Page 29

“It’s just… you’re so kind to check on Tanner.

To show hi m so much respect and kindness.

I just… I can’t believe someone hasn’t swooped you up.

” She stares into my eyes for a moment, and I get lost in the way she focuses on me, and I get a taste of what it may be like to always have her focus, and it feels insanely good.

As if realizing what she said, her spine snaps straight, and she claps her hand over her mouth.

“I’m sorry, that was incredibly inappropriate and I?—”

“I think the same thing about you, Clara June.”

Her hand slowly drops to her lap, but her lips remain parted, mouth open, eyes locked onto mine. “What?” she eventually asks, her voice hoarse and thin.

My heart is beating faster than it does after lifting.

“Don’t feel bad about wondering why I’m single because every time I’m around you for more than a second, it’s all I can think about.

” I inch forward on the couch, and drop my voice to not much louder than a husky whisper. “ Where has this gorgeous woman been? ”

Nerves knot in my throat as she blinks at me, processing my words.

“You… kinda just called me gorgeous,” she says finally, and I cannot wrap my head around the shock hollowing her tone. The back door clatters as Archie races inside, hands cupped together.

“Mama, I got one! I got a lizard!” he squeals, opening his hands to her. Her eyes are slow to leave mine, and she squirms in her seat at the sight in his hands, making me smirk.

“That’s nice Arch, but can we leave all the critters and creatures outside, please?” She smiles as she strokes her hand through his hair, ruffling it gently, the way only a mom can do. He turns but stops himself, offering his hands to me.

I shoot him a wink. “I'll take a peek.”

Happily, he shuffles toward me and opens his hands, putting the tiny green lizard proudly on display. He strokes a tiny finger down its scaled back. “Cool, huh?” he beams.

Nodding, I pet the little reptile, too. “Very. Nice find, Archie.”

He smiles, a little lopsided, a little toothless. “Thanks!” And then, obeying his mama, he runs out back, the screen door’s now familiar thud signifying that we’re again alone.

I waste zero time getting back to what we were talking about. I won’t let her think it was unimportant enough that I forgot, and I won’t slip back into casual conversation either. “You are so beautiful, Clara June,” I tell her, my voice rougher than expected, a little gravelly too.

“Coach McAllister,” she starts, but I shake my head, because that’s way too formal.

“Please call me Dean.”

Heat flames in her irises, and desire licks at my belly and bones, urging me to say something else, to take this moment a little further. But her phone rings, and while her eyes stay on mine, she takes the call.

“Hey,” she says, smiling, her gaze now moving between me and the floor.

“Okay… alright… What? Jackie, are you serious?” She gets to her feet and begins pacing the length of floor that spans the living room and kitchen, one hand pressed nervously to her lower belly.

A moment later she says, “Fine, okay, I will. I’ll call you later. ”

I get to my feet and extend an arm, my hand stretched to touch her elbow. “Is everything okay?”

She sighs, now holding the phone to her stomach as she uses her other hand, tamping down the air, motioning for me to sit. We both sit, only this time, she sits on the couch, next to me. There’s a cushion of space between us, but I don’t ignore the fact that she chose to sit next to me .

“Everything’s fine, I’m sorry. I just—that was my friend Jackie.”

I have the strongest urge to reach out and drape my hand on her knee, and though I’m not sure if it’s right, I do it.

And when her gaze drops to her lap, resting on my hand, I know it was the right move.

She licks her lips, slow and seductively, though she isn’t trying to be.

She rests her hand on the top of mine, and I’m grateful to be sitting.

Her body radiates heat, and her hand is small and warm against mine, causing my neck to grow feverish.

“And everything’s fine? Because you seem… upset.”

She pushes her hair off her shoulder, behind her back, and lets out a sigh.

“Well, Rawley and I don’t quite see eye to eye on him taking the SAT next year.

I’ve been trying to get him a tutor and—” she slices her hand through the air, with absolution.

“Anyway, he just told me about this mechanics apprenticeship at Wrench Kings. We agreed we’d discuss it, but apparently he couldn’t wait because my friend–”

“Jackie,” I interject.

She nods. “Yes, Jackie. She said someone from Wrench Kings called her about his application to the apprenticeship program. He put her down as his legal guardian.”

