22. Ramona
— ? —
Ramona
Julius looks from the keys in my hand to the old Ford, then back at the SUV waiting outside the house. The driver still has the rear door open, although I’ve already put my bag beside the truck.
“You’re serious about taking this?” Julius stops beside me as I unlock the Ford.
“I asked for the keys.” I pull the door open and pick up my bag. “Did you think I wanted to stand here holding them?”
“I thought you might prefer working air conditioning.” He takes the bag while I climb in, then waits as I slide the seat forward.
“I want to drive, Julius.” I look up at him with my hand still on the seat lever. “You can come with me, or you can enjoy the air conditioning by yourself.”
He smiles before turning toward the driver.
“We won’t need you tonight. Thank you for waiting.” He stays beside my door until the man closes the SUV and walks away, then puts my bag on the seat. “Can I shut this, or are you doing everything yourself?”
“You can shut it.” I move my elbow out of his way. “I’m trying to leave you a few jobs.”
“I appreciate the consideration.” He closes my door and walks around the hood.
The passenger door needs a hard pull before it catches. Julius checks it, then tries to fit his legs beneath the dash while I start the engine.
“I own a plane that makes less noise than this.” He reaches behind my bag for the seat belt.
“You can go back and get it, but I’m not waiting.” I reverse out of the space, smiling when he laughs.
Once we’re on the road, I lower my window. He does the same without mentioning the SUV again, and I let my shoulder relax against the seat.
Ben came up to the cottage gate this morning with his hat in his hand, which is how I knew before he said it.
The thread was gone from Julius’s phone the way he told me it was.
The folder it went to had emptied itself weeks ago, and the backup had run without it.
When Ben asked Dakota for her copy, she told him she’d deleted her side too, and didn’t look at her phone before she said it.
So there is nothing for me to read. I stood at the gate with that for a while. Then I walked up to the house and asked for the keys to the Ford anyway. I still want the messages. I also want tonight with him. Only one of those was mine to decide.
“There’s a bar two towns over I want to try.” I watch the road while he turns the radio down. “I thought we could play pool somewhere people might leave us alone.”
“I’m happy to try.” He settles back, angling his knee toward me so it clears the dash. “Although I stopped for gas once and got asked to sign a hat.”
“Was it a Wyatt Ranch hat?” I glance over long enough to catch his smile.
“It was.” He puts his hand on the seat beside mine. “I can hear you deciding whether that was my fault.”
“You can’t put your name on half the hats in the county and be surprised when people recognize you.” I shift gears, then let my hand settle against his.
“Fair enough.” He turns his palm upward without taking hold of me. “I’ll try being less recognizable tonight.”
“You could start by not buying the whole bar a round.” I slide my fingers between his when the road straightens.
He closes his hand around mine, his thumb resting against my knuckles.
“I’ll try not to look shocked.” He stays close while I laugh, then lets go easily when I need to change gear again.
***
The bartender barely looks up when we walk inside. Julius holds the door while I pass, then follows me toward the pool tables without stopping to check who’s watching, and nobody is.
I take off my jacket and drape it over a chair. When I turn back, Julius is looking at the shirt beneath it, his hand still resting on his hat.
“You can get the drinks.” I point toward the bar. “I’m having a Coke.”
“I’ll have the same.” He puts his hat beside my jacket. “You drove here. I can take us back.”
“I haven’t decided whether you’re getting the keys.” I choose a cue and roll it across the table, checking that it’s straight.
Instead of heading straight to the bar, he comes closer. I keep my hand on the cue while he bends enough that I can hear him over the music.
“What would help me earn them?” He waits with his mouth close to my ear.
“You could lose without explaining why it was somebody else’s fault.” I turn my face toward his, then reach past him for the triangle.
“I’ll try to be gracious.” His fingers brush my waist as he moves out of my way.
I stand with the triangle in my hand until he reaches the bar, then make myself finish setting up.
You invited him. You’re allowed to enjoy him.
When he returns, there’s a wedge of lime in my drink. He puts it on the high table where I can reach it, turning the straw toward me before choosing his cue.
“Lime.” I take a sip while he tests the weight of a cue in his hand. “You’re showing off.”
“I thought I’d save mine from you.” He looks over at me. “You usually help yourself.”
