waves around town recently.IswhatI’mhearing true?”
“Thatdepends on what you’ve heard,” he said as if the entire town wasn’t talking about how he’d challengedMayorThompson.Soon, the gossip mill would be spinning so fast he’d have to either run or admit he’d been talking out of his ass.Ihoped for the former, not becauseIworried about his reputation but because there was a chance he was exactly whatHarmonyGroveneeded to keep moving forward.
Ms.RuthhandedAnsona starched apron.Apparently, both of us would be on kitchen duty today.Asshe showed him to the serving line,Iheard her say, “Youknow exactly whatI’mtalking about.Andwhile we work, you can tell me what plans you’ve got up your sleeves.”
IwishedIwasn’t on dishes and refilling the chafing dishes becauseIwas also curious.I’dplanned on askingAnsonhow serious he’d been the night he challenged the mayor, but…other things had taken precedence.Mostimportantly, my dick had taken control, andI’dforgotten to ask him if he’d been serious.Now,I’dhave to stay in the dark a while longer and hope an appropriate time came.
12
ANSON
“Areyou sure you want to stick around?”Kevinasked as the rest of my family made the rounds, saying goodbye to the volunteers.Theday had been a rousing success.Althoughthings didn’t work out the way they’d hoped for helpers, the planning committee had done an amazing job converting the utilitarian space to feel more like people were coming into a family home to share a meal.Ihad to believe it was those small touches that brightened the day and made people feel a bit less lonely.
Mybrothers hadn’t been thrilled about me roping them into helping, butIknew things had to be dire ifKevinwas reaching out to me sinceIhadn’t been much of a friend to him over the past few weeks.Butthat was exactly whyIwas staying until the last table was broken down and put in the closet.Asfor my brothers,Iwas sure they’d grill me about whyIwas bailing on dinner and football.Maybeby the time they asked,I’dhave an answer for them sinceIwasn’t about to go into the nitty-gritty details of how muchIsucked at being an adult sometimes.
“Iwouldn’t have offered ifIwasn’t serious.”Onlythen didIrealize how snarky my response came out, soIbackpedaled. “Besides,Iwas thinking we might hang out for a bit if you don’t have plans when you’re done here.”
Ialready knew he wasn’t spending the evening with his mom.Shehad come into the kitchen between services to let him know she was getting a ride home fromKeith.Whilehe seemed happy for her, he’d also been on edge since.Partof his mood may have had something to do with him being exhausted.Nomatter how he tried to hide it, he’d been yawning and struggling more as the day went on.Stayingto help tear down would allow us to get out of there sooner.
“I’mnot sureI’llbe great company,” he warned. “Ihad to work last night and only got a short nap beforeIhad to get ready.”
“That’sfine.I’mnot expecting you to entertain me.Ihave to run out to my mom’s to pick upBart, and she said she’d pack up some leftovers for me.Maybewe could reheat them and just relax,”Isuggested.Therewas no reason to put him on edge by telling him we needed to talk.Forsome reason, most people’s minds jumped to the worst-case scenario when they were given that particular heads-up.
Icurled my hands into tight fists at my side to keep from reaching out to smooth the lines from his forehead.Orworse, pull him into a tight hug and tell him there wasn’t much longer until he could head home.Wewere waiting for the last dozen people to finish their meals, then we could start tearing everything down.Thecommunity center had been kind enough to donate the space and the kitchen, and part of the agreement was that we’d handle the cleanup.Thatseemed like more than a fair trade.
Ms.Ruthcalled out the all-clear after she’d walked the last couple to the exit, locking the doors behind them.Itwas impressive how she never showed signs of discomfort after spending hours on her feet, but as soon as she let her guard down, evidence of her age started to show.She’dhad a hip replacement a few years back, and from the way she winced with every step,Iworried it wouldn’t be long before they had to complete the procedure on the other side.
Kevinmust have noticed the same because he dropped the pile of tablecloths at the end of the row he was working to clear so he could rush to her side. “Comeon,Ms.Ruth.Let’sget you sitting down for a few minutes.”
