My boys hover behind River until I tell them to go play. Trevor groans, but Oliver pulls his brother away from our cluster.
Mason handles introductions while Logan offers River a beer, which she declines.
“So I heard the little hellions commandeered your tree fort,” Logan states after River takes a seat next to me.
“Hellions?” River questions, lifting a brow in his direction.
“Zack’s boys,” he clarifies.
River peers over at Trevor and Oliver throwing sand at each other before turning back to Logan. “Do you want someone calling your boy a hellion?” Her mama-bear tone is teasing, but the offense is evident. Mason chokes on a swallow of beer, and Anna slowly smiles while my mouth falls open. No one ever defends my children. Hell, even I don’t always stand up for them when I know I should. My gaze finds my boys still torturing one another with fists full of sand. I shift back to River, still shocked by her soft expression but protective words. I don’t know what to say.
“Zack mentioned that you and I have a lot in common,” Anna says, and I tip back my beer. Shit.
River glances at me before addressing Anna. “I think we might both like gardening.” The comment is a decent save from an awkward topic, and for the second time in a minute, River covers for me. Anna looks in my direction.
“Maybe,” Anna mutters. Ben was the gardener, but she occasionally helped in their yard.
“The tree fort,” Mason interjects. “I’m in construction. I’d be happy to come inspect your wood.”
Next, I’m choking. I don’t want River anywhere near Mason’s wood, or rather, Mason near River’s wood, or Mason near her tree fort. River gazes at me, a questioning look on her face, before glancing back at Mason.
“I can handle my own tree fort, thank you.” Her sly smile suggests she’s on to him and his innuendos, and the comment has me choking once more. She’s more than capable of taking care of herself, but I’d really love to be the one to take care of her. “I’m going to have the boys help me. It will be a fun project for them.”
“What?” The word rushes out loud and sharp. I’m not certain seven-year-olds should be dismantling and rebuilding a tree fort. Suddenly, I recall my own father building the platform as I scrambled around the yard, probably offering to help while being more of a nuisance. River shouldn’t be tackling such a project with my boys. Deep down, I know it should be me building a tree fort with my sons.
“Sounds like a wonderful idea. The boys could use something constructive to do,” Anna interjects, smiling in agreement with River’s plan. “I’m so sorry I haven’t gotten over to your house to introduce myself.”
River waves a dismissive hand. “Life gets in the way.”
Anna’s smile falters a bit. In her case, it’s been death, and I swallow back the reminder.
“But we’ve met now, and I’d love for you to come over for wine some night. I could use some decorating advice on the interior of the house.”
“Oh, I’m not a decorator. I’m a teacher.”
“Even better,” River adds with a wink. “I’m a nurse. I’m sure we have stories to share.”
The reassuring smile River offers Anna puts my old friend at ease, and I could seriously kiss River for making our sad friend grin in return.
Then again, who am I kidding? I just want to kiss River, period.
7
[River]
After a barrage of questions with Zack’s friends, I now understand the dynamic. Mason, Logan, and Zack were roommates in one form or another during college. Anna and Ben were high school sweethearts, and she went to college with the boys. Mason has been living at the house, and I can only imagine his bedside manner. To his credit, I’ve learned he’s given up a year of his life to stay with them.
I hang with the friends for longer than I expected before excusing myself. Being with the group was fun but also a reminder of how alone I am. I wasn’t someone who had many friends. My grandfather would say I could make friends with a stinkbug. My mother would say I had many, but none of them were close. Nothing like this group. I haven’t broken out to make friends in the community. I’ve heard the rumors. I don’t wish to propagate them, so I keep to myself other than a yoga class and my job at the local hospital.
Later, as I’m getting ready to turn off the lower-level lights in my house and head to bed because I’m on the early shift tomorrow, I hear a knock on the sliding glass door off my kitchen. A short, sharp rap hits the glass a second time. Wandering through the dark kitchen, I glance out the window over the sink to see what it was, assuming it could have been a wayward bird or a falling twig.
Instead, Zack stands outside the double doors. His head lowered. His stance hesitant. He’s a puzzle to me. There’s no doubt I find him physically attractive. He’s not as vivacious as Mason or sweet like Logan, but there’s still something about him. He has a serious edge to him, but he also looks like he’s on the verge of snapping.
I head to the door and flip on the patio light, which causes him to look up at it first before noticing me opening the slider.
“And to what do I owe tonight’s honor?” I tease, assuming there’s no apology necessary this evening. “I kept my clothes on all day,” I proudly jest.
Zack slowly smiles and then bites his lower lip like he did last night. That smirk. It’s like a fire hydrant to my panties. He’s so damn good-looking. Those silvery eyes sparkle like his son Oliver, and I recognize a hint of mischief behind them. A hint of where the boys might get their wild streak, other than being seven-year-olds, of course.
Holding up a bottle of wine, Zack says, “I thought I’d repay the wine from last night. I even brought two glasses.” He shows me two goblets trapped between his long fingers. When I don’t move at first, Zack adds, “You called me a wine stealer last night. I want to be clear. I’ve never stolen anything in my life.” He turns serious, guarded even. “And I always repay my debts.”
His somber tone puzzles me. Taking my wineglass and drinking my wine doesn’t constitute a debt. Still, he seems eager to repay me.
“Noted,” I state. “But I have an early shift,” I tell him next, reminding him I’m a nurse. When the group asked what I did for a living, I stuck to the most basic answer.
“Just one glass.” He pouts at me, jutting out those lush lips, and I laugh. It’s the first funny expression he’s made, and it’s definitely dazzling.
“Okay.” I give him a soft smile before stepping out into the yard. I should invite him inside, but I’m afraid that might send the wrong message, and I’m still uncertain what message I want to send this man.
“Where are your boys?” I ask, closing the sliding door behind me.
“I earned the night off. They’re having a video game marathon with Anna’s son Bryce.”
We cross the lawn, and I wave a hand at the lounger. While Zack takes a seat on it, I choose to sit in one of the individual chairs near the foot instead of next to him. I don’t trust myself. Last night, we sat so intimately close, but he didn’t end up kissing me when I thought he might, and I don’t need to put myself in that kind of position if he’s only trying to be neighborly. Repaying his debt as he incorrectly thinks. Maybe he just wants a friend, and I can be one of those. Quincy had turned out to be one of my best friends.