Page 30 of Bear Strength

“Well, I don’t have any beer here unfortunately.”

“That’s fine.”

“But, I’d like to treat you to one if you come down by the diner one of these days.”

My own suggestion takes me by surprise. It’s like my heart had its own agenda, and my mouth just followed the orders, without my mind being in on it. I blush slightly, realizing that he’ll probably think I asked him out on a date. And, that’s not what it was. A date, I mean. It’s not a date. No way. He can’t think that. I need to clarify that, and make sure we’re on the same page.

“I’ll do that,” he nods, giving me a mischievous look.

I’m about to clarify that it’s not a date, but nothing along those lines comes out of my mouth. Instead, I just keep smiling this big, stupid smile that seems more appropriate for a school girl in love than a single mom of 32.

“So, you think Dominick will be finished with your wall next weekend?” I ask, trying to keep the conversation revolving around Dominick. It’s safer that way, for everyone.

“Probably,” he nods.

“Good,” I smile.

“Mason found him more work.”

This newfound statement makes me turn to him, with eyes wide open.

“Mason did what?” I repeat, wishing to God that I haven’t heard it right.

“Mason found him more work,” he reiterates, word for word.

“But, why?”

He eyes me strangely, his head tilted a little to the side, like he’s seeing me for the first time.

“Because he likes it there.”

“Who does?”

“Your boy,” he shrugs. “And, we like having him.”

I swallow a little before I speak. Of course Dominick would like them. They’re cool bikers, living the life any rebel teenager would die to live. I’m fully aware of the oxymoron here. But,that’s not the point. The point is that Dominick has managed to find a way to keep going there indefinitely, from the looks of it. To say I don’t like it would be an understatement of the century.

“You don’t like the idea?” Wagner leans back onto his palms, his arms stretched out.

“It’s not that,” I try to weasel my way out of it, without really saying what I mean. “It’s that he’s got school and everything, and we just moved here…”

“That’s only if he keeps his grades good,” his answer surprises me.

“Well, that’s… fine then, I guess….” I cough a little.

“Is it?” he sounds like he’s really wondering. “Because Mason and me, we get the feeling you don’t like us very much.”

“I like Adrian,” I blurt out my answer, and immediately wish that I kept my big mouth shut. But, it’s too late. My answer sends him into a bout of laughter.

“Adrian, huh?” he winks at me. “You’d have to wave a flag at him, stating exactly what you want him to do.”

There is no malice in his voice. Only good old-fashioned amusement. For some reason, I know he means nothing bad by it.

“That’s not nice,” I still frown.

“Adrian would think it’s funny,” he replies, waving his hand dismissively. “And, besides, a good joke is wasted on you women. You always need stuff to be morally right and shit.”

I give him a moment or two to realize what a stupid thing he just said, but instead of apologizing, he just stares into the distance, like some freaking philosopher who just said the smartest thing in the world, but needs to wait a little because no one understands him.

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