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“Yeah, I mean… I’m not the same person I was back then and neither are you. We shouldn’t try to pick things up where we left off. We should start over and, if I’m being completely honest here, I’m really intrigued by new Jovie.”
Her cheeks blush pink. “What’s so great about her?”
I step closer. “Old Jovie never would have asked that question.”
She smiles. “That’s probably true.”
I extend my hand and she takes it. “Come on.”
“Where are we going? No Bolt?”
“No Bolt,” I say, guiding her down the sidewalk toward the center of town. “I figured we’d take advantage of this good weather. Start out nice and slow with a walk and talk.”
“Sounds good.”
“And then, you have choices.”
She feigns a gasp. “Oh, I like choices.”
“They’re playing Fahrenheit 451 at the library at eight.”
“Cool.” She nods.
“Or, we can take over a pool table at Lucky’s and I can hustle you out of your Pop Tart money.”
She cringes. “Eh, don’t mention money.”
I laugh. “Okay. No evil gambling tonight.”
“Thank you. What else?”
“Oh, William! Is that you?”
We halt our stride as Mrs. Clark cries out from her porch across the street.
“Yeah,” I say, waving. “Hey, Mrs. Clark.”
“Could you come here for a moment?”
I stay next to Jovie. “I’m actually in the middle of something right now…”
Her eyes shift between us. “It’ll only take a minute.”
Jovie shakes her head. “Just tell her no.”
I hesitate, trapped between the seductress beside me and being the helpful good ole’ boy I usually am.
I release Jovie’s hand and she tilts her head. “I’ll be right back. Just… hang on.”
I jog across the street to Mrs. Clark’s porch. She smiles with delight, deepening the wrinkles on her cheeks and brow.
“What can I do for you? Is something wrong?” I ask her.
She latches onto my arm. “My granddaughter is staying with me tonight,” she says. “I want you to come inside and meet her.”
I dig my foot into her porch. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I already have plans.”
“Oh, nonsense. Reschedule. She’s only here for one night.” She pokes her head into her door frame. “Lillian! Come here, please!”
