Page 20 of Enemy Crush
I laugh. “Woman after my own heart,” I joke. “I got some washer boxes outside if you want to go play. I got cold beer, and I could always through some hotdogs on the grill. It’s a great day for it.”
Her eyes widen and sparkle. “Okay, let’s do it!”
“Bundy, home,” I say, holding up my hand and he flies right to it. I put him back in his cage and lock it before I lead Stella out the back door and into the fenced in yard. While I count out steps for the washer boxes, she pulls up some music on her phone. The day is warm and the sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky. It really is the perfect day for a cookout.
I stand at one end and she stands at the other, and the two of us take turns throwing washers. On the first round, neither of us score, so we switch sides and do it again. When she finally scores a ringer, she throws her hands up in the air and jumps up and down while she cheers herself on. I can’t help but to laugh and watch as that dress sways around her. I clench my jaw to hold back the urges bubbling up inside of me. But all I really want to do is pull her against me and kiss her until we’re both breathless.
It dawns on me that neither one of us have talked about that kiss we shared and I sure as hell won’t bring it up now. I guess we’ll just have some fun, build our friendship, and see where it takes us. I’m always down for an adventure, especially with her.
Chapter Eleven
Stella
It seems we’re both out of practice when it comes to playing washers, so the game goes on and on forever. Eventually, I win and we break for another beer while Paxton lights the grill. I’m standing off to the side of the grill, watching him work and listening to music when I catch a glimpse out of something from the corner of my eye.
“What is that?” I point at the tree that has a small hook screwed into the bark. There’s a string and a ring attached. “Is that what I think it is?”
He looks over his shoulder at what I’m pointing at and smiles. “Yeah, it’s Ringing the Bull. You play?”
“Not very good, but it’s so addicting. I can’t stop until I make it and then after I make it, I think I can do it every time and I have to keep going,” I laugh.
He joins in. “Go for it. Get some practice cuz’ I’m a pro.”
I take my beer over to the tree and unhook the ring. I step back until the string it taught, then I swing it forward, praying I land the ring on the hook. I don’t and it comes swinging back. I catch it and try again, again, and again.
Paxton laughs as he comes over and takes the ring from me. “Watch and learn,” he says, swinging the ring. It soars through the air and lands perfectly on the hook on his first try.
My mouth drops open as I look at him. “Show me your ways,” I joke.
He laughs. “It just takes practice. When I was a kid,” he starts, walking over to the tree to get the ring. “I had to hang at the store a lot while my mom worked. I was too young to stay home alone. My dad got tired of hearing me whine about how boring it was. So back in the office, he strung one of these up. I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent of my life playing this game. Countless hours.” He swings it again and again, he makes it. He lifts his brow and shrugs.
I squint at him as I walk over to the tree and take the ring back. I stand at his side and let it go. It swings but misses.
He laughs. “Keep practicing. I’m going to get the hot dogs for the grill.” I watch as he walks inside. When he’s gone, I turn my attention back to the game and focus, trying as hard as I can. I continue to play while he grills the hotdogs and with each swing, I pick up on another thing or two on how hard to swing, what arc I need. Before the hotdogs are done, I’ve made it on the hook two times. Every time, I cheer like I’ve won a million dollars.
Paxton brings out fresh beer and the two of us sit at the patio table in the back yard to eat our hot dogs, chips, baked beans, and pasta salad. “Mmm, this is amazing,” I say around a mouthful.
He laughs. “It’s a hotdog,” he points out.
“I know, but it’s perfect. I love just being able to chill in the back yard, eat good food, drink cold beer, and have fun. I would live every day of my life like this if I could. Some of my best memories are from grilling out with my parents, Lola, and her parents growing up.”
He nods. “What’s going on with her and Hank anyway? I saw him at the bar with his ex the other night.”
I shake my head. “Well, his ex is no longer his ex. Lola is. But it’s really for the best,” I say. “He was an asshole and she deserves so much better. I wish I knew a good guy to hook her up with.”
He presses his lips together. “I might know someone,” he says, seeming to think it over.
“Really? Who?” I ask, suddenly excited.
“He’s a guy that comes into the store a lot. If I could say that one person has kept the store open with sales, it’s him. Every time he comes in, we talk and hang out. He only moved to town a couple of years ago. He’s a nice guy, really quiet. I never see him anywhere but the store and the market. He doesn’t do the whole bar scene or anything.”
“What’s his name? We need to set this up like yesterday!”
He laughs. “His name is Evan. I’ll ask him if he’s interested the next time he’s in the store. He just got out of a pretty bad relationship. He moved to town with his girlfriend but she decided she didn’t like the small-town life and she moved back to the city.”
I nod, thinking it over. “Well, don’t forget and keep me updated. It’s hard to meet people here when you’ve known them all your life.”
He presses his lips together and shrugs. “Sometimes people aren’t who you think they are.”
