Love Fast

I hear Byron’s truck pull up in front of the cabins just before seven. I spot him out of the window and try to ignore the flutters of god-knows-what in my stomach. I need to get perspective. This man is just the guy next door. Someone who knows his way around a woman’s body. Someone who happens to be my boss. And it’s not like he’s pulled up to see me. He lives next door.

My laundry is finished and my bed, in the corner of my living room, looks super cozy. I go to the refrigerator to pull out the milk for cocoa, when I hear Byron’s footsteps coming up the steps to my porch. My stomach lifts higher and higher with each step.

He raps on my door, and I call out for him to come in.

“Hey, how are you doing?” he asks as he appears. “Sorry, I lost track of time and realized just now that you didn’t have a key to my cabin and—how is this place doing?” He comes in and shuts the door. I feel the pull of him so deeply, it’s like he’s the moon and I’m the sea. His hair is mussed, and I have to hold myself back from reaching up to rearrange it with my fingers. I have to stop myself from circling my arms around his waist and drinking in his cool, fresh scent.

And then I remember who he is. Who I am. How things are… uneven. Difficult.

“I’m good. Someone had my roof fixed, so thanks for that.” I hold his gaze, waiting for his reply. I’m grateful, but I’m also wary. He didn’t talk to me about it. He just went ahead and did it. I’ve spent my life being told what to do and what’s expected of me. I don’t want to slot into someone else’s way of doing things anymore.

He shrugs. “Mike and Beth don’t have much money. I knew they’d do the repairs themselves and it would take a couple of days, but they’ve probably got damage to their place they need to focus on. I figured it would be easier and better just to get it done.”

He did it for Mike and Beth, not me. Why didn’t I see that before? The muscles in my jaw unclench. I breathe a little more deeply. He’s not trying to take over or exert his control. He was just being kind to a couple without much money.

“But you needed the workers for the Club,” I say.

“Nah, most of the day was spent opening shutters and rearranging fixtures and furniture from the chalets.”

I laugh at I don’t know what. A weight has lifted off my heart. I’m more carefree than I’ve felt in… as long as I can remember.

He rubs his stubbled chin with his palm. “It’s set us back, but I really think we’ve got a shot of being ready. We just need some more kitchen staff. And— Never mind.” He checks his watch. “Have you eaten?” he asks.

“Not yet, I was⁠—”

“Let’s go to Grizzly’s,” he says. “Eat wings and drink beer. Relax. It’s been a weird twenty-four hours.” He shoots me a grin, and I can’t help but smile in response.noveldrama

Weird is one way to put it.

“Everyone’s going to be there,” I say.

“Right,” he says. “Everyone goes to Grizzly’s after a storm. Or when the first snow falls. Or whatever other occasion people think up.” He laughs. “Some things never change.” He seems lighter. Happy. His mood is contagious.

“So you think we should go… together?” I ask. I don’t know if this is a date or if it’s just one neighbor giving another a lift to a bar.

He narrows his eyes. “Did you have an alternative suggestion?”

I transfer my weight from one foot to the other. People are going to see us. I guess that’s fine. We’re neighbors. But in the bar, I’m not going to know anyone. Is he going to be off talking to his friends while I nurse a Coke at the bar? Is he going to slide his hand into the back pocket of my jeans and…

“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

I want to go. I really want to go. I want to feel the atmosphere at Grizzly’s after a storm, when the entire town is celebrating, rather than looking at a girl in a dirty wedding dress. I want to see if Donna went to the park. I want to meet the famous Nancy, of soup and pie fame. Most of all, I want to stop worrying about every little thing and just hang out with Byron. I want our time-out from reality to go on a bit longer.

“Let’s do it,” I say, before I can change my mind. “Wings and beer sound good to me. And as a bonus, we get to find out whether the RVs in Valley Park are a government conspiracy.”

He brushes his hand through his hair. “Now you’ve lost me. Tell me in the truck.”