“I don’t really know, she just started talking to me in the market.”
“And she asked you out?”
“Yeah. Why do you look so surprised?”
“She met you just now and then asked you to drinks?”
“Yes.”
“Does that happen to you often?”
He shrugs. “Sometimes. I’m usually out with my girlfriend so it doesn’t matter.”
And there it is.
“I mean…” He hesitates on the step for a second before proceeding. His stone cold fox face goes stone cold. “I mean Iwasusually out with my ex-girlfriend.”
“Oh. Sorry.” And now I’m realizing that that’s why he’s moved into Dolly’s place temporarily, with just his dog, some clothes, a guitar and a really bad mood. Lord. I’m so single, it doesn’t even occur to me that other people still have relationships that begin and end. “Is that why you need a new place?”
He ignores my question.
Fine. We won’t talk about that.
“So what’s it like having Dolly Kemp as an aunt? Must be fun.”
He seems to appreciate the abrupt change of subject. “It’s a non-stop party.”
“I like her.”
“She likes you too.”
“She does?”
“She used to talk about you quite a bit. How you’re an artist and you’re a good responsible quiet neighbor who waters her plants when she’s out of town. The way she talked about you, I thought you were at least seventy.”
“God, I wish! I’d love to be seventy. Maybe then people will finally stop judging me for staying home at night.”
He wrinkles his brow at me and then smirks. “You’re pretty weird, huh?”
“Only to people who are either really straight-laced and narrow-minded, or outrageously extroverted.”
“I’m none of those things.”
I laugh. “Oh really?!”
“You’re the one who’s straight-laced and narrow-minded.”
“Um no. I don’t feel the need to do extra-curricular things just because other people are doing them. I’m a free-spirit who happens to be very practical. It’s the best of both worlds, really.”
I frown at him, bracing myself for a wry comment, but he just nods his head and says, “Yeah. You’re right.”
I’m right?
“You’re lucky.”
I’m lucky?
“Most of the talented people I know are a mess.”
