“I never got your name.”
“Nick.”
“Sorry about earlier. Firefly doesn’t bring out the best in me.”
“Sorry? I’m the one who hosed you down.”
“Never apologize for making a man wet.” Unlike the residents of Firefly, I didn’t have to watch my mouth around him. I almost chuckled at the thought of Gladys’s face if she overheard. Though, as I glanced to my side, it appeared he alsodidn’t know what to say. Good, I enjoyed keeping a handsome man on his toes.
He picked a spot close enough that we almost bumped elbows. We settled into a comfortable silence as we watched the movie. Why wasn’t he down there with the others? I bit my tongue, not wanting to be a hypocrite. I wasn’t willing to share my baggage, so why would I expect him to? He had his reasons, and frankly, they were none of my business.
The minutes passed when I noticed somebody running in circles with the kids. Compared to their tiny frames, this one stood out at least a foot taller. I couldn’t tell if they were still chasing bugs or engaged in a furious game of tag. As I squinted, I spotted the neon-orange hunter’s cap.
“Is that your friend?”
“Lacie.” He spoke her name as if that explained everything. When I craned my head about, he realized I needed more context. “She dragged me to Firefly to break my curse. You have to let her do her own thing. She’s a force of nature.”
“I’m seeing that.” Tucking away the mention of a curse, I wouldn’t be shocked if I found them in the woods, naked and dancing around a bonfire. I gave Nick a quick once-over. Thick. Built for manhandling. If he were naked, I might even join.
“A tornado of chaos.”
“Sounds like fun.”
He didn’t respond. I got the impression that Nick might not be in Firefly willingly. There’s a good chance that Lacie had kidnapped him and taken him on a road trip. Hogtied in the trunk of the car? I mean… I shook the image free. Knowing he reluctantly came to town made me like him more. We had that in common, and right now, friends were in short supply.
“Not going to join in?”
I could hear the shrug of his hoodie. I had people tell me I dispensed words as if they were finite. It appeared Nick andI also had that in common. Others might see his reluctance to open up as cold or uncaring. In Firefly, asking, “How are you doing?” resulted in a life story over a pot of coffee. He might be a flatlander, but so far, I had more in common with him than any of the families watching the movie.
The movie had reached its credits, and the kids had finally caught Lacie. She toppled to the ground while kids danced in circles. When she shot up, she charged in our direction. With arms spread wide as if she might come in hot for a hug, I could see Nick undersold her energy. As she buckled over, huffing and puffing, I tried to figure out how these two could be friends.
“You missed a great game of tag.” Her back straightened as if she had just noticed me. “Now I see why. Brooding. Grumpy. Filled with smoldering energy. I get it.”
“See,” Nick said.
“Did I tell you I met the nicest lady? She invited me to the quilting guild. I think I’m going to go.”
“You don’t quilt.”
“Who knows, it could be a secret talent. I won’t know if I don’t try.”
Nick’s head rolled to the side, his eyes locked with mine. While I fought to stay out of the town’s tangled web, Lacie had hurled herself into the center. By this time tomorrow, she could be the president of the ATV club, snowmobile club, and heading up the Fishing Derby. Did I tell Nick to run before he fell victim to the pull of Firefly?
As she took him by the arm, he gave me a nod of the chin.
“Did you know they have Bingo night?” Lacie didn’t hide her delight. “We’re going to Bingo.”
“But what about?—”
“We’ll get to your thing.”
There was something in the way she said it. Like if she stopped moving, it’d all catch up with her.
I still couldn’t explain why I had come to movie night. There were enough issues for a magazine rack, and I wasn’t ready to tear through them. Instead, I spent the night in the shadows with a handsome man. Neither of us belonged here, and knowing that somehow made coming out worth it. Funny, in a familiar place, that it would take an outsider to push aside the loneliness. For him, I wasn’t Ellie’s son, just some stranger without a history.
That and the eye candy left me smiling.
HARDWARE STORE HIJINKS
