Page 104 of Down Bad

“Just tell the Nadine lady to get her own gift for her husband.”

“Be nice, Diego.”

“She acts like she’s queen of Texas.”

“Well, this part of Texas, she sorta is.”

“If you say so.”

We both glance off toward the street for some reason, as if we heard something. We didn’t. The wind is playing through the thin branches of the tree in my front yard, setting several of the leaves free as they drift by.

“Gonna need to rake this mess up soon,” mumbles Diego.

“I can do it after work.”

“I’ll help.”

“Alright.”

He crosses his arms. Still doesn’t leave my porch. I just linger next to him, front door left open behind me, wind playing in my hair now. The porch birds have relocated to the branches of the tree, chirping noisily and doing whatever birds do. Like gossiping about how stupid human beings are, probably.

“Anyway, guess I’m off,” he says, turning to me.

And I lean into him, aiming my lips instinctively toward his.

Then stop.

What the hell am I doing? Kissing my husband before sending him off to work?

Am I about to remind him to pick up the kids from school?

“Sorry,” I mumble, pulling away.

Until Diego chases my mouth, causing me to fall back against the wall, and presses his lips to mine.

And it isn’t just a peck.

It’s a kiss that literally silences the gossipy birds in the trees.

A kiss that stops the wind.

That makes me forget whether I’m even wearing clothes.

Then he ends it, pulling away, and looks into my eyes like he’s pissed.

“Sorry for what?” he grunts.

Smirks.

Then leaves the porch.

I stand there in a daze, watching him cross the grass, enter his house, and not once look back. I don’t realize my heart is jumping around excitedly in my chest, totally thrown off-balance by that man who just set me straight yet again.

He can burn my toast every damned morning if that’s the kiss I get to enjoy afterwards.

I’m still thinking about it even at the flower shop, touching my lips at the counter like they’re made of some alien material I can’t identify, reliving the porch kiss over and over.

Then I’m thinking about how I woke up, snuggled in my own blanket, head resting on a pillow.