Page 50 of Barefoot Lake

“I’m sure it was. But you’ve described her like she’s a damn hurricane. I bet she’s a real wild one in be⁠—”

Eli cuts off when I pivot and plant myself in his pathway, one finger held up in front of his face.

“You really don’t want to finish that train of thought. You will treat her with respect,” I snarl. Eli and I rarely disagree, and it’s even more uncommon for us to fight, but I’m ready to throw down if he keeps going.

“Ha!” Eli shouts, triumphant. “I knew it!”

He’s grinning, and I’m confused.

I lean back, giving Eli some breathing room, and cross my arms.

“And what exactly do you think you’ve proven? That you’re a pig?”

“What? No. I just wanted you to express something, to admit that this matters. That she matters to you.”

“Yes. Fine — she matters! What’s your point?”

“I’m just happy for you, man.”

I turn and walk away from him, still not seeing why he’s so elated. Again, he matches my stride.

“I am sorry about what I said about her. I really was just trying to get a rise out of you, so you’d open up a tiny bit.”

I look at him sideways before giving him a swift smack upside the head.

He laughs.

“As an apology, I’ll keep an eye on things for the rest of today. Why don’t you go see your girl?”

I curtly nod and peel off to head to my car, already digging my keys out of my pocket.

“You’re still an ass,” I say loudly enough for him to hear.

“I know, and you love me anyway!” he calls back.

He’s right. I do.

At home, I throw my truck in park and stop by the garage to grab my toolbox before I jog over to Alice’s house. As I pulled in, I saw her car parked beside her house, so she should be home. The walk to her door would take less than a minute at a normal speed, but I can’t help going a little faster to see her a few seconds sooner.

I take the few stairs to her door and knock. I feel myself buzzing with unspent energy at the thought of being around her again and resist the urge to bounce on the balls of my feet. I’m a grown-ass man and need to act like it.

The curtain beside the door shifts, and I see Alice’s face peek through. The delighted look that spreads across her face has my stomach twisting in knots.

I did that, and I feel damn lucky for it.

The door opens a second later, and I feel a wave of contentment wash over me.

“Hi.” Her greeting is breathy but warm. Two letters, but they sound perfect from her.

“Hi.” And I’m back to feeling like a schoolboy presented with the opportunity to talk to the pretty girl.

Alice catches sight of the toolbox in my hand.

“What do we have here?”

“I’m hoping I can help turn the tides in what I assume has been an ongoing battle with this demon of a house.”

Her eyebrows lift in surprised amusement, but she steps aside for me to pass.