Page 25 of This Could be Love

“Good,” I replied, glancing at my smartwatch.

I’d run for two and a half miles and stayed at an optimal heart rate. Well, with the exception of about ten minutes ago, when I started brooding. I’d run by Vince’s house and had thought of our encounter in his bedroom. Our shared walk home.

“Everything okay?” Kay’s voice tore me out of my thoughts.

“Yes, yes, all good.” I looked up from my watch, bent forward, and touched my toes. The stretch was intense, almost painful, and I could feel it all the way through my calves. “How was your date?”

“It wasn’t a date.”

“Your dinner with your good friend.”

“Nice.”

“Nice,” I repeated, making no secret of my amusement.

“What aboutyourevening?”

It was a simple diversionary tactic, but I let it go. After all, I had made up my mind to talk with Kay anyway. I’d even thought of the words I’d use. Last night in bed, this morning while jogging.

“I was at the barbecue over at the Greenfields’.”

Kay’s expression was indecipherable, somewhere between confusion and curiosity.

“You didn’t tell me thatbothof us were invited.”

She looked truly surprised. “I didn’t think it would interest you. The last time you saw Vince Greenfield he accused you of being my Trojan horse.”

“I think he’s realized that that was a bit out of line.”

“You think?”

“Well, I mean, hedidinvite us to his barbecue and all.”

“That’s no excuse.”

“But it’s a kind of concession.”

Something I didn’t know how to interpret flared in her eyes, and I wondered if I’d gone a bit too far in my defense of Vince.

“Who else was there?”

“Friends of Vince’s.”

“Vince.”

The slightly mocking tone of voice she used made me feel like I had to justify myself.

“He’s not much older than me. I’m certainly not going to call him Mr. Greenfield.” Although it came out much more easily than I’d have expected, once again I could feel myself blushing. “Did you have anything to do with none of the other neighbors showing up?” Kay didn’t beat around the bush, that’s why I knew she wouldn’t take my directness the wrong way.

Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“He invited all his neighbors, but not a single one showed up.”

She snorted. “And he’s surprised?”

“Well, a few said that they would but then didn’t. That’s a bit weird, right?”

“I don’t find that weird at all. Maybe he shouldn’t have tortured his neighbors with his endless sawing.”