There’s that smirk of his that drives me wild. “We can go back to town any time you like. I don’t like the thought of a stranger keeping you captive in his mountain fortress.”
“You’re not a stranger anymore. And I like it tucked away here. I’ve always loved the quiet.” I hesitate. How do I hint that I’d like to stay as long as he’ll have me? “I’m also fine reading or working on my own, if you have to make furniture. I never want to be in your way.”
“You’re not.” Now it’s his turn to hesitate. “It’s great that you can be on your own. I’ve always spent most of my time that way myself.” He exhales. “I also appreciate that you’re not clingy, and that you thought to mention it.”
There’s a long moment of stillness as we gaze into each other's eyes. Finally I whisper, “Maybe that means…”
“We’re compatible?” he finishes.
I don’t have any experience with relationships. But it sounds like he’s thinking about us as…us. A couple. With potential.
I still feel it would be smart to keep assuming this thing with Bear will be short-lived, but at the same time I want to keep myself open to the possibility that it could be much more.
There’s a spot deep down in my soul that is already whispering that it wants us to be forever.
9
BEAR
Most of my dinners are eaten alone and are about as much of an event as brushing my teeth. My brothers and I do get together for dinner at least once a week, and we eat with our parents a few times a month. Mom is the only true conversationalist among us, but there’s still camaraderie in sharing a meal, no matter how much…or little…talk there is.
Every meal with Joy, though, feels like an occasion. Even though it's only burgers and barbecued corn, everything feels infinitely better with her here. Having this lovely woman near me turns everything to magic. She also makes the house feel like a home.
Joy helps me clean up after dinner, then we settle onto the couch to watch a spy movie she's excited to see on my big screen. My phone rings just as I’m reaching for the remote. "Sorry," I mutter, jumping to my feet when I see my mother's name on the screen. "I'll be quick, promise."
I walk out to the back porch. "Hello?"
"Emerick!" she practically shrieks. “I've been getting calls all day. Rachel and Bonnie both saw you at the grocery store witha young lady." She sounds so excited, you’d think she’d just won the lottery. "Why didn’t you tell me?"
"It's not…I mean…" I stammer. “There's nothing to tell yet." That’s not really true, but I’m preoccupied with fighting off the prickly sensation triggered by the idea that strangers are reporting my personal business back to my mother.
“Hmmmpf,” she huffs. “Bonnie said you had your arm around her waist. And Rachel said the girl was looking up at you looking completely lovestruck."
She was?
My eyes fall closed as I think, trying to remember what I was doing in the grocery store. I can’t. I was so hell-bent on getting us out of there as quickly as possible.
"You know I hate that your friends gossip so much," I mutter. "My grocery shopping is nobody's business."
"Well, it's my business now."
Dammit. She's already riled up. Normally, Mom is calm and levelheaded. But once in a while, her heels dig in and the attitude comes out.
"It really isn't, Mom. Not yet. When there’s any news to tell, you'll get a call. Fair?"
"Fine." From the twang in her tone, it is most definitely not fine. "Look, Emerick. You're going to be thirty-five soon. If you don't have a serious girlfriend by then, I'm going to start fixing you up with women I know."
"You wouldn’t."
“I would. Iwill. In fact, I'm going to call your brothers right now and have a word with them too. They've got six months to start dating, or I'll be setting them up as well. "
My chuckle is not one of amusement. "Good luck with that."
"Don't you get snarky." I can picture her stamping her foot as she paces in the dining room, where she always makes calls. "I want grandkids someday, for goodness’ sake. You three havedone your backwoods broody mountain loner routine for long enough. It's time for you to start dating. Planning for the future."
"You're aware that there are some people in this world who end up not having children?”
"Not in this family."
