Page 126 of Love in Riverbend
I stuff my hands into the pockets of my jeans, afraid if I don’t, I might reach out and touch her, hold her hand, or do something I shouldn’t. Looking at the door, I ask, “Is it locked?”
“What will anyone take?”
“It’s better to be safe.”
She reaches for the handle. It rattles rather than turns. “Locked.”
The tension eases from me as we turn toward the staircase ready to join the others for lunch. I contemplate explaining why I was banging on her door like a wild man, but I’m not confident that an explanation will help things. Instead, I ask, “What made you decide to move back to Riverbend?”
“Are you really gone if it’s only for school? You went to Purdue, right?”
“Yeah. I never imagined staying away.”
“I did,” she says wistfully. She turns, her light brown eyes full of wonder. “If I told you, you’d probably go back to thinking of me as only a kid.”
My cheeks rise as I grin. “I’m not thinking of you as a kid. My little problem earlier wouldn’t have happened if I thought you were a kid.”
“Little?”
That makes me laugh. “A discussion for another time. Your move back to Riverbend?”
We’re now outside and as Devan lifts her face to the breeze, the sun hits her like a spotlight. The color of her eyes reminds me of soft suede. Browns and golds blend in the most unique of ways. Her hair is light yellow, and in the sunlight I see darker shades in it.
“I think I wanted the adventure of leaving, but when it came down to living, I wanted the familiarity of Riverbend.”
I lower my voice as we are closer to the others. “I was hoping it was that best kiss.”
Pink fills her cheeks as she looks at me and away.
“I found her,” I say as I take my seat at the picnic table.
Devan sits on the other side beside Marilyn and opens the jar of mayonnaise.
“Your food is cold,” Ricky says to her. “I was about to eat it for you.”
Devan dips a fry right into the jar.
Lifting my sandwich to my lips, I try to hide my smile. Watching her place each fry between her plump lips is the sexiest thing I’ve seen. And despite the mayo, I don’t find it the least bit disgusting.
It’s nearly three in the afternoon when we close the trailer and secure the door. Nothing is left in the apartment, and both the ladies’ cars are filled to the brim. I’m even sharing the back seat of the truck with a laundry basket filled with blankets, and on the floorboard are three potted plants. My task is to make sure they stay upright.
Jack waits for Devan and Marilyn to pull out before he follows them. My first thought is that the ride back will take twice as long. With my mom and sister as the measurement, my experience is that women drive much slower than men. However, once we’re on the interstate, I take that thought back. Pulling the trailer slows us down. Devan and Marilyn leave us in their dust.
“Thanks again,” Ricky says as he cranks up the air conditioning.
“Third floor,” I say. “You owe me.” The unstated truth is that I’m glad I came. The mystery of BK is solved. Now the question is what to do with the knowledge. This morning’s kiss comes to mind.
“I told you,” Ricky says, bringing me to the present.
“Told me what?”
“She’s not a little kid anymore. It’s like she left for Ball State and suddenly is an adult.”
“You’re all kids,” Jack says.
All I do is nod. There’s really not an answer that I can give, one that won’t either get me punched by my best friend or tossed from his dad’s truck.
Chapter 12
