Chapter 12
Aiden and Lucy had stayed at The Eatery for two hours, discussing movies, books, hobbies, and their jobs. But as Ruth started to wipe down tables and refill ketchup bottles, he knew it was time to go.
Rising from the bench, he took his wallet from his back pocket and pulled out several bills. He placed the money on the table. “Thanks, Ruth,” he called out.
“Will I see you tomorrow?” she asked.
“Probably,” he said.
“I figured.” Ruth laughed. “Nice to meet you, Lucy. I hope you come back again soon.”
“I will,” Lucy promised.
He opened the door and held it as Lucy walked past. He followed her outside. The sun had set long ago. Clouds blotted out the sky and the loamy scent of rain hung in the air.
“Thanks for asking me out,” she said, pulling a set of keys from the front pocket of her jeans.
“I’d like to see you again.”
“Me, too.” She stopped next to her car.
“When?” Dammit. He didn’t mean to sound so eager.
“I got away tonight. But really, there’s always things to do on the ranch.” A strand of hair had come loose from her braid. She tucked it behind her ear. “Tomorrow we’ll have to start bringing livestock down from the summer pasture. That’ll take days.”
“I can help,” he offered. “I’m off for the next two weeks.”
She folded her arms across her chest. The fabric of her shirt pulled tight over her breasts. Aiden had to force himself to look away.
“You ever been on a cattle drive?” she asked, her tone both challenging and playful.
“No,” he said. “But I’m a fast learner.”
“Maybe you can come out for dinner one night. Grandpa Rusty would love to see you again. You can talk about documentaries.”
An invitation to dinner was promising. He took a step forward and reached for her hand. That same spark from before filled his palm and surged up his arm. To his shoulder. To his chest. His heart pounded, beating in triple time. “I’d love that,” he said. “When?”
She laughed, even though he was being serious. “I’ll get back to you.”
He let his hand slip from hers. Then, he opened the car door. “I really did have a good time.”
Lucy stepped toward the car and stopped. “My grandfather is on a video call with a lady friend. Who knows how long they’ll be talking, and I don’t want to interrupt them by coming home. We can keep hanging out,” she said.
Aiden couldn’t keep the smile from his lips. “What do you want to do?”
“This is your town,” she said. “What would you be doing tonight if we weren’t out?”
“Well, that depends. This was my weekend to be at the fire station. So, if I hadn’t gotten the concussion, I’d be at work.”
“And if you weren’t at work?”
“I’d probably be at my apartment,” he said. “Watching some old-man documentary.”
She laughed. He loved the sound.
“We could still go to Prime,” he suggested. “They have a rooftop bar. The bourbon list is supposed to be impressive.”
“I’ll pass on the bar,” she said. “I don’t want to get tipsy since I still need to drive home.”
“We can go wander around downtown, then.”
“Sure,” she said.
For half of a block, they walked without saying anything. Aiden’s arm brushed the back of her hand. His fingers itched with the need to touch her. But he didn’t want to push for something Lucy wasn’t ready to give.
In an instant, Ted’s words from last night came to him.
Stay away from Lucy Harris. She has a past. Trust me, that woman is damaged goods.
Was the warning because of the panic attacks? Her brother’s overdose? Both?
Ted had a pessimistic streak. But even for him, that seemed mean-spirited.
A breeze blew up the street, sending a crumpled piece of paper skittering.
Aiden picked up the litter and shoved it into a garbage can.
A fat raindrop fell onto the sidewalk. He held up his palm.
Another raindrop fell into his open hand.
“I think there’s going to be a storm. Want me to walk you back to your car? ”
She shook her head. “I’d rather not drive home in Grandpa Rusty’s car if it’s storming. It’s not great in bad weather.”
“I’d suggest going to a movie,” he said. There was a theater at the other end of Main Street, about four blocks away. “But the last showing always starts at eight thirty.”
Lucy glanced at her watch. “Whatever is playing would be halfway through.” And then, she asked, “Where do you live?”
From where he stood, Aiden could see his apartment. It was in a brick building, just like all the other buildings on Main Street. He pointed on the diagonal. “See Pixies?” he asked, mentioning the beauty salon.
“Sure do.”
“I’m in the building next door. On the third floor.” As a joke, he said, “We can go to my place and see what kind of old-man documentary is streaming. That way you don’t have to drive home in the rain.”
