“Changing toilets really isn’t that fascinating,” Renley says as she walks next to me, seeming lighter than when I returned from the marketplace. It took her a little bit to bounce back from whatever was troubling her, but once she did, she went right into handywoman mode, teaching me all about changing out a toilet. And sure, it wasn’t quite the conversation I had hoped to have, but with every second that ticked by where she was teaching me, her mood lightened.
So I sat there, listened, and learned.
And hell, I replaced a toilet.
Not something I ever thought I’d do, but here I am, a certified plumber.
I mean, not really, but we don’t have to get into technicalities.
“I liked it. I think we should go around changing toilets for everyone. You’re the brain, I’m the brawn. Imagine the effusive praise we’d receive. We could be famous, like…like Mario and Luigi.” She gives me the biggest side-eye of all side-eyes. “Not feeling that? Not a problem, we can think of some other famous plumbers to take over. There have to be a ton of toilets here that we can replace. Although, I’m sure there are a lot of gold toilets in this filthy-rich town. Have you ever changed a gold toilet?”
“Filthy rich? This coming from a future lord?”
“Yeah, a lord who can change a toilet. Now that’s something I doubt has ever happened. Shit, I should send my father that picture I took over the toilet hole in the floor. He’d pass out in horror.”
“If he passed out in horror, that might clear the way for you to become lord,” she says.
“You’re right,” I reply in a panic. “We can’t have that. I’m not ready, nor do I want to become a lord. Best I keep that picture to myself.”
“Probably a good idea.” We reach our houses, and she turns to me with a genuine expression of gratitude. “Thank you for tonight. I really appreciate all the help and the mint julep and the cookies…and the toilet talk.”
“No need to thank me, Gossy.”
“Okay, well…good night.”
“Good night?” I ask. “What do you mean good night?”
“Uh…it’s nighttime and we’re back at our houses.”
“Yes, to get changed. We’re hitting up the pond.”
“Are we?” she asks, surprised.
“Hell yeah. I didn’t almost throw my back out carrying a toilet around to just go take a shower after. No, love, we’re headed to the pond. Get dressed and meet me here in two minutes. Don’t be late.”
I take off toward my house and glance over my shoulder. When she doesn’t move right away, I tap the imaginary watch on my hand. “Let’s go.”
Chuckling, she takes off toward her house as well.
Rupert is nowhere to be found, so I quickly grab my swimming trunks, which have dried out from last night, and slip them on. I throw on some more deodorant because, well, I don’t want to be smelly, and then I grab two iced teas from the fridge before snagging a towel and heading out the front door.
It’s only a few seconds later before she’s joining me, but this time she’s in a thin red one-piece.
The cut is low on her breasts and on the sides. And the fabric is almost like cotton rather than swimsuit material.
And because the fabric is so thin, her nipples are already poking against it, pulling my attention.
And I thought last night’s swimming costume was revealing.
I was not ready for this.
“Iced tea?” she asks. “Isn’t that against your culture?”
“Not necessarily, just not wildly consumed. Unfortunately, I’ve started to acquire the taste for it, especially with the humidity here. But just for good measure, if we could keep this between us, I’d appreciate it.”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
Shocked, I say, “And here I thought you’d take a picture of me with it and use it as blackmail.”
