I don’t remember what we talked about after that. My head was full of what I’d said to her and what it meant for me. I wondered if I should download some episodes of The L Word just to make sure, or maybe I could find those Willow episodes of Buffy and compare myself with her.

And then there was Analemma to manage; we encountered another dog on the road as we returned to civilization, and Analemma didn’t like a lot of other dogs. By the time we got back to the house and I checked my phone, we’d been gone for over an hour. Joan’s car still wasn’t back.

I thought about inviting Steph inside, but she said she should go home; she was meeting Lisa for dinner, and it was already after five. So I let Analemma in through the gate and then walked Steph to her truck.

“Are you working tomorrow?” I asked.

She nodded. “Every day this week.”

“When do you come back to do the yard?”

“Not till next Friday. I’m here every other week. We should do that lunch, though. How about next Wednesday? I have the day off.”

“I’m sure that’ll be fine.” I was a little disappointed, though; next Wednesday was a whole week away.

“You should come to movie night on Sunday again.”

A surge of excitement. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, of course. And keep in touch if you want to talk or anything.”

She came toward me with her arms open to hug me goodbye, and I knew it was a completely normal thing to do, but it was also the first time we hugged. Did she realize that? Her arms went around me, and she smelled slightly metallic, like sweat. I felt her hands on my back through my T-shirt, her palms and fingers splayed out across my spine. I felt the press of her breasts and hip bones against me, her warm body, and I had to fight the urge to pull her closer.

Then she stepped back and opened the door of her truck, and I waved goodbye as if I didn’t want to climb in right after her. I forced myself to go back through the gate and not stand there watching her drive off, but I listened until the sound of the engine faded into nothing. As I walked slowly up the path to the front door, I slipped my hand into my pocket for the keys and felt something soft inside. It was the yellow monkey flower, only slightly squashed from its journey.

Chapter 20

7:43 PM

Steph: Checking in. You ok? That was a big thing you did

7:44 PM

Me: I’m ok. Thanks for asking!

7:52 PM

Steph: Of course. Been there

Chapter 21