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I snort-laughed.
But his expression was dead serious. “Della, will you go out with me or not?”
“This isn’t a joke?” I asked skeptically. “A prank to get me back?” He couldn’t be asking me out. That didn’t make sense. Especially not when he had his pick of countless women who, I’m sure, would like more with him than casual sex.
Hayes frowned. “Do I look like I’m joking, Moonshine?”
“What about not ‘shitting where you eat’?” I asked, parroting the crass phrase back at him. “What about trying to stay away from me?”
“Sometimes I’m stupid.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Which you should probably take into consideration when answering my question.”
When I didn’t speak right away, he reached out, holding my hand gently in his. Something about the callouses on his palms contrasting the gentleness of his touch had my skin warming, my heart pounding. “Will you go out with me, Della?” he asked.
My heart answered before my head could get in the way. “I’d like that very much.”
22
HAYES
I was on top of the fucking world for all of two seconds until I realized I had no idea how to go on a date.
The outing had to be special—especially with someone like Della. But how?
I thought maybe I could learn something online—that’s how I learned a lot about my motorcycle. But that was not helpful. There were a million different pieces of advice, and I wasn’t sure who to believe. None of the people writing those articles knew Della.
But I knew someone who did.
So I got on my motorcycle and drove out of town to the white farmhouse where my brother was living in marital bliss with Della’s best friend.
I left my motorcycle in the driveway, propped on its kickstand, and walked toward the front door, knocking a few times.
Graham, Maya’s dog they found on the side of the road several years back, let out a few warning barks. Then a baby started wailing.
I cringed.
A few moments later, Fletcher came to the door holding Mira in his arms. Her hair was all mussed, and her cheeks were red. But she twisted and reached for me.
I took her in my arms, saying, “Sorry for waking you up, sweet girl. I didn’t know this was naptime.”
Fletcher said, “She’s been fighting them lately.” Then he stepped back to let me in. “What brings you by? Because we’ll definitely take some babysitting.”
I chuckled, bouncing Mira in my arms. “You know I’ll babysit anytime.” Graham sniffed my leg, then looked up at me like he was greeting an old friend. I bent a little to scratch his ears and then stood back up. Once the attention was gone, he scuttled down the hallway leading to the bedrooms.
“Tuesday?” Fletch asked, plopping onto the couch in his living room. The other girls must have been in their rooms or something because no one else was around.
“Sure.” Then I said, “I need some advice. Is your wife available?”
“Ha ha, where’s the injury?” Fletcher started looking me over, ready for a cut or scrape he’d have to stitch together like he’d done dozens of times before. But I shook my head.
“I’m serious.”
Understanding dawned in his eyes. And then he chuckled. “You’ve really got it bad.”
“Shut up,” I muttered.
“Uh huh,” he said. “This way.”
I followed behind him, Mira beginning to doze in my arms, feeling like he was taking me into the lion’s den instead of his en suite bathroom. The whole place reeked of hairspray. Liv, Maya, and Leah were all in there doing hair and makeup.