He let me cry in his arms, and every so often, he pressed gentle kisses to my cheek. His presence made me feel grounded, and I clung to that small piece of stability floating in a tumultuous sea. When I managed to pull myself together, I took a step back before wiping the tears from my face. “I’m sorry,” Isaid.
He shook his head. “Nothing to be sorryfor.”
The sky had faded to the deep navy blue of desk. Bullfrogs croaked in the creak, crickets chirped. “They’re probably wondering what on earth I’m doing.” I thumbed toward the house before wiping my face onceagain.
“Probably.”
We started across the field, and halfway to the house, he grabbed my hand and stopped me. “Look,” he said, “I may not have any idea about what you’re going through, but I’m here. I meanthat.”
“Thanks.”
He nodded, still holding my hand in a silent “I’mhere.”
Bo was out back playing tug of war with Sampson, and he looked up when we rounded the side of the house and headed to his truck. I thought about kissing Noah when he opened his door, then felt guilty for wanting something so inconsequential given thecircumstances.
He glanced back at my house, and the second he turned around, I cupped his cheek and kissed him, savoring his taste. When I pulled away, he smiled and brushed a finger over my cheek. “You need me, you just call me. No matter what time,alright?”
Closing my eyes for a second, I smiled. “Okay.”
“I’ll see you later, prettygirl.”
22
Noah
All That She Wants” by Ace of Base played over the speakers in the Piggly Wiggly, and I hummed along. As much as I wished it wasn’t, it was catchy. Grandma stopped in the middle of the aisle, I guess when she realized what the song was about. “I never…” she huffed, snatching a pack of Little Debbie Zebra Cakes from the shelf and throwing them in the buggy. “Songs used to be about not talking back and dancing shoes and now it’s all about sex andhooties.”
“Hooties?” I snagged a bag of Cheetos and opened them, shoving a handful in mymouth.
“Hooties, ain’t that what’cha call ladies of thenight?”
“Hoochies, Grandma.Hoochies.”
“Well, anyhow. It’s all about sinnin’ these days.” She pushed the buggy a few feet, then glanced over at me, arching that damn eyebrow. “Speakin’ of sinnin’, you better not be a sinnin’ with the preacher’sdaughter.”
Sighing, I grabbed the grocery list laying on top of her wicker purse. “Green beans. Bananas. AquaNet.”
She grabbed the list. “Don’t distractme.”
“Grandma, I’m a grown assman—”
She whacked me on the back of the head so hard I saw stars for a second. “Boy, how many times I gotta tell you not to swear in front ofme.”
“Jesus…”
“That’s right, you better call on him!” She turned the aisle too sharp, knocking over the pyramid of BOGO paper towels. She just kept going, running over most of the paper towel rolls and getting one stuck under the wheel. She kicked it out of the way. “Dagnabit.”
“I’m glad you don’tdrive.”
“I’m just giving those teenage boys that work here something to do. Now let’s see, how about some fried chicken and mashed taters onSunday?”
“You know I love your friedchicken.”
“Mmhmm, and I bet she willtoo.”
“She?”
“Yep, you’re gonna bring that girl over for Sunday dinner like a right gentleman should. You ain’t gonna be a floozy with the preacher’s daughter. I’ve worked too hard on my good deeds to have you make God angry atme.”
