Nerves knot in my throat as she blinks at me, processing my words.
“You… kinda just called me gorgeous,” she says finally, and I cannot wrap my head around the shock hollowing her tone. The back door clatters as Archie races inside, hands cupped together.
“Mama, I got one! I got a lizard!” he squeals, opening his hands to her. Her eyes are slow to leave mine, and she squirms in her seat at the sight in his hands, making me smirk.
“That’s nice Arch, but can we leave all the critters and creatures outside, please?” She smiles as she strokes her hand through his hair, ruffling it gently, the way only a mom can do. He turns but stops himself, offering his hands to me.
I shoot him a wink. “I'll take a peek.”
Happily, he shuffles toward me and opens his hands,putting the tiny green lizard proudly on display. He strokes a tiny finger down its scaled back. “Cool, huh?” he beams.
Nodding, I pet the little reptile, too. “Very. Nice find, Archie.”
He smiles, a little lopsided, a little toothless. “Thanks!” And then, obeying his mama, he runs out back, the screen door’s now familiar thud signifying that we’re again alone.
I waste zero time getting back to what we were talking about. I won’t let her think it was unimportant enough that I forgot, and I won’t slip back into casual conversation either. “You are so beautiful, Clara June,” I tell her, my voice rougher than expected, a little gravelly too.
“Coach McAllister,” she starts, but I shake my head, because that’s way too formal.
“Please call me Dean.”
Heat flames in her irises, and desire licks at my belly and bones, urging me to say something else, to take this moment a little further. But her phone rings, and while her eyes stay on mine, she takes the call.
“Hey,” she says, smiling, her gaze now moving between me and the floor. “Okay… alright… What? Jackie, are you serious?” She gets to her feet and begins pacing the length of floor that spans the living room and kitchen, one hand pressed nervously to her lower belly. A moment later she says, “Fine, okay, I will. I’ll call you later.”
I get to my feet and extend an arm, my hand stretched to touch her elbow. “Is everything okay?”
She sighs, now holding the phone to her stomach as she uses her other hand, tamping down the air, motioning for me to sit. We both sit, only this time, she sits on the couch, next to me. There’s a cushion of space between us, but I don’t ignore the fact that she chose to sit next to me.
“Everything’s fine, I’m sorry. I just—that was my friend Jackie.”
I have the strongest urge to reach out and drape my hand on her knee, and though I’m not sure if it’s right, I do it. And when her gaze drops to her lap, resting on my hand, I know it was the right move. She licks her lips, slow and seductively, though she isn’t trying to be. She rests her hand on the top of mine, and I’m grateful to be sitting. Her body radiates heat, and her hand is small and warm against mine, causing my neck to grow feverish.
“And everything’s fine? Because you seem… upset.”
She pushes her hair off her shoulder, behind her back, and lets out a sigh. “Well, Rawley and I don’t quite see eye to eye on him taking the SAT next year. I’ve been trying to get him a tutor and—” she slices her hand through the air, with absolution. “Anyway, he just told me about this mechanics apprenticeship at Wrench Kings. We agreed we’d discuss it, but apparently he couldn’t wait because my friend–”
“Jackie,” I interject.
She nods. “Yes, Jackie. She said someone from Wrench Kings called her about his application to the apprenticeship program. He put her down as his legal guardian.”
She takes her hand off my mine, and I sadly take my hand off of her leg, but dig my phone from my back pocket. “As you know, Atticus Winters is a friend of mine. How about I give him a call?”
Her tongue peeks out, swiping along the cupid’s bow framing her top lip. “I don’t… I’m not sure I follow.”
“I can call him and see when Rawley filled out that application.” I shrug. “Most likely he filled it out before you two had that talk, and if that’s the case, then not much has changed, right? You two still need to talk, but it wouldn’t have been like he went behind your back after, right?”
She nods slowly at first but more quickly as she processes my explanation, clearly agreeing. “That’s probably true. I mean, he’s been so busy helping me lately and, well, Jo Jo,” she smiles, “that I bet you’re right.” A beat passes where she just looks up at me. “I hadn’t thought of the fact that he may’ve filled that out earlier.”
I give Atticus a call, and he answers pretty quickly, likely because it’s so rare that I call. In fact, I don't think I’ve ever phoned Atticus Winters. Texted, sure, but called, likely not.
“McAllister?” he answers.
“Yeah, Winters, how are you?” I ask him, the noise of a busy shop filling in the background.
“You see me once a few weeks back and you need more, eh?” he banters.
“I haven’t been able to get you off my mind since,” I tease. He laughs, and I get to it, because I like Atti, but right now, I’m with Clara June and I don’t want to waste Clara June time on anyone else, even my friend. “Hey, I just had a quick question. When were the apprenticeship applications due for next year?”
