Page 19 of Flirting With Fire
Dex
Irefused to look in the mirror again to ensure my hair was tidy, my plaid button-up tucked in, and my face perfectly clean-shaven. This wasn’t a date. My heart fluttered as I swiped the back of my hand across my upper lip, the sweat refusing to cooperate as it continued to build. Instead of a hot shower, I should’ve taken a cold one.
When I’d returned to the ranch the day before after the weird exchange with Meyer, I’d needed a moment to process the ex-boyfriend revelation. I almost called Kayla with the startling news but decided I could wait another day for our so-called weekly gabfest.
What had I missed back in high school? Was Meyer closeted, or had he only recently begun to explore his sexuality? I hadn’t slept a wink last night, mulling over every Meyer interaction since I’d first met him, trying to detect the signal I missed back then, the opportunities I might’ve wasted.
Was I truly that clueless? Kayla always said I wouldn’t know if a guy wanted to get some unless he took out a billboard on the highway.Dexter Chase, do me. Do me now.Call 1-800-you’re-a-dumbass.I had no idea how I was going to make it through dinner without staring at Meyer, wondering whether he wanteda new boyfriend and whether he might be interested in me applying for the position.
No. No, I won’t.
Nothing good would come from me allowing myself to fall back into the trap of pining over Meyer. I’d already had my heart broken by him once; I certainly didn’t need a repeat performance. And anyway, I was a kid when I fell so hard for those dreamy eyes and perfect pecs. Those emotions were more related to hormones than actual feelings.
I plucked my hat from the couch then headed out the door to my truck. As I drove the short distance to Lindy’s place, I realized I was spending too much time in the past. I’d already promised myself to let go of all that old baggage and move on with my life. Who cared whether Meyer might be interested? The dude irritated me, and I clearly got on his nerves, so staying away shouldn’t be that big of a deal.
I would work on letting go of my old routines and embrace the next phase. If Lindy invited me by again after tonight, I’d go. Besides, based on the salty conversation I’d last had with Meyer, he’d be moving out soon anyway. I probably wouldn’t see him all that much—at least no more than anyone else I ran into in Charming.
I smiled. Everything would work out just fine. For the first time since seeing Meyer trudging along the road, I actually believed my inner voice’s reasoning.
Then I arrived at Lindy’s home, the familiar sight no longer comforting the way it once had been. I spotted Meyer in the living room's picture window, a glass in hand, chatting with his mom. Every last drop of my newfound resolve evaporated like an ice cube on a July sidewalk. I wondered if Lindy would find it strange if I threw up on her driveway.
The sound of my truck as I pulled into my usual spot must’ve alerted Meyer to my arrival because he immediately disappearedfrom sight. After shutting off the engine, I gripped the wheel, sucking in deep breaths through my nostrils. I was angry at my own weakness. What was it about this guy that twisted me up inside, turned my emotions into a whirling mess like a dust devil hopscotching back and forth over the empty desert?
I climbed out of the truck, my only choice being the one that propelled me to my doom. At least dinner wouldn’t be boring. As I made my way to the front door, I steeled my resolve. Tonight wasn’t about me or Meyer. This informal celebration was for Lindy’s benefit.
“Dex! You’re just in time.”
Lindy had opened the door with a big smile, her arms outstretched. She grabbed me in a hug with Meyer standing right behind her glaring daggers at me. We were off to the races.
“Oh?” I smiled back after breaking the hug, perhaps a couple of seconds too soon than our usual greeting. Hopefully, she hadn’t noticed. “What am I in time for?”
“Well,” she clapped her hands together, not seeming to notice that Meyer and I hadn’t greeted each other yet. “I don’t know if you remember from when you were kids, but Meyer made up a pitcher of his famous jalapeño strawberry lemonade. It’s probably been years since you’ve had any.”
I arched an eyebrow at Meyer as I answered Lindy. “Many years. Not since Meyer was captain of the football team.” I gave him a tight smile. “Remember how you used to decide who got to play and who sat on the bench?”
Meyer’s jaw went slack, and Lindy tilted her head, her brow furrowing.
“Did he used to bring the lemonade to practice?” she said.
Meyer crossed his arms. “No, mom. I think Dex has been out in the sun too long.”
Lindy broke into laughter as if we were engaged in some private joke. “Oh, you boys are too much. You must have somuch catching up to do.” She guided me by the elbow toward the kitchen. “I’ll pour you a glass of lemonade then you can keep us company while we finish up. The pot roast is almost done, and Meyer is chopping up the tomatoes for the salad.”
My gut clenched as I realized I’d been demoted from salad captain to kitchen stool percher. I rolled my eyes at myself. This needed to stop. Now I was getting weepy over purloined tomato-slicing duties. I didn’t need to slice Lindy’s tomatoes. If I didn’t quit getting sentimental over every tiny life detail that had been disrupted since Meyer’s arrival, I was going to need some serious professional help.
With that in mind, I pasted a smile on my face with the idea that I’d start to mean it as the night wore on.
After I accepted the glass of lemonade, I leaned against the counter, deciding I wasn’t much of a percher. I took a sip of the pink concoction, the cool bite of sweet and spicy trickling down my throat a satisfying treat. I side-eye glanced at Meyer right as he was doing the same to me. I cleared my throat then took another quick drink, my gaze tracking everything in the kitchen except my nemesis.
Lindy seemed oblivious to anything that might be going on between me and Meyer. “Gary couldn’t make it tonight,” she said as she checked the meat thermometer. She smiled as if approving of the temperature results, then placed the device in the sink instead of back in the roast. After closing the oven door, she continued. “I’ll let it finish for a bit while Meyer adds the rest of the salad ingredients. As I was saying, Gary is on call at the station tonight. But he’s looking forward to getting you settled in tomorrow, hon.”
Meyer gave her a grunt and half-smile as he dropped the completed slices into the salad bowl without responding. I pinched my eyebrows together. When I was in charge of thetomatoes, they were done in wedges, not slices. They held up better that way.
“Something you don’t approve of?”
I jerked up my head and was met with Meyer’s piercing gaze. To spare Lindy a shouting match over the proper method of preparing salad ingredients, I favored him with the same half-assed smile he’d given Lindy and changed the subject.
“Aren’t you excited about beginning your new life in Charming as assistant fire chief? You don’t seem all that thrilled about going to the firehouse tomorrow.”
