Page 22 of Grayson

I’m not the best housekeeper.

We sit at her small kitchen table, drinking our beers, staring at the cabinets cocked sideways at an awkward angle in the middle of her kitchen.

“I really thought it would fit,” she says out of nowhere and I can’t hold back the laughter as it bubbles in my chest. Soon she joins me before we both grow quiet once again.

“Did your dad tell you that my father and Justin got into a fight?”

I sit forward resting my elbows on the table. “Like a fight fight, or a yelling match?”

“Dad threw a punch, Justin ducked.”

If there was one thing you didn’t do it was hurt Scarlett, in any way. Uncle Issac was lethal when it came to his daughter.

“Justin showed up when Dad was here fixing the front porch light.” She shrugged. “I’d hoped I’d be able to talk to him before he even knew Just was back in town. I guess I drug my feet too long.”

“How did it end?”

“Just refused to fight back.” She picked at the label on her beer bottle. “He told Dad that he wasn’t leaving, so he could expect him to fight him on it, but he was going to make things work. Whatever it took.”

“Have to give the guy points for determination.”

“He also told Dad that he loved me and never stopped.”

“I bet Unc’s ears were bright red too.”

“As red as tomatoes.” Truth be told it was hard for me to see Scarlett sad too. Now and when we were younger, I’d do shit I didn’t want just so she wouldn’t be upset.

“So how did things go on the cab ride home the other night?”

I knew it was only a matter of time before she decided to grill me.

“It was a peaceful ride, to which I walked Skye upstairs and watched as she entered her apartment safely. Then I retreated to my own and went to bed.” Scarlett watched me for a few seconds, like she was waiting for me to crack or something.

“You like her,” she declares.

“Excuse me?”

“You like Skye,” she repeats, staring at me with a strange look on her face. A wide smile and wide eyes to match. “You do.” She slaps the tabletop with her palm creating a loud plop. “You like her, like her.”

“Are you twelve?” I ask.

“I just never thought I would see the day.” She fakes shock. Shaking her head in disbelief. “Truthfully it’s like seeing a unicorn or a purple monkey that flies.”

“Give me that.” I reach out and take her beer, making her laugh. “I think you’ve been hitting the sauce already. You’re fucking drunk.”

When she starts chanting Grayson’s got a crush, I’ve heard enough.

Standing I walk to the sink and dump her beer as she spins in a circle still singsonging the words.

“Have fun with your cabinet,” I say on my way to the door.

As I open it and step outside, I hear her laughter echo down the hall. I knew she could call her dad and he’d help her, or even my dad. Right now I needed some distance because though Scarlett meant it all as a joke she had no idea how close her words were to the truth.

I hadn’t been able to shake my brunette neighbor with the gorgeous chocolate eyes and freckles. I’d spent every night since then wondering what she was doing.

Every time I was home and heard a door close, I’d go to my door and look through the peephole hoping to get a glance of her. It was all so unlike me. I didn’t wallow and I sure as hell didn’t yearn for any woman.

But here I am doing those things, longing for someone I barely knew but felt closer to than I had every felt to a woman before.

---