Love Built to Last

by Lisa Ricard Claro

  Pirate rewarded her with a swipe of his tongue. She patted his ribs and stood up.

  “Bye, Shelley. It was nice to meet you.” Enjoy your hook up later. She waved to Shelley and Cal, putting more effort into it than TJ had on his walk of shame, and followed Dante to the car.

  She gulped back tears, knowing the effort would result in a red nose and puffy lips, and cursed her physiology. At least she didn’t have to look at Caleb again.

  “You okay?” Dante said while they waited to turn out of the neighborhood.

  “Sure,” Maddie lied. “Why wouldn’t I be? We found TJ. That’s the important thing.”

  “Right. So, uh, how’s your house coming along since the flood? Cal said you had a real mess on your hands.”

  “I did. There were huge blowers running twenty-four hours a day for nearly two weeks. All the downstairs carpet had to come out. Structurally, everything is fine, though, which I was told is a minor miracle, all things considered.”

  “I’m glad it’s getting straightened out. You’re lucky to have a reliable carpenter to handle the repairs.”

  Maddie hadn’t called Caleb to do any of the repairs, a fact she was certain Dante knew. So was his comment intended to be a dig at her for being an idiot, or was he hinting that Cal might still be amenable to helping her?

  “My road is up here on the right. It’s kind of a blind drive in the summer because of the foliage. The turn off is hard to see if you don’t know it’s here.”

  “I pass this road all the time.” Dante flipped on his directional. “Never knew there was a house down here.”

  “I’m about a half mile in.”

  “Nice,” he nodded, “if you like the privacy, which I guess you do.”

  “Jack and I had plans for the place.” Maddie assumed Dante knew who Jack was and didn’t elaborate.

  “I like being in a neighborhood, enjoy having people come over on the fly with a six-pack or whatever, hang out, impromptu parties on Friday nights.” He flashed a smile that might have weakened her knees if she wasn’t so hung up on Caleb.

  Maddie remembered what Brenna had said about Dante working on his muscle cars and how the neighbors, men and women alike, flocked like bees to honey. Considering how charming he was, it didn’t surprise her. Well, charming to everyone but Brenna, who was standing on Maddie’s side porch just outside the kitchen when Dante’s Mustang pulled into the yard. She shook her river of hair, black as ebony, behind her shoulders and crossed her arms over her chest. Her expression darkened when Dante waved in greeting.

  “The woman hates me,” he said. “I guess that’s okay. I’d rather feel the heat than be sitting at neutral.”

  “That’s an optimistic view,” Maddie said.

  “Beats the alternative.”

  “I know you have to get to the restaurant. Thanks so much for the ride. I really appreciate it.”

  “What kind of pie do you like? I’ll send one over to you, on the house.”

  “Brenna likes your house special, Dante’s Inferno. But go easy on the peppers.”

  “I’ll file that information away for future reference.” He blessed Maddie with another killer grin. “Dante’s Inferno, coming up.”

  “Arrogant Neanderthal,” Brenna said when Maddie reached the stairs. “He was all happy hearts and smiles, so I assume that means TJ is home safe and sound?”

  “He is.” Maddie kicked off her flip-flops on the porch beside the kitchen door and stared at them. It was time for an upgrade in footwear. “Pirate found him. Took us on a tour of the neighborhood. The little guy was hiding out in a neighbor’s boat.”

  “What prompted him to take off?”

  “He said he was looking for me, but I think he really missed Pirate. I left him there. Pirate, I mean. Caleb didn’t want to take him from me but—” She shrugged. “He’s TJ’s dog more than mine.”

  “You adore that dog, Maddie.”

  “A boy and his dog, Brenna. It’s a good thing.” Maddie took a breath and blurted, “Caleb’s seeing Shelley.”

  The words burned her throat. She licked her dry lips and her stomach twisted, bringing her near to nausea, and she blinked back sudden tears. “She’s his next door neighbor, the one who watches TJ. He told me a few weeks ago that he had no romantic interest in her, but obviously that’s changed. Here, I’ve been avoiding his calls, not ready to face a relationship conversation until I’ve dealt with all my Jack stuff, and it turns out it was a nonissue. Maybe that’s why he was calling, to wish me well and tell me he was seeing someone else.”

