17. Viggo #2
“Yeah, we do,” he argued, waving to an older woman I’d bet was a relative or a former teacher.
Beau knew everyone in this town. “See, if we have a bunch of pro football players on our team, we’re no longer the mill team.
And it’s, like, embarrassing that they have enough guys to fill up a roster, and we’re borrowing their manpower.
It ain’t right. We’re diluted, you know what I’m sayin’? ”
I did. Dexter had told me all about it.
Apparently, flag football participation had skyrocketed to the point that each town in the Four Forest area now had multiple teams per age group.
Wood Hollow had a contingent of adults between ages twenty-five to sixty who played on four different teams: coaches and staff from our elementary school and Wood Hollow High, Mill Depot, Wood Hollow Mill, and…
a group of visiting NFL players who came to the area to cash in on the positive publicity generated by Silas Anderson’s involvement.
Silas was the first to acknowledge that some of the interest was partially thanks to his ex-wife being engaged to a movie star.
And probably in part to him publicly coming out by kissing his now-husband on national television.
Whatever the reason, there were now enough newcomers to field their own team. And they were obviously very good.
I stopped abruptly at the corner, narrowing my eyes as I sipped my latte. “Why me?”
“Because now we know that you played football in college and that you know what you’re doing. And there’s no way you could possibly run slower than Ted, so…what do you think?” Beau held a hand up. “Don’t say anything. Just think about it.”
He walked ahead of me as my cell buzzed again. I fished it out and answered.
“Hey.”
“Did she call you?” Dexter asked in lieu of a greeting.
“Ja. This is good news.” I smiled like an idiot on the middle of the sidewalk.
I glanced across the street to Dexter’s Donuts and impulsively changed direction, humming in response to his excited retelling of his conversation with Freya.
The shop was packed. Not quite as busy as Rise and Grind, but there was a line. Janey worked the register along with Meg, a pretty blond. I hovered at the entrance before continuing to the corner and cutting down the alley.
“…there’re months to go, but I’m going to tell a few people.”
“You should. By the way, I’m at your store…in the alley.”
“You are? Don’t move a muscle. I’ll be right there.”
The alley was only marginally more private at this time of day. It was empty now, but there were second-story windows, and you never knew who might pop out of their shop to throw trash away or take a cigarette break.
Dex stepped outside, wiping his hands on a frosting-stained apron. His radiant grin caught me off guard and for a moment, I just stared at him.
“I shouldn’t have come, but…ow.”
He punched my left pec, then pulled me in for an impromptu Dexter-style hug. He did this sometimes…out of the blue. However, we were usually alone. I should have pushed him away, but I didn’t. Not even when he pressed his lips to mine. And God only knew how long we stood swaying like old lovers.
Dex broke the connection, setting his hands on his hips as he inhaled deeply. “There’s a lot to do, but I don’t want to jinx anything. I’m not buying clothes or…stuff. Not yet. I don’t even know where to shop, and I need everything—car seat, crib—”
“I will make the crib,” I interrupted, my voice a bit gruffer than intended. I tried again, in a softer tone, hearing my accent in every syllable. “I would like to.”
He cocked his head and studied me for what felt like twenty minutes. “Thank you. That’s a lovely offer.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
Dex beamed. “It is to me.”
Shit. He was too pretty. My collar was suddenly choking me. I hooked my thumb under it and coughed. “I have to go. To work.”
“Okay. Hey, wait. Just to be clear…I’m going to tell people that I know you through my surrogate, which is the truth.”
“Hmm.”
He moved into my space. “What I’m saying is…if we’re seen hanging out in the alley, it’s not a big deal.”
“No, it’s making out in the alley that could be a problem,” I countered. “I don’t think we should do that.”
Dex looked as if he were about to argue but nodded instead. “See you later?”
“Okay.”
I felt his stare as I strode toward the street. I turned at the sound of footsteps, thinking he had something more to say. The alley was empty and a little eerie, and maybe that was why the memory hit me out of the blue.
“Do you believe we live forever? I do. We’re part of the universe.
It’s a science thing. I’ve been a butterfly and a tree and—don’t laugh at me, V!
I was magnificent! I was so tall, my branches touched the sky.
I flew into gardens and sometimes houses to watch stupid humans making stupid human mistakes.
I hope you know I’m going to haunt you forever.
When I die, I’ll follow you. Like a butterfly. ”
There were no butterflies in the alley and no beautiful girl with laughing eyes. I stood still, though, wondering if she was here somehow, watching me…or in Burlington, keeping guard over Freya, thinking this was all a mess in the making. Knowing Anni, she’d love it.
“Det h?r ?r v?ldigt rorigt, Anni.”
This is very messy, Anni.
Very messy.
I crushed the to-go cup in my hand, tossed it into a trash bin, and headed for the mill.