I glance up at her. “Do you have any other old lady neighbors who want to stab me with their rakes?”
“But she’s so…tiny.”
I shove the remaining cookie into my gullet. “Haven’t you seen that documentary about psychotic roommates? One of them is an old lady who slowly poisons the woman living in her house.”
“But she’s the neighbor, not your roommate.”
“My point is, just ’cause she’s old doesn’t mean she ain’t diabolical.”
That’s what I’m saying.
“She was giving me eyeballs.” Because she can as these damn houses are way too close together.
All houses are too close togetherwhen you’re raised on hundreds of acres with wide-open sky surrounding you until you get to college.
“She was giving you eyeballs?” Posey laughs, not taking me seriously.
“Well, she wasn’t tryin’ to flirt, that’s for damn sure. Even gave her one of my trademark smiles.” I resume pulling out more nails with the back of the hammer.
“You have a trademark smile?”
Is she mocking me?
Posey crosses her arms over her chest. “I’ve only seen you smile, like—twice—and you’ve been here almost a week.”
Yup. She’s definitely mocking me.
“Let me see it,” Posey says.
I shake my head. “I can’t smile on demand. It’s gotta be natural.”
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard you say, and you’ve said a lot of stupid shit.” She laughs. “Come on—smile.”
I scowl. “No.”
Her hands are on her hips now.
First, her face is expressionless.
Then.
She smiles.
It’s a goofy smile—over-exaggerated and comical—eyes wide and teeth twinkling.
“Knock it off,” I tell her. “That isn’t gonna work.”
“Wanna bet?” She sticks her tongue out, and I notice the flash of a dimple in her right cheek, which is adorable and irritating and something I don’t have time for.
“I’m not bettin’ younothin’.”
She continues smiling at me like a nut, her hair shining under the warm sunshine, red tank top and denim jean shorts with frayed hems, her short legs looking all shaved and shit.
Smooth.
“Wanna hear a joke?”
“No.”