Page 16 of A Moment for Us
She lifts her face, her hand moving to my jaw. “Take what you want, Josh. What we both want.”
Without another word or thought, I kiss her, and I take everything because I’m a selfish bastard.
* * *
“And you young bucks don’t know nothing about women,” Fred says. He and Bill have been sitting in these same chairs at the diner for as long as I can remember. They’re old and offer opinions with or without you asking.
Bill nods. “Not like in our day.”
“And what days were those?” I ask before taking a sip of my coffee.
I’m not sure why I’m encouraging it, but who knows, one day this might be me and my brothers. We’ll be the old guys, sitting around our favorite place, talking shit to the younger generations.
“The days when men weren’t a bunch of pansies. We went up to a woman we liked and asked her out.”
“I don’t want to ask anyone out,” I counter.
Today’s topic is the Parkerson brothers who are still single. Fred and Bill have decided it’s time I hear their lectures, and Jennie, who I normally love, is hiding on the other side of the swinging kitchen doors, listening and laughing.
“The hell you don’t, son. Listen here, you might think you know what you want, but you don’t,” Fred tacks on.
“Andyouknow what I want?”
Bill laughs. “We have eyes, don’t we?”
“You don’t have sense,” I mutter.
“We also have our hearing, so watch yourself, Joshua Parkerson. I am not above taking you outside and teaching you how to fight,” Fred threatens. The sad part is, I don’t think he’s kidding.
“My apologies.”
He humphs and looks at Bill, who continues. “Our point is that you like the Andrews girl. She’s a sweet one, that Delia. Took care of her mom when she was sick, not even a hesitation.”
Fred lifts his mug. “That’s right. When a woman will give up her own dreams to care for another, that’s a good woman there. He’s a fool for not seeing that.”
I’m aware of how wonderful Delia is. She’s just not in my future. The last four days have made it hard to remember that though. I’ve thought about her constantly. The way she gave herself to me without any hesitation. After we had sex, we sat at her table, had a cup of coffee, and then I left. No strings. No issues. No regrets.
“And what about her wants?” I ask. Because Delia seems completely fine with this arrangement. We hook up and we ask nothing of the other person.
“Aren’t you listening to a word we’re saying?”
I look at Fred, feeling as if we’re in some weird circular conversation. “I’m listening.” Just not understanding why they feel the need to say anything.
“I wonder if it’s their dad,” Bill muses.
“He’s an idiot too,” Fred says.
“Had a wonderful woman and ruined her.”
Fred purses his lips as he nods. “Eveline was a sweet one before Mitchell came along.”
“So, we’re thinking the stupid comes from his side.”
“Must be.”
Bill and Fred turn to me. “Maybe it’s better he stays away. Best not to risk it.”
I roll my eyes. “Thank God I have you two to set me straight.”
