Page 56 of On the Ropes
Dean
Tabitha fluttered between Eddie and Alice, positioning them on the bench in the lot. Behind her was a tripod and a fancy-looking digital camera. An orange microphone was secured on top. Seeing her with the tools of her trade reminded me of pulling on my boxing gloves, the way it boosted my confidence.
In the last hour, we’d made good headway on cleaning. And Tabitha had spoken to every person there, explaining the situation and getting permission. Everyone was on board, even if they were just in the background.
Eddie and Alice, however, had volunteered themselves to be interviewed. While Alice had rushed home to “put her face on,” Eddie wore his work jeans and had a cigarette dangling from his mouth.
“Now how many people do ya think will watch this?” he asked.
Tabitha wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know. I’ve got over fifty thousand followers on Instagram, but I can’t really estimate how many will see it.”
Eddie seemed pleased with that answer. “A lot of people have told me I’m real fucking inspiring.”
I crossed my arms across my chest. “Eddie taught me how to drive. He was definitely inspiring as a teacher.”
Tabitha brightened. “I didn’t know that.”
Eddie was chuckling. “Yeah, Dean was a good student. Midge and Maria were working those back-to-back shifts, remember? So I told them I’d do it. We used, what, Rowan’s big truck, yeah?”
I nodded. “You told me that in South Philly you were legally allowed to park on top of the sidewalk as long as you asked first.”
Tabitha shot me a bemused look.
“And, uh…” I cleared my throat. “The rules of the road were sorta, kinda—”
“Guidelines,” he said emphatically. “Tell me it ain’t true if you live in this city.”
Tabitha was trying not to laugh. “A true inspiration.”
Alice primly placed her hands in her lap. “I, for one, am ready for fame. I texted my grandson to let him know. He’ll be so excited. You know, you should put him on the internet too.”
“Rowan doesn’t need any more attention than he already gets,” I said mildly.
Alice pursed her lips. “You could be internet famous, Dean.”
“Or even a calendar model,” Tabitha said under her breath as she peered through the viewfinder. She tossed a sly grin my way.
I quirked an eyebrow. “What would Emily Post say?”
“Oh, I love the way you two flirt with each other,” Alice said.
“We’re not flirting,” I said.
Eddie stubbed out his cigarette and blew smoke from the corner of his mouth. “Aw, leave the kids alone, Alice. They’re just having a little fun.”
Tabitha bent down to the viewfinder of her camera again. “We’re not kids. But I have definitely been flirting with Dean all day. How can you not? I mean, look at the guy.”
I couldn’t even pretend to frown. One taste of something sweet. One press of my thumb against Tabitha’s soft lips. I was starting to get it now. A similar thing happened when my coach decided I was ready for my first boxing match. I’d knocked out my opponent in the second round. Heard the roaring sound of my name being cheered from the audience.
Once I allowed my most untamed desires to see the light of day, it was a hell of a process to tame them again.
Mom and Midge appeared next to me as Tabitha crouched down in front of the bench, speaking quietly to the two future movie stars. They were holding a garbage bag between them, wearing matching baseball caps and sunglasses.
“Do you think she’ll interview me and your mom?” Midge asked.
“I’m sure she’d love to,” I said. I studied them both for signs of heat exhaustion. “You’re both okay, right? Not too hot?”
“Oh, horseshit,” Midge said with an eye roll. “We’re not a hundred years old, for Christ’s sake.”