  She dropped to the stairs, put her elbows on her knees, and rested her chin on her hands.

  Brenna sat beside Maddie and rubbed her back. “You okay?”

  “No.”

  “You want me to go kick his ass for you?”

  “Not necessary. This is my fault for overthinking everything. I read too much into it, let myself get all ooey-gooey inside.” Maddie regarded Brenna through a haze of misery. “Sometimes sex is just sex, right? But it sure felt like more. Who knows? Maybe the whole sexy bath thing is just part of his MO.”

  “You don’t really believe that.” Brenna draped her arm around Maddie’s shoulders and squeezed her into a side hug. “I’m sorry, honey. Men are dickheads.”

  Maddie emitted a pitiful little laugh and nodded. They sat together in the shade of the porch and watched the cats. The whole gang of five was in the yard.

  Horace commandeered his usual spot and the other four lay in various positions of hedonistic pleasure basking in the afternoon sun.

  All but Horace jumped up and ran off at the sound of a vehicle coming down the drive.

  “Incoming,” Brenna said.

  “Dante’s sending us a free pizza. I didn’t expect him to get it to us so soon, but that’s probably the delivery guy. I need to get him a tip.” Maddie stood up and looked around. “Oh, shoot. I left my purse in Caleb’s truck.”

  “It’s a delivery, but not from Caravicci’s. Cal must have found your purse.” Brenna nodded toward Cal’s Ford just appearing through the archway of trees. “Time for me to disappear. I’ll see you inside.” She squeezed Maddie’s arm and vanished into the house.

  Maddie wished she had changed her clothes. She cursed her bare feet, her ratty cut-offs, the faded T-shirt, the glasses that wouldn’t stay put, and the sloppy ponytail hanging sideways with hair sticking up every which way because she hadn’t bothered to fix it after riding in the convertible with Dante.

  An image of Shelley sprang to mind, she of the perfect blonde hair falling sleek as glass and eyes of cornflower blue. She’d been wearing a pretty sundress earlier and a pair of wedged sandals that showed off her tanned legs. All dressed up for her hook up with Caleb.

  Maddie huffed out a breath, swallowed her misery, and slipped on her flip-flops before walking into the yard, but Cal’s long legs brought him to the porch before she even got down the stairs.

  “You forgot your purse.”

  “Sorry about that. Thanks.” She took her bag from him and tossed it near the door. “So how’s TJ?”

  “I’ve got a lot on my plate today, so my parents came over to sit with him.”

  Maddie’s heart pumped hard and heavy. A lot on your plate. Yeah, right. A date with Shelley. Can’t miss that.

  “Thanks for coming to help, and for bringing Pirate. That dog sure makes TJ happy.”

  Maddie smiled and it reached her eyes, bittersweet, under the circumstances. “I’m so glad. Do you want to come in for a minute? I’ll get Pirate’s stuff for you, as long as you’re here.”

  Cal hesitated but agreed, and followed her into the kitchen. “I never realized a dog needed so much stuff,” he said after all of Pirate’s belongings were collected and set by the door. His bed was the largest of the items, followed by the half-empty bag of food, plus his bowls and toys and brush. Maddie helped Cal carry everything out to the truck and then ran back in to grab what was left of the eye ointment.

  “He finished the
oral antibiotics. This cream is for his eyes, but yesterday was the last day. You should keep it, though, in case you need it again.”

  “I will. Thanks.” He tossed it in the empty food bowl and tugged his keys from his pocket.

  “Listen, Caleb, about—”

  “Thanks again for your help and for all this dog stuff. And say hi to Brenna for me. I saw her on the porch when I pulled up. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

  Maddie squeezed her hands into fists and forced herself to breathe. No way was she letting him leave like this. Her limbs trembled and she hated herself for her lack of cool reserve. Brenna wouldn’t fall apart out here. Brenna would toss her head, flash her eyes, and exude so much feminine sex appeal that he’d be the one begging for a moment of consideration. But she wasn’t Brenna.

  “Caleb.”

