Page 120 of Love in Riverbend
His admission isn’t a total shock. I’ve been hearing Ricky bitch about farming for years. I didn’t realize that he was thinking of a way out. I force a smile. “My friend should follow his dream. Just remember, I can always use your help.”
“I figured,” he says as he stuffs another donut into his mouth.
Leaning my head against the window, I drift off. I wouldn’t say I fall asleep. My mind fills with thoughts about the Dunn property. Dax was able to get some approximate numbers. The price of land has skyrocketed in the last few years. I admit to being shocked when he gave me an estimated value. Dad and I talked about buying, we have most of the capital, but damn, it would make things tight. Then Dax came up with the renting idea, and I was immediately on board.
As the truck bounces along 69 north toward Muncie, I can’t tell if Jack took kindly to the idea of renting or if he wants to cut all ties. And then there are the thoughts of BK. It’s funny how our mind builds things up—higher, better, bigger. I can’t be certain if that’s what I’ve done in the last month or longer…okay, five weeks last Friday since we kissed.
Who’s keeping track?
Nevertheless, my memories of that one kiss have blown into much more than what happened. In my mind, I’ve taken our one kiss further. I’ve imagined her soft moans and tasted her sweet lips.
Five weeks.
BK said she wasn’t currently from Riverbend.
Yet she was at the hog roast.
Pulling my hat over my eyes, I know I shouldn’t spend my time thinking about some woman I’ll probably never see again. Instead, I make an effort to return my thoughts to the Dunn property. I’m counting acres, calculating the price of seed…anything to avoid thinking about BK.
I’ve come to the conclusion that my mystery woman was only in Riverbend for one night with friends.
I’ll never see her again.
I’m not being down on myself, simply a realist.
The one woman in forever to light a spark inside me will forever remain only one kiss.
BK.
“Justin.”
Blinking my eyes, I hear my name on repeat. “What the…?” I push my cap off my face and blink, trying to focus as sunlight floods the inside of the cab. Shaking my head, I take in the surroundings. Jack Dunn is still driving. No longer are we on the interstate. We’re driving through an apartment complex. All the buildings are three stories, and they all look exactly alike.
“You were snoring,” Ricky says.
“Fuck you.”
Jack laughs. “You were both snoring. So much for keeping me awake on the drive.”
I think of something I should have thought of before as I look at the seat to my side. “Hey, are Devan and Marilyn both supposed to fit in this back seat?”
“No,” Jack says, “They both have cars to drive back.”
My focus goes to the building where we’ve stopped. I crane my neck toward the sky. “You didn’t mention that she lived on the third floor. First floor? Right?”
“Oh shit.” Ricky opens the door to the truck. “I forgot. She lives on the third floor.”
Opening my door, I stuff the ends of my t-shirt into my jeans and turn my cap backward as I mentally size up a hundred trips up and down. “You’re going to owe me more than donuts.”
Jack presses a button outside the door. It makes a buzz sound.
“Jack?”
“Yeah, Marilyn,” he says. “We’re here.”
“Okay,” comes from the box. “Come on in.”
There’s another buzz.
