Until they weren’t there anymore.
“Why do you ask?” My question slips out before I can stop it.
He smirks. “I thought we weren’t going to interact.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Then don’t ask me questions.”
He exhales slowly. “I worry about Ellis,” he says, making my stomach twist. “She wants a sibling, but…” His voice trails off. He straightens, shoulders pulling tight. “Look, if you want any more wine recommendations, you know where to find me.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, thank you.”
“And just so you know, in a few weeks, our spring events will start back up at the winery too if you’re looking for something to do around town.”
“That sounds nice.”
Rhonan huffs out a laugh. “It’s something my mom started, and just like Laney said, the two of us along with our dad have kept the traditions alive. We have concerts, movie nights, poker tournaments, cooking classes, and yoga.” He rolls his eyes. “I still haven’t done that one.”
“What? Why?”
“Yoga isnotexercise.”
I cross my arms over my chest as I study him. “Have you ever tried it?”
“Nope, and I don’t plan to.”
“Then, respectfully, your opinion means nothing. I can confirm it’s tough.”
“You do yoga?” he asks, dipping his eyes up and down my body in a slow pass that reminds me that he’s seen me wearing a lot less clothing.
My skin breaks out in goosebumps, but I try to focus on our conversation. “I do. And I lift weights.”
“Weightlifting is exercise. That I’ll agree with.”
“Yoga is important for flexibility, posture, and circulation. It may not be the vigorous type of exercise most people think of, but I assure you, it definitely challenges your body.”
He shrugs. “I’ll take your word for it, but just know that you won’t ever find me at yoga night.”
Laughing, I lift my wine glass to my lips. “Stubborn man.”
Rhonan takes a step back from the fence, but keeps his gaze locked on mine. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“You too.”
For a second, neither of us moves. The air feels oddly charged, like something unfinished humming between us. Then Roscoe lets out an impatient huff behind me, reminding me he’s waiting for me to go inside.
“Come on, Roscoe.”
I head back into my house, ready for a shower and to get some rest. But I’m left with an ever-growing desire to know more about the man who lives next door.
***
Standing in the bathroom, waiting for the shower to warm up, I take a moment to look at my body in the mirror. My hand falls over mystomach, the emptiness still present even after all these years. Part of me wants to believe that everything happens for a reason, but another part of me wonders why some things happen to certain people and not others.
Eager to change my thoughts, I turn back to the shower and stick my hand inside, testing the temperature of the water. Once I deem it hot enough to almost burn me, I step inside and let the scalding water cascade down my body.
But then a loud clank makes me jolt.
When I turn around to see if I can find the source of the noise, water is spewing from a hole in the wall where the showerhead used to be.