  She took a halting step forward. The raw desperation in her voice shamed her and rooted her with simultaneous impact. Another movement, another word, and she’d fall apart. So she stood still as stone when he turned, his green eyes shuttered. There were a million things she wanted to tell him, but not a single one pushed past the lump in her throat.

  To his credit, he waited, allowed ample time for her to break the heavy silence she’d created. Heat shimmered between them and still she couldn’t move, couldn’t say a word.

  “Goodbye, Maddie.”

  She watched him walk the rest of the way to his truck, stared while he brought the engine to life and turned the vehicle around. Ten minutes later when Brenna stepped onto the porch Maddie stood there still, staring at the empty yard.

  “I did it again. Like Jack. I let him say goodbye.” When Brenna drew her into a warm hug Maddie’s tears gushed. “I just stood here and let him say it, and I couldn’t say it back.”

  “You know what? I was going to offer to pour you some sweet tea, but that won’t work. Tonight you need real fortification.”

  By the time the Caravicci’s Pizzeria eggplant-colored eyesore of a delivery car pulled into the yard, Maddie had pickled her grief with a steady flow of Jack Daniels and Brenna had matched her pace. They blessed the delivery boy with a twenty dollar tip, which he earned by applauding after they serenaded him, crooning a Bruno Mars tune from the porch. With the twenty clutched in his hand, he beat a hasty retreat toward the safety of his memorable-for-its-ugliness transportation.

  “I don’t think I should waste this, oppornudity,” Brenna said, swigged back the last of the whiskey in her glass, and nudged Maddie.

  “Huh?” Maddie blinked and pushed her glasses up her nose. Brenna’s face blurred through the lenses. “Somebody’s naked?”

  Brenna’s brows drew together in confusion. “What? No, I’m sending a message with the pizza guy. To his boss.”

  “Wait. What? Why? What?”

  Brenna took Maddie’s glass from her and frowned. “You’re out of Jack.”

  “That’s not nice to say,” Maddie said, and sniffed.

  “Not that Jack. The whiskey Jack.”

  “Oh. There’s more in the kitchen.”

  “Hold on. I have to send a word to—you know. The Cro-Magnon.” Brenna sighed. “Wait. That’s not right.”

  “You mean Neanderthal?”

  Brenna and Maddie blinked at each other and said at the same time, “Dante.”

  “Right.” Brenna nodded. “I have a message.” Her expression turned feline and she winked at Maddie. “Watch this.”

  “Hey, sweetie,” Brenna called to the delivery guy. She sashayed down the steps and across the yard to where the young man stood, staring slack-jawed at her sinuous, if unsteady, trek across the yard. “Hold up a minute, honey. How old are you?”

  “N—n—nineteen.”

  His Adam’s apple bobbed in his skinny neck and sweat broke out on his upper lip. He brushed the fall of dark hair from his eyes and gaped. The closer Brenna got, swaying in full diva mode, the faster he backed away until he bumped into his car and could go no farther.

  “You hear that, Maddie? He’s nineteen. Isn’t that too adorable?” Brenna came to a halt within inches of the guy’s face, her voice a sultry purr. “Do me a favor, sweetheart?”

  His eyes widened and his mouth opened and closed like a landed trout. He gasped when Brenna leaned in and her hot breath whispered in his ear.

  “Tell Dante Caravicci that Brenna Kinkaid will make his life a living hell if he doesn’t start—” Brenna pulled back and blinked. “Damn. Hey, Mads, what’s it called when homeowners have to follow rules?” She laughed and looked at the delivery guy. “What’s the word?”

  He shrugged, looking a little confused at her break in character from sexy vamp to forgetful ditz.

  “Uh. It starts with a cee. Convents?” Maddie called from the porch, her tone hopeful.

  “Convents.” Brenna took the young man’s angular face between her hands and smiled. His eyes rolled back in his head and he whimpered. Brenna’s lips curled into a smile. “You’re a cutie pie, you know that? Where was I? I was telling you something about…um…something. Hell. I lost my train of thought.” She swayed, grabbed the guy’s shoulders to find her balance. “Oh, that’s right. Tell Dante I’m serious about the convent. He signed when he moved in, and he’s not getting out of it.” She smiled and patted the kid’s narrow cheeks. “That’s it. Thanks.”