“You usually let me.” I put down the glass and position the white ball.
He starts to come around the table, so I point him toward the other end.
“You can watch from there.” I wait until he stops. “You put your hand on my hip in Amarillo, and I missed. I’m not giving you another chance.”
“I was trying to help with your stance.” He moves where I’ve told him to stand, but his smile makes it impossible to believe him.
“You were trying to kiss me.” I bend over the table before he can answer and take the shot.
A solid drops into the corner pocket. I straighten and look at him, pleased with myself enough that he starts laughing.
“I remember doing better at that than the pool.” He lifts his glass while I move around the table.
I sink the next ball, then miss when the one after it catches the edge of the pocket. Julius puts his drink down and passes close enough that his sleeve brushes my arm.
“Now you can see how it’s done.” He leans over the table, his shirt pulling across his shoulders.
I rest against the high table and watch him settle his hand on the felt. His sleeves are rolled up, and I follow the movement of his forearm as he adjusts his grip.
He looks up before taking the shot.
“You’re making it difficult to concentrate.” He keeps the cue still while I lift my eyes to his face.
“I’m standing where you stood.” I fold my arms loosely, trying not to smile. “Go on. You were about to impress me.”
He looks back at the ball and takes the shot. It misses the pocket completely, and I’m laughing by the time he straightens.
“Are you going to blame me for that?” I pick up my cue and start past him.
“I’m deciding whether you’d feel sorry enough to kiss me.” He catches my hand gently, stopping me beside the table.
“You haven’t earned the first one yet.” I lower my voice as a couple approaches the cue rack behind us.
His thumb moves against the inside of my wrist, but he lets me go when I shift toward the table.
“Then I’d better improve.” He steps back, leaving me room to take my shot.
I have to look down at the felt for a moment before I can remember which ball I was aiming for.
By the time I win the next game, Julius has stopped suggesting he might recover his dignity.
He puts his cue away and holds out a hand.
“Dance with me before you find another way to humiliate me.” He waits while I look toward the jukebox.
“There’s barely any room.” I leave my cue against the rack.
“I’ll keep you clear of the furniture.” He brings my hand to his mouth. “I’m good at that part.”
I go with him to the space beside the machine. A slow song is playing, and he settles his hand against my back without pulling me closer than I choose to stand, so I close the space myself.
“You’re looking at your feet.” I touch his chin until he lifts his face.
“I’m trying to avoid stepping on yours.” His hand moves carefully as another couple passes behind us.
“You could afford to replace my boots.” I smile when he looks down at them.
“I’d rather you kept wearing those.” He draws me nearer. “You chose them for a reason.”
I rest my cheek against his shirt instead of answering.
His hand spreads on my back, and I stay there. I don’t make myself pull away.
He keeps moving with me, his palm warm at my back. Nobody approaches him for a photograph or tells him where he’s supposed to be next.
When the song ends, he doesn’t release me immediately.
“Would you stay for another?” He bends close to my ear, and I nod against his shoulder.
He holds me through the beginning of the next song, and I stop checking the room.
***
Julius goes to the other end of the bar for refills while I take an empty stool. I’m watching him wait for the bartender when a man sits beside me and puts his glass close enough that I have to move my elbow.
“I haven’t seen you here before. I’d remember.” He turns toward me with a smile, settling in before I’ve answered.
“I’m visiting.” I shift my stool slightly, leaving more space between us.
“Then let me buy you a drink.” He starts to raise his hand toward the bartender, and I put mine over my glass.
“No, thank you. I’m here with somebody.” I glance toward Julius, hoping that will be enough.
The man follows my gaze, then looks down at my left hand. I know what he’s going to say before he leans closer.
“I don’t see a ring.” He rests his elbow on the counter and waits for me to explain.
My fingers curl against the glass. I move it aside before turning to face him properly.
“You heard me say no.” I hold his eyes until his smile fades. “You need to find another seat.”
He looks over my shoulder. Julius has turned toward us at the other end of the bar, his drinks still on the counter. When he starts to move, I give him a small shake of my head.
“I was only being friendly.” The man picks up his glass, but stays beside the stool for another moment.
I don’t answer. Eventually, he walks away, and I turn back to the bar as Julius brings our drinks over.
“Are you all right?” He puts my glass within reach and waits before taking the empty seat.