“I get enough documentaries at home, thank you very much. But maybe we could watch a rom-com or something.”
Was Lucy inviting herself up to his apartment? He wouldn’t be upset if she did. “That works for me.”
“Then, let’s go.”
They stood on the curb and waited for a break in traffic.
After jogging to the opposite side of the road, they walked to his building.
The front door was equipped with a dead bolt.
After pulling a key ring from his pocket, he unfastened the lock.
He opened the door, holding it while Lucy entered the building.
Another drop of rain fell. And then, another.
A distant rumble of thunder rolled through downtown.
The foyer was a square floor, covered in black and white tiles.
There were a dozen mail slots on the left and a set of stairs on the right.
“Third floor,” he said, beginning to climb.
The building consisted of four floors, with four units on each level.
Two to the left and two to the right. Aiden’s apartment was on the left and in the front of the building.
Using a different key from the same ring, he opened his door.
After stepping inside, he flipped a wall switch, and an overhead light illuminated the room.
“I love your place,” said Lucy, stepping out of her shoes and leaving them on a mat by the door. He took off his shoes as well.
Aiden looked around his apartment with fresh eyes, trying to see it all for the first time.
Thankfully, he’d picked up before going out to dinner so there wasn’t the usual lived-in clutter.
Tall windows filled the living room. The drapes were open, and there was a perfect view of Main Street.
The building had been constructed in the early 1900s.
Tons of upgrades had been made to the space over the years—new electrical and plumbing.
The kitchen and bathroom had been remodeled more than once.
But there were still parts of the original, like the windows, wooden floors, and exposed brick walls.
He had a blue sofa and matching chair. An end table with a lamp was tucked into a corner. A large TV hung on the wall, and a gaming system sat on a table that was tucked under the TV.
Lucy moved to the window and looked outside. Rain hit the glass, and watery light shone on her face. With her long braid and silky blue shirt, she looked like a water deity or mermaid. “This is a great view,” she said. “And if you need privacy, you can just close these.” She tugged on his curtains.
Aiden stood behind her and looked out onto the street. The sidewalk was now empty. A fork of lightning split the sky in two. “I would have just put up a sheet on the window,” he said. “But my mom and Kelly insisted on something more.”
She shook her head and laughed. “Funny.”
He’d let her think that he was joking. “I’d give you a tour,” he said. “But this is about it.” Pointing as he spoke, he said, “The kitchen is over there. The bathroom is behind that door. My bedroom is at the back of the apartment.”
“Nice. I like it.”
“Thanks. Can I get you something to drink? Or eat?”
“I’m good.” She dropped onto the sofa.
Aiden grabbed the remote from the table and pointed it at the TV.
“I have most of the streaming services.” He never watched romantic comedies.
Using the remote, he searched for the genre.
A long line of movie posters appeared on the screen.
“Let me know if something looks good.” He highlighted the first movie and then, the next.
“What about that one,” she suggested.
“What happens when an uptight man falls for a forgetful and scattered woman?” he said, reading the synopsis. He recognized both the actors. “It works for me.”
“Me, too.”
Aiden pressed Play and sat down next to Lucy.
Outside, wind blew the rain until the drops pelted the window.
In the distance thunder rumbled. The opening scene started, following a monkey on the streets of New York City.
The people on the sidewalks, startled by the monkey, were comical.
As was the actress who chased the animal.
Lucy laughed. Her smile filled her whole face, and her joy filled the room.
He tried to pay attention to the TV. But Lucy was the only thing he wanted to watch.
Outside, there was a crack. A fork of lightning lit up the sky. Like a camera’s flash, the room filled with bright white light. The scent of ozone hung in the air. A moment later, thunder struck. The walls shook.
“Jeez.” Lucy had to raise her voice to be heard over the wind and the rain. “It’s getting bad outside. Glad I’m not driving in that.”
There was another bolt of lightning. Another rumble of thunder. The lights and TV flickered once. Then, everything went dark.
Lucy sat on Aiden’s sofa. Outside, a storm raged and battered against the window. Inside, it was dark as pitch.
“I think a transformer blew,” said Aiden. “The streetlights are out.”
She could feel more than see him rise from the sofa. A moment later, his shadow was silhouetted against the window.
“Nothing is lit up outside,” he said, his voice seeming to come from everywhere.