Page 86 of Chasing Fireflies

“No one wants to hear about the wife beater,” Leigh interjects.

Maci looks over at her with wide eyes.

“Sorry,” Leigh says. “I didn’t mean it to come out that way. I just mean we want to hear about Banner.”

Maci looks away, and Leigh makes a face at me, likeoops. I roll my eyes and look back at Maci. “If you don’t want to tell us, it’s okay, Maci.”

“Don’t tell her that,” Leigh complains.

“Anyway,” Maci continues. “Sex with Lucas was always the same, but with Banner…” Her face turns red, and she grins.

“Oh my God. Are you in love with him?”

“Leigh, hush,” I say. “Go on, Maci.”

“It’s just so intense, and there’s so much…passion. Like I want to run as fast as I can and I also never want to leave his side. I don’t know how to explain it.”

“You really like him, huh?” I ask, smiling at her facial expression.

“I really, really do.”

“I also didyou know whatin his truck, Leigh,” Maci says, grinning with a super red face.

Leigh laughs. “Just like I said, little whore.”

We all three laugh as Mark runs out.

“Cannonball!” he yells before he splashes into the water, soaking us all.

*

“What do you think, Bear?” I ask as I sit on the floor outside of the bathroom. I look at my watch and see that not much time has passed. I pet Bear as he lays his head on my lap. “Would you want to share us?” He makes a whimpering noise, and I lean down and kiss his head. “Don’t be sad, boy. You’ll always be our first.” I stare up at the ceiling and sigh. Who knows, maybe this will happen, maybe it won’t. I look back down at my watch and see that it’s time. Moving Bear’s head, I stand up, straighten my dress, and walk into the bathroom.

*

I walk out of the small shop and jump into Old Blue. It’s a nice day, so I ride with the windows down and the radio up. I pull up to our house and hop out of the truck. Grabbing my bag, I jog up the steps and unlock the door. Bear greets me but passes by. Guess he has to use the bathroom. I sit down on the couch and take out my gift box and other purchases, hoping Cash will like this.

*

I’ve cooked the chicken recipe again that Maci gave me because Cash seemed to actually like it. Maybe he was just telling me that he liked it to not hurt my feelings, but he ate it all so… I stand up and put the dishes into the sink before I turn around to face Cash. “Have a good day?” I ask as he rubs Bear’s head, and I rest my hands on the counter.

“Yeah, just visited the Kingsleys. Joe quit drinking.”

“No way!” I say.

“Yep, says he’s done with the bottle.”

“Wow, well, good for him. What about Elizabeth?”

“She says one of them has to drink or they’ll both go crazy.”

I laugh and shake my head. “Those two need their own TV show.”

“That’s for sure.”

“Did he buy a new chair?” I ask, walking over to grab more dishes from the table.

“Yeah, it’s enormous, too. Elizabeth hates it, but she tells me she won’t complain, because it’s her fault he got a new one.”

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