“You dare me?”
He nods. “Yep. Dare you to keep up with my epically awesome raking skills.” He turns and starts raking at a manic pace, forcing a bark of laughter out of me. I turn to my side of the yard and start to match his movements. “What do I get when I beat you?”
“A high five?” he calls out.
“A high five isn’t much of a prize.”
“Hey, I give really good high fives.”
I laugh again, only to be consumed with a wave of guilt. The last time Tyson came to visit, he made an offhand comment about Hunter living next door and how friendly we seemed with each other. I reassured him we were neighbours and nothing more. But the truth is, I can’t deny the fact that I’m attracted to him.
We get to work, and to my surprise time flies by. Barely an hour later and my yard is raked, the leaves bagged up and set by the curb to be picked up on the next trash collection day.
“Wow. Thank you, Hunter.” I turn to him, full of gratitude. My arms ache from all the work, but it’s a pleasant sort of tired. And it’s enough to take the edge off my usual nerves.
“No prob, Kitty Kat. But I didn’t notice who won the dare.” He grins, leaning his rake against the tree, and taking off his gloves as he comes closer.
“Let’s call it a tie?”
He lifts a hand and wiggles his fingers. “High five?”
I slap my hand against his, then let it fall to my side, suddenly unsure what to say or do now. Do I offer him a snack or a drink? Stay and make small talk?
But before I can overthink things, Hunter speaks. “I better go get ready for work.”
I clutch my own work gloves with both hands, somewhat embarrassed that I was actually considering asking him to stay for a drink. Of course, he has to work. He even said that before we started.
Besides, what the hell am I doing, even considering asking him to stay? I. Have. A. Boyfriend. Not to mention I’m sure that to Hunter, this was nothing more than being neighbourly.
“Of course. Well, thanks again.”
Because I’m looking anywherebutat him, I don’t notice his arm lifting until I feel the lightest of touches in my hair. My head shoots up to see Hunter holding a leaf out in front of him.
“This one didn’t want to go, I guess.” He winks. “Bad leaf.”
After he leaves, I go inside and get in the shower. Closing my eyes under the steady stream of water, my mind returns, unbidden, to Hunter lifting the leaf out of my hair. It’s the first time over the year he’s lived next door that we’ve come that close to each other. And I’m ashamed to admit my heart beat a little faster.
I shake my head and make myself think of Tyson instead.
Even though I haven’t seen him in months, thanks to his temporary work assignment in another province, we decided to try long-distance. It’s been hard, and the visits haven’t been as frequent as I had hoped, mostly because of my school commitments. But he keeps saying he plans to move to Westport when he’s done in Manitoba so we can be closer to each other.
So, I just put my head down, focus on finishing school, and hold onto the promise of that future. Which meansnotletting my conscious mind think about another guy.
My unconscious mind, however, I have no control over. Hence, the way I dream about Hunter — and then see him in real life.
I need to talk to Tyson. Maybe if I see him, hear his voice reminding me that we’ll be together in the new year, just a few short months from now, I’ll be able to put these pesky thoughts of Hunter out of my head.
When I’m dried off and wearing some comfy pajamas, even though it’s early evening, I pour a glass of wine before sitting down on my couch and picking up my phone. I hit the button for a video call to Tyson and take a sip of wine.
The call connects, but I’m not looking at my boyfriend. I’m staring at…the ceiling, maybe? Then the sounds start filtering in.
An awkwardly familiar grunt, the unmistakable sound of skin meeting skin in a disturbing rhythmic pattern, and then…
“Fuck yes, Carlie, fuck!”
“Oh my God, Tyson!” I yell, spilling my wine as I bolt upright.
My hand is making the phone shake as I hear muffled curses and then, there he is, messed-up hair and a frantic look in his eyes.
