Page 30 of Fierce-Baker

“I would have washed them and when it didn’t come out, they would have been another stained article to wear around the house cleaning or fixing shit.”

“I’ve got plenty of those things.”

“So you’renotsome laundry miracle worker?”

“Sadly, not as much as I wish. But you’d be surprised how many things Micah can get on his clothes.”

His eyes followed her to the laundry closet off the front door, the same place his was.

The doors pulled open and his shorts went into the washer, the pod followed and the lid went down.

She shut the doors and walked back to him, picked up her water and opened it. “Want to sit on the patio? Or I can start dinner. Not sure how early you eat. I’m used to eating early because Micah is in bed by seven.”

She was bringing her son up so no reason to shy away from it.

“We can sit outside. I eat whenever I’m in the mood.”

“I’ve got a London broil marinating. Not something Micah likes. I figured I might as well enjoy it myself and not worry about him. I cook a few big meals a week and just heat them up on days I work. He’s a good eater for the most part. And I’m rambling and don’t know why.”

“It’s fine.” He took a seat next to her. The sun was in front of the house where it’d been beating on him as he’d changed the tire. Back here there was more shade, or at least where the seats were.

“I don’t have a lot of adult conversations. Maybe that is why I enjoy working at Fierce so much. It’s a nice change of pace.”

“I would have figured that you’d talk with other teachers at work.”

“Oh, I do. But most times it’s talking about kids.”

“I can see where you need a change. Okay, why did Micah go to your parents’ if you’re just going to sit home and eat a big steak alone?”

She laughed. “I didn’t want him to, but they asked. It’s healthy for him to be away from me. I know that. And if I want to go out and do something, he should be comfortable staying with them. So once every other month, he spends the night.”

“And Micah’s father doesn’t see him? Or you can tell me to mind my own business.”

“He’s not in the picture,” she said.

Which was the polite way of saying don’t ask again.

At least it told him she wasn’t only single, but there’d be no ex causing drama either.

Maybe that was one box that got unchecked in the reasons not to get involved.

There he was, not listening to himself like he knew would happen.

9

WILD THINGS

Well, she got him here and what does she do? Go on like a fool.

But Baker asked a question and she gave the same practiced response she did to everyone else.

It was the truth. Shane wasn’t in the picture.

“I’m glad you’ve got your parents to help if you’re doing it alone,” he said.

“Me too. So, let’s talk about you. You’re here having dinner with me. If you’ve got a girlfriend or significant other, I’m not sure that is smart.”

She wasn’t positive that Jolene was trying to match her up with Baker. It was only her assumption.