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“It’s just blue box pasta, but…” I shrug, suddenly feeling a bit foolish.
He probably has arealFriday night planned out back at his house that doesn’t include a wily toddler and neon food.
“Actually, that would be awesome,” Reid says, surprising me. “Thanks for the invite.”
“Okay, well…” I pause, feeling somewhat flustered by his acceptance. “I’ll just get Junie served up and then I’ll make another box.”
Reid smiles. “Sounds perfect.”
chapter six
Reid
I can’t remember the last time I ate mac and cheese from a box.
Maybe that makes me a snob, I don’t know. I try to be really careful about what I eat, making sure I’m giving my body the best that I can. But as I scoop up another spoonful of the most horrifically orange pasta from my Ninja Turtle bowl, I can’t help but admit…it’s pretty delicious.
“How was your day?” I ask Busy as I lean back against the kitchen counter, bowl in one hand and spoon in the other.
She bobs her head, finishing off her own bite before speaking.
“Good. Had lunch down at the beach park near the marina and got a little too much sun, but otherwise it was a pretty good day. How about you?”
“Same, basically,” I reply, scooping up another spoonful of mac and cheese. “Work, lunch, work.”
My eyes scan her exposed skin, taking in the hint of pink on her shoulders and nose, highlighting the freckles that are already there and surely adding more.
“Up until last year, there were umbrellas at the picnic tables at the beach park, but some kids lit them on fire over the summer.”
At that, Busy’s head rises, her eyes wide. “Seriously?”
I nod. “I didn’t see them lit up, just the aftermath. But Teddy can see the beach park from his girlfriend’s apartment, and he said it was wild.”
Busy shakes her head, still looking shocked. “Itsoundswild. I feel like this town has had enough of things being lit on fire.”
I nod, knowing she’s referring to the fire that nearly burned down One Stop a few years back. Losing our town’s only grocery store was quite the ordeal and had a huge impact on everyone. Nick had to collaborate with a construction crew from Belleview to get the work done, with everyone working long days and late nights to make sure things were repaired as fast as possible. Those of us who had experience with tools and construction stepped in as often as we could to help. Even still, it took months before it was back up and running.
“You’re friends with Teddy Waltham?” Busy asks, bringing me back to our conversation.
I shrug. “Kind of. Nick’s my best friend and Teddy kind of just…comes with the territory,” I joke. “We get beers every so often. He’s a good kid.”
Busy nods. “Teddy and I were in the same year in high school.”
I remember him saying as much during poker night, but I think I still assumed she was a few years older than him.
“How old are you?” I ask her, the question out before I can help myself.
“I’ll be 23 in October.”
I snort at the way she says it, the way kids talk about their next birthday, certain it will make them sound older than they really are. But really, hearing Busy tell me she’s 22 years old makes me feel…
I don’t even know. Far older than I actually am, that’s for sure, and fucking guilty as hell for how my eyes have wanderedover her body since she moved in three weeks ago. I knew she was young, but it’s one thing to tell yourself someone is too young for you, quite another to hear that they’re a full decade younger. If I think Teddy’s a kid, Busy’s not much different.
“Why? How old are you?”
She asks it like it’s a challenge, and I chuckle as I respond.
“I’ll be 33 on Christmas.”