She takes her hand off my mine, and I sadly take my hand off of her leg, but dig my phone from my back pocket. “As you know, Atticus Winters is a friend of mine. How about I give him a call?”

Her tongue peeks out, swiping along the cupid’s bow framing her top lip. “I don’t… I’m not sure I follow.”

“I can call him and see when Rawley filled out that application.” I shrug. “Most likely he filled it out before you two had that talk, and if that’s the case, then not much has changed, right? You two still need to talk, but it wouldn’t have been like he went behind your back after, right? ”

She nods slowly at first but more quickly as she processes my explanation, clearly agreeing.

“That’s probably true. I mean, he’s been so busy helping me lately and, well, Jo Jo,” she smiles, “that I bet you’re right.

” A beat passes where she just looks up at me.

“I hadn’t thought of the fact that he may’ve filled that out earlier. ”

I give Atticus a call, and he answers pretty quickly, likely because it’s so rare that I call. In fact, I don't think I’ve ever phoned Atticus Winters. Texted, sure, but called, likely not.

“McAllister?” he answers.

“Yeah, Winters, how are you?” I ask him, the noise of a busy shop filling in the background.

“You see me once a few weeks back and you need more, eh?” he banters.

“I haven’t been able to get you off my mind since,” I tease.

He laughs, and I get to it, because I like Atti, but right now, I’m with Clara June and I don’t want to waste Clara June time on anyone else, even my friend.

“Hey, I just had a quick question. When were the apprenticeship applications due for next year?”

He answers easily and quickly, because he runs the program. “Three months ago. In fact, we started making calls on applications today.” He pauses. “Why? You tryin’ to pull strings by knowing me?”

At that I laugh, because Rawley doesn’t need me to pull strings for him, and I knew that before knowing he received an interest call on his application. He’s a talented, smart kid. Hell, all of these Colt boys are. “Nah, just asking for a friend. Look, I gotta go but thanks for the answer.”

“Get up here one of these nights for some dumplings and beer,” Atticus says before adding, “until then, later man.”

“Later.” I slide my phone away, and say, “He turned it in three months ago. ”

“So he didn’t go behind my back after our talk.” She’s visibly relieved, and that brings me unexpected relief, too. “Thank goodness.”

“For whatever it’s worth, he was good fixin’ that machine with me the other day. Real good. I suspect he’s a fixer. And if he is, the apprenticeship at Wrench Kings will help him develop skills to complement that curiosity, to grow it into something. Make himself a career out of it, even.”

Clara June sinks into the couch cushions, getting comfortable, pulling her knees to her chest. Being this close to her, I’m catching a whiff of bergamot and water lilies, maybe perfume or just fancy fabric softener? Either way, the clean, intoxicating scent has my stomach floppy again.

“He is good with his hands. He always tried to fix things around the house when he could.” She nods to the detached garage out back, the one visible through the screen door.

“He’d always be begging Troy to show him how to do things with that old car, but Troy never did.

” She picks at the tassled edge of a blue throw pillow.

“I really don’t care if he chooses trade school over college, I don’t.

I mean, college doesn’t equate to a certain income or type of life, this much I know.

But to not take the test would be saying he knows without a doubt that he won’t want to try college in the next few years and I don’t want him to eliminate any possibilities, you know? ”

“Sure,” I say slowly. “But if he wanted to enroll in classes at a college at a later date, he could still apply and get accepted. The SAT isn’t absolutely necessary. Some colleges don’t even require it anymore.”

She sits up a little straighter. “Really?”

I nod. “Prestigious schools still use the scores to determine talent, but most schools now have given up on that concept, since the smartest kid can be the lousiest test taker.” I smile at her, because goddamn I’m a smiling fool around Clara June.

And she always returns it. And I guess that makes us both smiling fools.

“He’d be okay to get in somewhere without it, I’m sure. ”

She’s slow to nod this time but she eventually does. “I just want him to see that he’s just as smart as Tanner, that he can do anything he wants if he applies himself.”

“So the test is as much about making him feel good as it is leaving doors open?” I ask her.

After a moment she nods. “Rawley took his dad leaving the hardest, because he was the oldest, and he understood that Troy willingly walked away from him and never planned on returning. He masks it, but his self worth can wobble. And I really think this test would be a little hit of power for him, and sure, still keeping a door open.”