“But what about you? I don’t even want to think about what she’d do to you. I’ve seen the aftermath from the last time she was angry with you—and that was because of a melted ice cube on the floor! You’ve already told me how she suspects things involving you and guys. And that’s with no evidence to support her theories. She’d lose her freaking mind if she actually had something to go on, such as you at my house. So, I didn’t tell you, because I knew I would invite you in if you ever came by. I wouldn’t have the strength to turn you away. And knowing that, I didn’t want to chance you having to deal with the fallout of my weakness.”
“I wouldn’t have stopped by. I’m only here because your dog found me reading behind my house. Had I known she was your dog, or that this was your house, I would’ve stayed behind the tree line and gone back home once I knew she was back where she belonged.” I drew in a lungful of cool air and stepped back, giving him some space.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings or cause any of this.”
“It’s fine. I get it. This whole thing sucks because it could’ve been avoided, but I get it. Thank you for telling me the truth. I promise I won’t come back. You don’t have to worry about me showing up, or the neighbors assuming things. But really, Axel, if you want to keep the gossip down, I suggest you put your shirt back on. That”—I waved my hand in front of his perfectly chiseled body—“is like begging for old housewives to talk. I’m sure there are a few of them perched by their windows now, just enjoying the view.” I released a giggle the moment his smile appeared. And just like that, the easy banter returned as if the last five minutes never happened.
“Well, we wouldn’t want that, would we?” He took a few steps and bent down to retrieve his discarded shirt. Throughout the commotion, I never even saw him drop it. But he picked it up and slid it on, pulling the long sleeves back down to cover his arms. “Better?” he asked with his arms out beside him and a crooked smirk on his face.
“Much. Nobody needs to see what’s under there.”
“Why?”
I tried to suppress a smirk, but failed miserably. “Because I’m sure the divorce rate will skyrocket around here. Women will use you as an example to their husbands, telling them they need to get off their lazy asses and work out more. The husbands will turn around and tell them that they nag too much, and the sound of their voice makes them want to stab themselves in the eardrum with an unsharpened pencil. Fights will ensue, glass will get broken, cops will be called for domestic disturbances, and it’ll all be your fault.”
His loud roar of amusement echoed through the yard, bouncing off his house behind us and filling me with peace. “I’m pretty sure if that happened, that means they already had issues long before I took my shirt off. But my main concern right now is your messed-up view of marriages. I think you should seek professional help.”
“Me? I need help? Dude, you named your dog Lassie. And you were shirtless outside when the temperature is like sixty degrees. I could go on, but I’ll leave it at that. If anyone needs a psyche eval, it’s you.” I had no idea if the way we joked with one another could be considered normal friend behavior, but it was exactly the way I wanted it. Snickering and teasing with him this way brought me happiness, so it didn’t matter if it was normal, or could be perceived as flirting. All that mattered was that it was us. It came natural, easy, and it made me happy.
“Did you seriously just call me ‘dude’? And yes, I named my dog Lassie. You’ll be the jealous one when she rescues a boy named Timmy from a well. It could happen, and you’ll be the first to tell me how awesome that is. As for me not wearing a shirt outside? I was doing hard labor in the yard. I got hot and started to sweat. Have you ever worn sweaty clothes in cool weather? It sucks. So I took it off to cool down without having a cold, damp shirt stuck to my skin. It’s not crazy, it happens.”
I loved how he could give it right back to me. He’d act offended and become defensive, yet when I focused on his lips, I could see him strain to keep them straight. And his eyes…they sparkled with humor, shining bright blue even though they were slightly squinted, causing the edges to crease while he fought off his laughter. Those were the images I pictured when we talked on the phone. When he’d argue some invalid point with me, or defend his improper grammar. I knew what he looked like even without being in front of him. Was this normal?
“Hard labor, huh? What were you doing, watching the grass grow?”
“I’ll have you know, I’ve been planting things on the side of the house.”
“You own this house?” I had no idea why the thought of him purchasing his own home caught me off guard, but it did. Maybe because he was young, and I’d always imagined people only bought homes when they settled down permanently, got a little bit older, and started a family. Axel didn’t seem to be there yet. Or at least I didn’t think he was.
“No. I’m renting, but I love landscaping. My dad did it, owned his own lawn-care company. I used to help him out when I was younger, and during the summers in college.” He shrugged, showing a hint of his own insecurity for the first time. I’d never pictured him as having any kind of self-doubt before, but it was nice to see. It reminded me that he was human, normal, not that different from me.
“Well, I don’t want to keep you from it. Enjoy digging holes.” I winked at him and turned around, prepared to head back to my house.
“You’re welcome to stay if you want.”
I peered over my shoulder at him. “I have a brown thumb, I’m sure you don’t want me anywhere near your flowers. But thanks for the offer. I’d only get in your way and make you redo it all again, anyway.”
His nose wrinkled and his top lip pulled up in disgust. “They’re not flowers. They’re shrubbery. Very big difference. And you don’t have to help. You could just sit there and keep me company.”
I squared my shoulders and tilted my head to the side, debating if I should question him or not. “What you said earlier…about me being here and the neighbors catching us…”
“I’m sure if they’re going to say something, it’ll be about our argument, not about you watching me work on my landscape. We were sort of wrapped up in a moment back there—me grabbing you, you touching me, depending on the angle, I’m sure we looked like we were kissing with as close as our faces were. If someone’s going to say something, they already have the ammunition. We might have a chance at redemption if they see us how we normally are. But it’s up to you. I don’t want to keep you here if you—”
“I’ll stay,” I said with a smile, cutting him off before I changed my mind and ran back to my house. More than likely, my mom had already gone, so my choice was between an empty, lonely house, or my best friend’s—my only friend’s—company.
I’d choose Axel every time.
I followed him to the side yard where his tools rested against the house. I sat in the grass near where he worked, and pulled my book from my pocket, attempting to read while he dug holes and filled them with small, leafy-looking plants.
“Why are you planting things in the winter? Doesn’t it defeat the purpose if they’re just going to die anyway?”
He wiped his brow with the back of his arm and turned to me. “No, actually, winter is a good time to plant shrubs. Flowers not so much, but trees and shrubbery do very well planted this time of year. They thrive better, and have a greater chance of survival against unpredictable summer weather. People don’t realize this, and plant them during the hot months. The heat tends to kill them before they have a chance to take root and grow.”