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“A little bit, but I’m okay.”
“My mom told me you got hurt in a car accident, so I thought I’d come over to bring you some Band-aids and see if you wanted me to loan you my pet frog. He always makes me feel better.”
“Oh gosh, that is a really thoughtful offer, but I think I’m okay for now.”
“You sure? Alfred’s a pretty good frog. He’s my best friend.” He reached into the box and withdrew a large green toad. Its throat bulged as it let out a loud croak.
“I agree. He does look like a good frog. But I don’t want to take your best friend away. I’m sure he prefers to be with you. And I’ve already got a friend visiting me.” She turned to the man who was hanging back several feet. “This is Dodge.”
Jacob narrowed his eyes at the cowboy. “You like frogs?”
Dodge offered him a solemn nod. “I do. Looks like you got a good one there.”
The boy nodded too then carefully tucked the frog into the box before turning his attention back to Maisie. “My mom told me you had a man who stayed over at your house last night and that he was really hot, so I thought I’d bring you some Popsicles too.” From the same box he’d just put the frog into, he withdrew two white packages and held them up to Maisie. A trickle of lime green syrup leaked from one and dribbled down his wrist.
“Thank you,” Maisie said, carefully taking the popsicles and passing them to Dodge. “That was really thoughtful of you, Jacob.”
“I hope you feel better soon. Oh, I almost forgot to give you the Band-aids.” He licked the green syrup from the side of his arm before pulling three packets of various sizes of bandages from his pocket and passing them to her.
She took them from him then leaned down to give him a one-armed hug, careful not to squish her slinged arm or Alfred’s box. “Thanks for thinking of me.”
“See ya.” He waved to her then pointed to the popsicles in Dodge’s hands. “Hope those cool you off. I brought lime and orange.”
“Perfect,” Dodge said. “Those are my favorite flavors.”
Jacob smiled then turned, and as if channeling his pet frog, hopped off the porch and down the sidewalk.
Maisie shut the door then grinned at Dodge.
He held up the popsicles, syrup from the green one pooling in his palm. “You hungry for a frog-flavored popsicle.”
She grimaced. “Not even a little.”
“You sure? A little frog slime never hurt anyone. In fact, I’m not sure if this green stuff on the package was leaking from the popsicle or from the frog.”
“Oh gross. I’m for sure not eating that one now. But if the orange one is still sealed, I’d eat it.”
Dodge took the packages to the sink to open them and rinse his hands then held the orange one out to Maisie. “You feel up fortaking a walk? Maybe just around the block? Stretch our legs and get a little fresh air?”
Not really. All she wanted was to get back to making out with him on the sofa.
But his demeanor seemed to have changed a little, his shoulders tenser, his expression more somber, and even though he was teasing her about the frog-slimed popsicles, his mouth drew back into a tight line rather than relaxing into an easy smile.
“Sure. That sounds good. I could use a little walk.”
Through the kitchen window, she could see a few clouds, so she grabbed a light jacket from the coat closet and tied it around her waist before taking the popsicle.
They stopped at Dodge’s truck to grab a leash for Moose then walked up the sidewalk toward the small park a few blocks away.
They worked on their popsicles as they meandered along, not talking, but neither seeming to feel uncomfortable in the silence.
Dodge offered the last bite of his popsicle to the dog then dropped their sticks in the trash can at the edge of the park. “You okay if I let Moose run a little?”
“Sure,” she said, sinking onto a bench that faced a large grassy area.
Dodge released the dog from his collar, then picked up a stick and hurled it across the grass. Moose raced after it, grabbed it from the ground, and sprinted back to Dodge. He threw it again then sat down next to Maisie. “He could do this all day. He loves the park.”
“I do too.” She inhaled the warm summer air, the woodsy scent of the man next to her mingling with the smell of freshly mown grass. “Summer is my favorite season.”
