“It’s fine, really. I’m excited to paint the wall, though. I think I’ll paint the entire room. Do something different than the boring cream color it is now.”
“Now’s your chance!”
“I think these flowers should be okay in my car for a while. Let me go put these in and I’ll meet you back here. I’m parked around the corner.”
A smile shoots across my face as I turn around to go to my car. He brought me flowersandgood news. This has really made my day. Sure, he may be anxious to get me out of his house, but at least I received flowers and can paint my room!
“Do you have anything in mind for dinner?” We start to walk in stride next to each other. We’re pretty close to one another and I can smell his cologne. It’s warm and almost sweet, with notes of both sage and leather.
“There is this fabulous barbecue place around the corner called Smoke Factory. Are you a fan of barbecue?”
“Sure, but isn’t it a little messy?” I picture my fingers covered in sauce, with the rest sticking to the sides of my mouth. I’m not trying to impress Jimmy, but barbecue face isn’t exactly attractive any way you look at it.
“I’m not worried about it if you aren’t. Trust me, it’s worth it.”
“It better be,” I say, as we keep making our way down the sidewalk.
Smoke Factory is small and cozy, with about eight tables and a bar. There’s no table service, so we place our order at the counter and find a place to sit. They will call our number when our order is ready.
“You’re not disappointed I didn’t take you to a fancy sit down place for our first date, are you?”
“Date?” I thought we were simply having dinner and picking out paint. He never asked me out on a date. Yes, we kissed. The moment overtook us. That was it.
“I’m teasing.” Jimmy bumps his fist into my shoulder in a joking manner. “I loved your reaction though. Seriously, though, I hope you don’t mind. I love a good rack of ribs.” I’m so glad he said ribs.
“It’s fine. Different and unexpected.”
“That’s how I like things.”
“Really? Tell me more.” I’m interested in what makes Jimmy tick. “Tell me about the man behind the hammer, the man who installs the drywall, the man who—“
“Has a dog who drives you insane.”
“Kale isn’tsobad.”
“Whoa. Hold the phone.” Jimmy pretends his hand is a phone and then presses it down with the other one. “Are you saying youlikemy dog?”
Guilty. “Kind of. Okay. A lot. He’s really grown on me. He only bothered me because he likes to bark at the worst times.”
“I think he’s barking atyou.”
“What? Why? What did I do?” I’ve been a great neighbor. I mean, I’m not Mister Rogers, but I’m quiet. The only reason I ever stopped over to Jimmy’s house is because of the dog or that tree. Otherwise I’ve been a dream.
“Anytime you come over, he stops barking once he sees you. It’s the oddest thing. You knock on my door, yell at me, and once he realizes it’s you at the door, he stops. Haven’t you noticed that since you’ve been staying at my house, he barely barks anymore?”
“I highly doubt I’m the reason, but thanks for sweetening me up.”
Our number is called and Jimmy retrieves our items. I opted for a brisket sandwich. I reach for the barbecue sauce and Jimmy grabs it from my hand.
“Nope. You don’t need this. The best barbecue doesn’t.”
I’m doubtful. It’ll be dry if I don’t add any. I peek back at the sauce he’s placed at the side of the table.
“Come on, Reese. Trust me.”
Trust him. Trust this man who ignored my every request to take care of his tree until it fell onto my home. Of course, he did promise to fix it, and now, he’s almost done. I have to give him credit that he took responsibility.
Keeping an eye on him, I bite down into the sandwich. The bread is soft and when it mixes with the brisket in my mouth, it’s all moist as though Ididput sauce on it. And no extra sauce means not much of a mess. It’s a win-win.
