Page 22 of Love Like Lightning

I let the hot water and soap rinse my day away down the drain. Not the good parts, like seeing Gia again, but the less-than-ideal parts. When I didn’t realize how big the gutter job was going to be. When I didn’t know enough about a seemingly small electrical issue, so I had to pass the job off to someone who did. The fact that I’m not entirely convinced that I’m only excited about seeing Gia again because of the sex we could have.

That thought filters in and out of my head so quickly that I don’t get a chance to examine it.

What do I want to do with Gia? Another hookup? Possibly a long-term thing like I have with Milly?

Closing my eyes against the idea, I go through the motions of my shower like normal.

I may not know what I want with Gia, but I do know one thing.

Seeing her in Ever Lake again improved my mood tenfold.

And that has to mean something

“All right, fill us in. You’re clearly bursting to say something.” Hank spares me a glance as he pours three cups of tea.

I’m sitting on their overstuffed couch nibbling on one of Betty’s famous ginger cookies while Hank gets our tea and Betty lounges on her favorite recliner.

Their apartment is almost a mirror image of mine, but it looks much homier with all of their stuff spread out.

My friendship with the couple started before I even moved into their upstairs apartment. Before they took on the massive renovation, I was coming by to help out with odds and ends. They always invited me in for tea, which, truthfully, I hated in the beginning.

I’d always been a coffee drinker, not because it gave me unending energy or woke me up in the morning, but because it seemed like the thing to do. My dad drank coffee in the morning, and so did my brothers growing up. So when I turned fourteen, I just started drinking it too.

Turns out, I don’t actually like coffee all that much, and these days, a cup of green tea or a nice grapefruit oolong does the trick.

I haven’t told Betty or Hank outright, but I’ve started buying my own and drinking it on my own time. Part of me thinks that if they knew, maybe they’d stop asking me to stop by for a cup. And that would suck.

Afternoon tea here is one of the highlights of my days. I don’t have all that many friends other than these two. So many of my classmates moved away after high school and never came back, much like my middle brother Grant. At least my classmates sometimes come back to visit.

Once we all have our tea, Hank settles on the other end of the couch, looking at me expectantly. When I bite back a laugh and take a small sip of the tea, he raises an eyebrow slowly, and Betty hums impatiently.

I saw Betty earlier at the bar, and she even said something when she first saw me. Must’ve seen how happy I was after I ran into Gia.

“All right. I’ll tell you.” I smile into the tea and take another sip before placing the cup onto the coffee table. “The girl I’ve been telling you about—”

“The girl you met the one time?” Betty questions, cocking her head to the side. “That night at the bar?” Her question isn’t accusatory, per se, but I’m sure she knows that our short conversation at the bar wasn’t the end of our interaction that night. Luckily, despite being old enough to be my mom, she doesn’t mention it.

“Yes, that girl.”

“The one who made such an impression you can’t shut up about her?” she continues, a smirk growing on her face.

“If you want me to shut up about her, I can stop now.” I offer my own smirk, knowing damn well they both are dying to hear what I have to say.

“Oh, carry on, will you?” Hank interrupts us both with raised eyebrows.

“Well…” I pause specifically to draw the moment out, building up suspense. “She’s back in town.”

“Is she?” Betty’s interest is clear as she leans forward like she doesn’t want to miss a word.

“She is. I think she’ll be here for quite a while.” At least, I hope.

“And? Will you pursue her?” Hank asks, leaning back to enjoy his tea.

Pursue her.

Into bed? Maybe. But I sure as hell won’t say that out loud to them. “I’m not sure.” I want to see her again, talk to her, but after that? Who knows.

“You haven’t stopped bringing her up since you met her months ago.” Betty’s eyes narrow slightly. “And she’s back.”

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