Page 66 of My Almost Ex

“Okay.”

I hate to release his hand for fear it won’t happen again, but we can’t really get out of the truck like that. So I open my door and climb down, staring at the basketball hoop I remember the boys playing when we weren’t old enough to drive but still all hung out. Cora and I practically lived here during the summer since they had the pool with the heater and pretty much all the toys everyone wanted.

“Do you think we could go four-wheeling some time?” I ask as we approach the house.

He glances at me while punching in the garage door code on the opener. “Sure. What spurred that?”

“I don’t know. I saw these people the other day on a trail and thought it looked really fun.”

He chuckles and the door opens. “Done.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you want it to be everyone or just us?” he asks, stepping inside and waiting for me.

There’s a minivan in the garage, along with every sports toy you could imagine, all aligned in some contraption made for sports gear.

“Maybe just us. I might be rusty, and I don’t want everyone watching me.”

He stops before opening the door that leads inside the house. Since it’s a gloomy day outside, it’s darker in here. His body is so close to mine, I want to rub against him, but that’d be creepy and unwelcome, I’m sure. “I’m off on Friday if that works.”

“Not like I have a ton of plans.”

“Then it’s a date… er… I mean.”

I giggle and hold up my hand. “It’s okay. I understand what you mean.”

Our eyes lock, and for the briefest second, I think this could be it. Maybe he’ll lean in and kiss me.

Instead he pushes open the door and screams, “Marla!”

She comes around the corner, arms out, pushing Adam out of the way and swathing me in the biggest hug. “My Lucy!” She sways us back and forth while Adam shakes his head, walking into the house.

At least Marla loved the old Lucy.

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