Tonight he was a little worried about Gretchen.
“What would you do if you were her parent?” Dex asked. “Cape or no cape?”
Ah, yes, Gretchen’s parents had voiced concern over her ubiquitous cape. They’d hoped she’d have outgrown this phase by now, but that hadn’t happened. I wasn’t sure how it came up in conversation, but I was glad to have moved on from my debut on the mill’s flag football team.
I examined the edge of the slat in my hand. “Anyone who wants to wear a cape should wear a cape. Doesn’t matter how old you are.”
Dex smiled. “Really? So you wouldn’t think twice if yourteenage son or daughter waltzed out of the house in combat boots and a cape.”
“Not at all. I would advise them to stay away from elevators, escalators, and heavy machinery, but otherwise, have fun.” I pointed at the rough wood in his hand. “Watch the grain.”
“And what if they got teased at school? Kids can be vicious.”
I furrowed my brow threateningly. “I would pay a visit to the offending kid and their parents.”
He waved a piece of sandpaper in front of his face. “Christ, that’s kind of hot.”
“You’re very strange, Dexter.” I snatched the square of sandpaper from him and shook my head. “Always sand in the direction of the grain. Like this.”
“Got it.”
We continued working in silence for a while. Coltrane gave way to Sonny Rollins, but Dexter wasn’t humming.
“You’re worrying again.” I mumbled under my breath in Swedish, and translated, “It’s making your brain full of cheese tonight.”
He huffed as he set the sandpaper down and brushed off his palms. “My mom called today. She has questions. All I can say is, I preferred the radio silence.”
“What kind of questions?” I prodded.
Dexter leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he massaged his temples. “Just thinking about her gives me a headache. It’s easier to deal with constant disappointment. At least I know what to expect there.”
I wanted to tell him not to think of her, but I was curious. “Dex…”
“She wants to visit me. In Wood Hollow. That’s code for ‘I want to judge you and see if you’re capable of parenting.’ Like I need her permission. She’s unbelievable. I mean, that takes a lot of fucking balls.”
“Or maybe she just wants to apologize in person.”
“That’s cute,” he huffed. “My mother doesn’t apologize. It’sbeen weeks since that debacle in Michigan, and I haven’t heard a peep from her.”
“Has she ever been to Wood Hollow?”
“Never. Not once. She’s never seen the shop, my house, doesn’t know or care about flag football. A guy could take that kind of thing personally.”
“She might not know how to say things…nicely, you know?” I pointed at my chest. “I’m guilty of this too sometimes.”
He turned his head and offered a breathtaking smile. “Yeah, but I don’t think your end goal is to take over my life.”
“As a clear-minded, capable adult in his thirties, I believe you have the final word as to how you live your life.”
“Gee, you make it all seem so simple.”
I set the tool aside and rolled my stool closer to his. “Family isn’t simple, and your mother is not the most pleasant person I’ve ever met, but she’s the one you have, so you deal with her or establish boundaries. Whatever makes sense for you and the baby.”
Dex straightened, nibbling his bottom lip as he swiveled to face me, his knees brushing my inner thighs. “This is what I mean about the cranky curmudgeon act. I don’t buy it. You’re just too good at being…very cool.”
“I never said I wasn’t cool.”
“That’s true.” He leaned his head on my shoulder and sighed. “Are we finished for the night?”
