Yikes. I’m never drinking again. And as Audrey describes today’s deliveries, I feel the prickly heat of embarrassment creeping up my neck. And we’re not even on the road yet.
“Sorry about the timing,” Audrey is saying. “But it’s a bar, not a restaurant, so they’re not open for deliveries early in the day.”
“We can do that one on our way back,” Rickie says. “Daphne likes to work until five anyway. We’d get there at maybe 5:45?”
“That’s perfect,” Audrey agrees.
“Take,” Gus says, lifting his chubby little arms. I expect him to reach for me. But he’s reaching for... Rickie of all people.
I feel you, little man.
“Oh, I think he likes you,” Audrey says. “Sorry, Gus. They’re on their way out.”
“Take,” Gus demands. He gives Rickie a devastating, chubby smile.
To my surprise, Rickie plucks the chubby toddler out of Audrey’s arms and pops him onto a hip. “You’re a little devil, aren’t you?”
Gus laughs and pokes a finger against the tattoo that’s visible on Rickie’s chest.
“He’s smitten,” Audrey says.
Aren’t we all, kid. Aren’t we all.
“Strap in, Gus,” Rickie says. “The rush hour traffic is headed outside. Ready?”
Gus waits with wide-eyed fascination.
“And we’re off!” Rickie shouts, then he sprints for the door, a giggling Gus holding on tightly. A moment later they appear out the window, where Rickie is galloping around the driveway with Gus in his arms.
“What’s that on your lip?” Audrey asks.
“What?” I touch my lips. There’s nothing there.
“Oh, it must have been a little drool.” She cackles. “You have a thing for him, don’t you?”
“Shhh,” I hiss. “You’re not funny. I do not have a thing for him.”
“Sure you don’t,” she whispers back. “How could you not? He’s so hot.” She waves a hand in front of her chest, as if cooling herself.
“He’s not my type,” I grumble.
“Oh my God, he is exactly your type. Smart enough to keep up with you. Great taste, but not a snob. And that body.” She lets out a low whistle. “You need to get on that.”
I follow her outside, knowing she’s a hundred percent wrong. I need to stay off that. And every other man, too.
The three delivery crates are already stacked neatly into the back of Dylan’s truck. Audrey hands me the manifest. “Have fun today,” she says with twinkling eyes.
“Thanks,” I grunt.
“I made you these for the office,” she says, opening the back door to reveal another pastry box. “Spinach and feta croissants. There are five of them in there, plus a separate one for Rickie.”
“Hey! Thanks!” Rickie says, carrying a flushed Gus over to where we stand. They’re both panting. “You’re the best, Audrey.”
He isn’t wrong. “Thank you, Audrey. That is really nice.”
She takes Gus from Rickie, and he goes to start the truck. When he’s out of earshot, she turns back to me. “I know that starting over is hard,” she whispers. “We’ve all done it.”
I look down at my shoes. This isn’t my favorite topic. And now I know I haven’t been doing such a great job of hiding my stress. Yay.
“Maybe someday you’ll tell us why you have to start over,” she continues. “But either way, I’m here for you.”
“Thank you,” I choke out.
“No problem. Have a good day at your new school. Play nice with the other kiddos.”
“I will.”
Rickie stops at the post box for me again today.
And, wow, I finally get the piece of mail I’ve been waiting for. But I’m too chicken to open it. So I shove it into my backpack and stress over it instead.
Rickie isn’t stressed. He hums along with the radio as we cruise up highway 89. “I have a big idea,” he says.
“Oh do tell. I love your big ideas. They never end up embarrassing me.”
“Huh.” He shoots me a sideways glance. “I’m feeling the cool breeze of irony in that statement.”
“You’re a sharp one.”
“Embarrassing you isn’t a goal of mine, Shipley. And I don’t think you should be embarrassed about wanting my hot body.”
I snort, because who talks like that? Even though I do want his hot body, and I hate myself a little for it.
“My big idea, since you asked—“
“I didn’t.”
“Well you should have. My big idea is that we go out to dinner in Montpelier after we make the delivery.”
“Why? Dinner is free at home.”
He shoots me another look. “Because it would be fun. And different. Besides—your brother and Chastity are going out tonight, to a drive-in movie.”
“Which really just means they’re going to have sex in a new location,”