We’ll plan, I texted back.
The ball was back in the office. All the lights were out but the ones by the front door. Katie was leaning against the wall by said door, glaring at Dave and Gal, who were standing in the center of the space lit now only from the waning sun coming in the windows. Murphy was racing around them, and they were ignoring him, as well Katie’s hint (they were so totally into each other, yeesh).
And my phone binged again.
Great. Six at mine Friday, but Saturday, do you want to hike Watershed before we kick back?
I so totally did.
With Rix?
I so totally, completely, absolutely did.
Morning or afternoon hike? I asked.
Lady’s choice, he answered.
I like mornings.
Me too. Then, right on the heels of that, I received, I didn’t notice. You got a grill on that deck?
Yes.
After Watershed, we’ll hit Park Plaza for lunch and pick up some beer. We’ll go to the store after that. You do sides, I’ll grill meat.
Sounds great.
Up for a kayak Sunday?
Ohmigod!
Totally!
I loved kayaking!
You bet.
You got your own, or do you rent when you go? Cause I got an extra.
Hmm.
Was that extra kayak Peri’s?
I didn’t ask.
I texted, I have my own.
Course you do. My girl wouldn’t rent a fucking kayak.
His girl.
My belly flipped.
See you tomorrow, babe, he said.
Yeah. Have a good night.
You too. Have fun with your girls.
Will do.
I thought that was the end of it.
But it wasn’t.
Rix sent another text.
You get drunk, you call me, Alexandra. I’ll come get you, them, I don’t care. Take you all home. Even if it’s late. Yeah?
Yep.
Peri was so stupid.
We won’t get drunk, I assured him.
Shit happens. Call me.
Kate sometimes has to be up and working by four, so we won’t get drunk.
What I’m saying is, you’re free to let loose. Enjoy yourself. I got your back. So if you decided to do that CALL ME.
Okay.
Maybe it was me who was stupid for being involved in this, because eventually, I wouldn’t even be able to pretend he was mine.
I’ll call you.
Promise.
I promise.
Go have fun.
Later.
He sent the sunglasses emoji.
I grinned at my phone, inspiration struck, and I sent the blushing-smiley-face emoji.
To which he sent the heart-kiss emoji.
Yes.
The heart-kiss emoji.
Lord.
My belly melted, and I could feel my grin change.
Then I came back to the room.
Dave and Murphy were gone, all the lights were out, and Gal and Katie were standing at the opened front door, staring at me.
“Rix is down to meet for drinks with you guys,” I shared.
“I bet he is,” Gal drawled, a knowing look on her face.
Whatever.
Katie giggled, a happy look on her face.
Whatever.
“Let’s go eat,” I said.
Then I pushed through them and walked out the door.
Chapter 10
The Story
Alex
Friday night, I pulled up the side drive at Rix’s place and parked behind his truck, which was under an overhang that came off the side of his house.
He had a place a few blocks northeast of downtown Prescott, super close to where our new office was, maybe only five blocks away.
I was not surprised to see it was a small crackerbox house, painted white with black trim, though the front door had a big window, around which it’d been painted barn red.
I was also not surprised to see the yard was exceptionally well taken care of and beautifully landscaped, with clusters of aspen trees, thick tufts of spiky ornamental grass around the front steps, and there were two large trees on either side that had to be at least forty years old. Their canopy was wide and covered the entire house, and as such, undoubtedly threw much-needed shade.
Though, they also served to make the whole space seem settled and safe, an oasis that had sat there for a long time, and hopefully would remain there a lot longer.
I grabbed the bottle of wine and the six-pack of Goose Island Stout, which Rix had told me was his favorite, and got out of my car.
I then walked up to the door, noting his porch décor was two deep-swayback, dark wicker bucket chairs, in which it would be impossible to sit in without slouching, so they looked amazingly comfortable. The table between them was a sawed-off log, upturned on the end.
Rix also had a string of lights that swooped across his porch, as well as trailed out above the front yard on a diagonal to a big tree on the corner of his property, then trailed back, forming a triangle.
It was simple.
And totally rad.
I could see on summer nights and winter mornings, sitting on that porch, sipping wine or coffee (respectively), keeping an eye on the quiet neighborhood and waving at neighbors as they drove past.
I hit the doorbell, but even so, I saw inside.
And at that, I was surprised.
Wood paneling on the side wall, in front of which was a light-blue twill couch flanked by somewhat large, square end tables. A coffee table before that, two armchairs facing it. Gleaming wood floors that looked like real oak. An attractive area rug under all of that which was in a traditional jagged edge Southwestern design in the colors of light blue, dark blue, white and peach.