I can stay up.
Katie’s home.
I like your daughter and all, but can I encourage more sleepovers at your brother’s house?
[Laughing emoji] I’ll see what I can do. Wanted to make sure we were still on for tomorrow at my folks’ place. You can beg off if you want. I know how my family is.
I’m good for tomorrow. We need to be seen together. Besides, your mom is a great cook. I am not turning down her home cooking. Do you mind if I meet you there? I’d hate to get a call and leave you and Katie stranded if I have to go in.
Meeting there is fine. I think Katie may be planning to stay with my parents tomorrow night. There’s a fireworks show she wants to see, and since I have to be at the beach so early on Memorial Day, they offered to take her and Hillary and let them stay over.
Pack a bag and stay with me tomorrow night.
I have to work on Monday.
You’ll be at work on Monday.
I’ll need to sleep before work.
Oh. Well, that could be a problem. [Evil smile emoji] If I promise you two hours of sleep?
Three.
Fine. You drive a hard bargain. See you tomorrow.
He liked that they were on the same page about a relationship. They were having fun, but neither of them wanted more. Damn, had he found the perfect woman for the summer or what?
The next evening, he pulled up to the Longs’ house. Music flowed from the back yard. The aroma of burning charcoal filled the air. At the side of the house, two boys—Patrick and Diana’s sons, if he was remembering correctly—were chasing each other with lit sparklers.
“Patrick,” a woman’s voice called from the house. “Make those two stop that right now.”
Patrick Long waved toward the window and took another draw off his beer. “Yeah, you two better stop that before your mom comes outside,” he said, no power behind his words.
Benjamin walked up the drive. “Sparkler wars?”
“Yep. You ever have a sparkler war with your brother?”
Benjamin shook his head. “No brothers. No sisters either before you ask. Just me.”
“Right. I think I knew that. Harvey. Hank. Stop running with those sparklers,” he shouted at his sons. “Demons,” he said seriously. “Both of them.”
Benjamin laughed. “In other words, boys.”
“Exactly. Want a beer?” Patrick gestured toward the back yard. “Cooler’s in the back.”
“Sounds good. Holly here?”
“In the house. Or maybe she’s in the back yard. I don’t know. My assignment was to prevent any deaths by sparklers.” He used his beer bottle to point toward his sons. “I think I’m doing a damn fine job.”
About that time, one of the sparklers flamed out. The son with the dead sparkler took off at a run, chased by the son with the barely burning sparkler.
“Oh. Might have spoken too soon,” Patrick said. “Enough, guys. I think Pop needs help cooking the burgers.”
The second sparkler was now dead also. They dropped the sticks to the grass and raced toward the fence gate leading into the back yard.
“Girls are so much easier,” Patrick said. “Hillary has never tried to kill someone.”
Benjamin laughed and helped collect the dead sparkler sticks in the yard. “Now I’m ready for a cold one.”
The guys headed toward the back yard and the cooler of beer. Benjamin twisted off the cap and took a long swallow.
“Man, that hits the spot.”
“Be around here much more, and you’ll realize your sanity depends on the alcohol. Hank! Get down out of that tree.” Patrick clicked his tongue. “Be right back.”
“Get that taillight fixed?” Danny asked, striding toward him.
Benjamin looked at Holly’s younger brother. “I did. Want to see it?”
“Naw. I might twitch around it and accidentally break it again.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Hey. You’re here.” A pair of arms encased his waist.
“I hope this is Holly, or I’m in big trouble.”
Holly laughed and kissed his cheek. “You’re safe, Batman.”
He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side.
“Batman?” Danny said.
Benjamin and Holly laughed.
“Long story,” Holly said at the same time that Benjamin said, “Don’t ask.”
Danny nodded. “Got it, but if this is some kinky sex thing, I really don’t want to know.”
“Hello, Benjamin,” Patricia Long said. “Nice to see you.”
“I appreciate the invite,” Benjamin said.
“I don’t know if you heard, but Katie’s staying at our house tonight.”
“Don’t play matchmaker, Mom,” Holly said.
“Me? Play matchmaker?” Patricia’s eyes were wide with innocence. “I would never.” Then she winked and walked over to where her husband was manning the grill.
Holly rolled her eyes. “Sorry,” she said