on the couch while I started the movie. The squeal of the machine didn’t annoy me as it once had. I’d gotten used to it over the years.
For the next two hours, we sat side by side, not quite touching. The rumble of Michelle’s truck echoed distantly before the final scene. It sucked that Jim would be home before I could talk to her again, but maybe it was for the best.
Just as the movie ended, Jim walked through the door and plopped down onto the couch next to Michelle. He grinned at me and slipped an arm around Michelle’s shoulders. She didn’t seem to mind.
“Where do you work?” she asked, turning to him.
I was going to kick his ass later. Standing, I went to turn off the television.
“Roadside construction. Thanks for letting me use your truck,” he said. Then, in the reflection of the TV, I watched him kiss her cheek.
“You need to shower,” I said without turning.
Winifred, I’m going to kill him.
Your mother will never forgive you.
She’ll get over it. Eventually.
Jim laughed and sauntered back to the bathroom.
Michelle stood, too.
“Thanks for the movie, Emmitt.”
I nodded, unable to turn around and look at her as she left because my canines were showing.
Once I knew she was out of hearing, I stood and went to lean against the bathroom door.
“What the hell were you thinking?”
Despite the running water and the closed door, Jim heard me.
“Showing you how it’s done. You’re making this way too hard. You know she’s the one, start putting some moves on her.”
“You’re the one who said she wasn’t ready.”
“For the truth. Every girl is ready for some moves.”
“I’ve got some moves for you,” I said with a growl.
“You’re not my type.”
I slapped a hand on the door and walked away as Michelle called the kids inside for the evening.
Settling in for another long night, I went to the fridge and grabbed a beer. Winifred joined me not long afterward.
“Jim still breathing?” she asked with a smile.
Jim walked out of the bathroom just then.
“Always. Emmitt loves me.”
I rubbed a hand over my brow. “If you were so sure of that, why did you stay in there till Winifred came over?”
“It’s smart to play it safe.”
“Jim, I think you and I should go for a run,” Winifred said.
“Emmitt and I were going to watch a movie.”
It was a lie. However, Jim had mastered the art of lying so there were no telltale signs, and Winifred knew it, too. But, she shook her head and walked out the door without him. With a sigh, I sat on the couch.
Jim plopped down next to me. “You going to forgive me tonight or tomorrow?”
“Definitely not tonight.”
I heard a few laughs and giggles from upstairs, then everything went relatively quiet. The sounds of footsteps on the stairs not long after brought me to my door.
“This is so pathetic to watch,” Jim said quietly.
“Then, don’t watch.” I went back to peering into the hall. Sure enough, Michelle was coming down.
“Do you know where Nana is?” she asked, pointing at Winifred’s open door.
“She stepped out for a walk,” I said, easing the door behind me closed. Jim chuckled. “Did you need something?”
“I wanted to ask if I could borrow a book.”
“Come on,” I said, moving toward Winifred’s apartment. “She would insist you take your pick.” I went to the large bookcase. “She used to be a teacher, you know. She loves curious minds and reading.”
“Thanks,” she said, taking two books from one of the shelves. Romances. That was a good sign, right?
She gave me another one of her killer shy smiles then jogged back up the stairs.
Jim was gone from the living room when I opened the door. I fell onto the couch and tried to sleep. It took forever.
* * * *
The next day, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to tell Michelle the truth. There was even a perfect opportunity when the boys discovered Winifred’s paw print by the shed. But instead of telling Michelle the print was made by us, I told her the dog was friendly and the kids didn’t need to worry.
The rest of the afternoon I cleaned up the garage and kicked myself for the lost opportunity.
Thursday morning Winifred woke me early with a knock on the door.
“You need a distraction,” she said. “Your pacing is keeping me up at night.”
“Sorry. I was going to start working on the apartment upstairs today.”