Page 32 of A Very Grumpy Neighbor

“Navy?” I guess.

“He’s an Army Ranger, but he’s getting out.”

“Oh, was he hurt?”

“No.”

“Well, that’s good…”

Meyer grunts, and I lose my patience.

“Are you going to see him?”

“He’s coming here. Turns out his brother lives in Wolf Valley now.”

“Small world. Who’s his brother?”

“Milo Wright. He’s a firefighter.”

“When’s he coming here?”

“Soon.”

Oh, my god. I want to scream but force a smile instead.

“It’ll be good for you to have another friend in town,” I say as I set my things down. I grab a can of Coke from the fridge. “Do you want one?”

“Sure.”

I pass him a can and watch as he takes a long drink.

“What else did you do today?”

“Nothing.”

I sigh. My good mood is officially soured. Is this what I want? Meyer is so closed off. If I ask him for even the smallest detail, he clams up. He won’t talk to me about anything. Not his friends, his time in the military, his past. Is this how our relationship will be? And if it is, is this what I want from my partner? To constantly be in the dark. To always have to carry the conversation and feel like I’m pulling teeth to get the tiniest detail.

“How come you never want to talk?” I ask him quietly.

“Not much of a talker,” he says, taking another drink of his pop.

“Right.”

“What’s wrong?” he asks, finally picking up on my annoyance and the tension in the room.

“I hate feeling like I’m nagging you every time I try to get you to tell me anything. I get that we don’t know each other that well, but I’m trying. I’d like to know you and for you to trust me. But I feel like that’s not what you want.”

“Because I haven’t spilled my guts?” he asks, frowning hard.

“It’s not spilling your guts!” I snap. “I’m asking basic questions and you make me give you a reason why I want to know and practically beg before you answer.”

“That’s me,” he says, his hands tightening to fists on the countertop.

“I guess I was hoping it would get easier. That you would trust me and want to build something with me.”

“Who’s saying I don’t?”

“You! I’m telling you how I feel, and you’re giving me nothing.”

---