“Oh gosh no, not like that,” she said.
“This is what I’m saying,” he said. “Drink up.”
“I found out through my book club. Sometimes, we drink too much at book club, and you know what they say, loose lips sink ships. There she was, the month we readThe Nightingale, like she didn’t have a care in the world. And really, she didn’t. She’d just bought a boat.”
How did a book club get involved? Harrison shook his head. “I’m not following.”
“Bookkeepers in the railroad-tie industry don’t make that kind of dough,” she said. “I started thinking about it and realized that she’d made several big purchases in recent months. So, I mentioned it to my boss, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
“Huh,” he said, nodding as understanding dawned. “That’s a good one. Maybe you don’t need the PI class.”
She touched her glass to his. “Drink.”
He did as commanded as she shifted around to put her back against the couch. He did the same. He was sitting close enough to her that her skirt draped partially over his knee. “Your turn,” she said.
“I’m starting to worry that at the rate this is going, I’m going to be shit-faced, and you will know all my stupid secrets, and I’ll know nothing about you.”
“Don’t sell your secrets short, pal. I bet at least one is juicy. And you already know the big picture about me,” Amy said. “I’m a mom, I’m divorced, I’m trying to rekindle a career that I might have had, and I’m pretty sure I need new glasses.”
“See? I didn’t know about the glasses.”
“That’s because I always lead with the mom stuff. I’m really trying to be less Mom and more my own person.” She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “It’s not as easy as it seems. I used to be my own person all the time, twenty-four seven. But then, somewhere along the way, I morphed into Mom.”
“I get it,” he said. “I want to be less a golfer and more my own person. But I’ve lost sight of who my own person is.”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “I guess it boils down to me not knowing what I want at this stage of my life. I always thought I knew, but now, I’m not so sure. And I’m a little uncertain how to go about finding out.”
“Middle age sucks,” Amy said. She shifted a little, leaning against him, her shoulder pressed against his. “Come on, let’s play another round. I am highly entertained by how badly you lie.”
Harrison laughed, and when he did, he sort of unthinkingly, naturally, took her hand and squeezed it. There it was, her hand in his. He liked it. He liked the way her bones felt delicate in soft skin. His handwas callused from holding golf clubs for so many years. He hoped she didn’t mind.
She did not remove her hand. They didn’t look at each other, but sat side by side, staring straight ahead into the flames. He had a momentary burst of complete indecision about whether to let go. He didn’t want to. He said, “Okay, here goes. I miss having someone in my life. I hate online dating. I brought a book about the Roman Empire for a little light reading.”
Amy pondered his three things for a moment. “Not fair,” she said. “Those are all true.”
Harrison blinked with surprise. “Are you psychic or something?”
“Perceptive. And a lucky guesser.”
“Remind me to invite you along for trivia night sometime.” With his free hand, he picked up the glass he’d set aside. He sipped. The bourbon was beginning to make him feel loose-limbed and buzzy.
“I can imagine it’s really hard to date online when you’re traveling so much.”
“Yeah,” he said. “Honestly, I lost interest in trying to meet women that way. I think I prefer a more organic way.”
“Like being double-booked into a vacation rental?”
He laughed. “I am beginning to see the benefits.” He squeezed her hand. “Your turn.”
She settled in against him again, her hand still in his. “I don’t know how to meet anyone. I don’t know if Iwantto meet anyone, because I don’t know what is expected anymore. And I haven’t had sex in a very long time.”
Harrison felt something warm and mellow slide through him. He smiled in the direction of the tree. “I am really starting to dig this game. I think all are true.”
“Nope. None of them are true.”
He snapped his gaze to her, surprised. Amy laughed. “You’re too easy, Harrison. You’re right. They’re all true.”
