Page 34 of More Than a Good Friend

Ava and Mad Dog are away this week, so I’m covering meals and cleaning. I am not sure how she did it before hiring me. I stir the chili, then fill bowls with toppings. Once everyone eats and I get everything cleaned up, I’m going to drag myself home and flop in bed so that I can be up before the sun and do it all again tomorrow.

As I’m setting out bowls of toppings, Bluebonnet walks in. “Need any help? Things at the clinic were quiet today, so I left a bit earlier than normal.”

“Thanks. Yes. If you’ll grab the saltines and set them on this tray. Some of the guys like them in their chili.” I empty a bag of tortilla chips into a bowl. “And some of them like chips.”

“Sure.” She sets to work, helping me. “So how are things? You know, with Dag.”

“I thought they were good, but Saturday he was being weird. Really nice but then he didn’t want me grabbing him a soda. I think being honest with him messed everything up. Just watch. Soon, he’s going to find reasons not to hang out with me.” I bury my face in my hands. “I still can’t believe I told him I loved him. What in the world was I thinking?” I haven’t told anyone but Tandy about that conversation, but who knows who Dag’s told so there’s not much point in keeping it a secret.

Bluebonnet blinks. “You said that? To Dag?”

“I did. And I apologized. Because admitting unrequited love didn’t make me look like enough of a loser.” I stir the chili with too much force, splattering it on the front of my apron. “And he literally said he didn’t want me waiting on him. Like getting him a drink is going to lead me on or something.”

“Maybe that’s not what he meant.” She arranges the crackers in nice neat rows.

I appreciate that she’s trying to find a bright side. “It’s not like Dag is a big proponent of women’s rights and prefers to help rather than be waited on. You should see how his family is. The men do not lift a finger. For anything.”

She cocks her head but doesn’t say a word.

“And yes, I know that should be a red flag.”

Elbows on the counter, she leans forward. “What did he say when you were honest with him?”

“He made me promise we’d always be friends.” With a rag, I wipe off my apron. “And I had to go and say that we’d always be friends, so now I have to be around him while trying to figure out how to turn off these feelings.”

Boots sound on the porch, signaling the end of the conversation. I’ve been here long enough to distinguish the different footfalls of the guys. Dag will walk in the door any second.

“I’ve said way too much. It’s been a long day, and I’m tired.”

She nods and heads to the exit, her not very subtle way of leaving me alone with Dag. “When Ava gets back, we should grab coffee or something.”

“Sounds good.”

Dag strolls in and waves to Bluebonnet as he hangs his hat near the door. His green eyes are dancing, and he hurries to the counter. “Goldie, have plans in the morning? I want you to see the new bull play fetch.”

“Fetch?”

“Yeah, I told you about it. Dallas even got a video.” He walks to the sink and washes up. “Need an extra set of hands? Figured you’d be busy with Ava out of town.”

“Almost everything is ready. I just need to get out plates and bowls.”

“On it.” He opens cabinets until he spots the bowls. “Found ’em. So you wanna come with me in the morning? I’d take you after dinner, but it’ll be dark.”

“As much as I want to see the bull play fetch, I can’t this week. There’s just too much to do.”

He laces his fingers together and rests his hands on his head. “Skip my cabin this week. And my laundry. I can figure that out on my own. I think. And after dinner, if I can help with something, just tell me.”

This is a side of Dag I don’t even recognize. “Are you offering to clean bathrooms?”

He shrugs, then nods. “If it’ll help you. But you’ll either have to show me or link to a YouTube video or something because I’ve never cleaned a bathroom before.”

“Why?” I need to figure out what’s changed.

Staring at the floor, he shifts and drops his voice to a whisper. “My mom always did that at home, and here, Ava did it before you started. That’s why I’ve never cleaned a bathroom.”

Is he messing with me?

“Why are you offering to help me?”

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