  On the porch, Maddie giggled. At Brenna’s departure, the delivery guy ran around to the driver’s side and jumped into the car as if his soul were in jeopardy. His taillights disappeared before Brenna made it back to the house.

  “Whoopsie!” Brenna tripped on the stairs.

  Maddie giggled and reached out a hand to help her friend. Together they lost their balance and landed in a heap on the porch where they laughed and giggled. “I think we should sit here for right now,” Maddie said and took up her usual spot on the stairs.

  “That’s a good idea.” Brenna nodded and smiled. “You want another drink?”

  “I don’t drink, you know.” Maddie tapped her mouth with her fingers. She gazed at Brenna with wide eyes. “My lips are numb.”

  This brought another round of side-splitting laughter. When the hilarity was spent Brenna asked, “You want pizza?”

  “It’s in the kitchen.”

  “I know where it is. You want some?”

  “Um. That means we hafta get up,” Maddie said.

  “Right.” Brenna sighed. “Maybe we’ll just sit here a bit.”

  Maddie leaned into Brenna and whispered loud enough to be heard by anyone within fifty miles, “I think you need to know. I’m really buzzed.”

  “You’re not,” Brenna said.

  “Oh, I think I am.”

  “Nope. You aren’t buzzed. What you are is totally shit-faced. But it’s okay, ’cause I am too.”

  Brenna laid her head on Maddie’s shoulder. Maddie, in turn, rested her head on Brenna’s head. They stayed that way while the yard darkened to purple and the cicadas’ whirring reached a sustained crescendo.

  “The fireflies are out. Look at them, glowing their little butts off.”

  “Ah, fireflies.” Brenna yawned and sighed. “Why do you love them so much?”

  “They’re pretty.”

  “Besides that.”

  “They’re looking for love. They glow to attract mates. They glow to communicate, too, but mostly to attract each other. The males fly around and the females wait in trees and shrubs. When they see an attractive male, they glow back at him. I’ve only ever glowed for Jack. And for Caleb. Boy, did I ever glow for Caleb. Fourth of July when we—” The memory warmed Maddie a little too much and she shifted with discomfort then let out a wavering sigh.

  “Had serious situational developments?” Brenna suggested.

  “Exactly.” Misery wormed its way past Maddie’s alcohol haze and sat like a stone in the pit of her belly. “I’m not glowing so much right now, though.”

  “I dunno, honey. I think you’re pretty lit.” Brenna snorted a laugh at her own play on words.

&nbs
p; “Funny.”

  “At least you’ve glowed. I don’t think I’ve ever glowed for anyone,” Brenna said.

  “You glow all the time,” Maddie assured her.

  “What, so you’re saying I’m a slut?” Brenna huffed. “Enjoying healthy situational developments once in a while isn’t a crime, you know. But I’ve never, you know, really glowed. Not the way you glowed for Cal. I’ve never met a man who made me want to work that hard.”

  “You glow all the time. You can’t help it. You’re so beautiful you just light everything up even when you aren’t trying. That poor pizza delivery kid,” Maddie said. “He was ready to wet himself, poor guy. He’s probably never seen anyone as gorgeous as you up close before.”

  “Oh, stop. You’re making me blush.”

  They looked at each other and laughed at the absurdity of the comment.

  “Okay. Maybe you’re right,” Brenna said, and Maddie snorted and laughed again. “Hey, what did Jack’s note say?”

  “What note?” Maddie yawned.

  “You haven’t read it yet? You have to read it. Right now, Mads.” At Maddie’s blank stare Brenna bumped their shoulders together. “The note from Jack’s coat. His last ever message to you. Where is it?”

  Maddie’s eyes widened as awareness seeped in. “Oh, sweet Lord. I was so caught up with Caleb and TJ. I can’t believe I forgot all about it. I’m sitting on it.”

  “Well? C’mon, let’s see it.”

  Maddie adjusted her glasses and blinked to bring Brenna into focus.

  “You’re really blurry,” Maddie said. “Maybe this needs to wait until morning.”

  “You’re stalling. I think you’re afraid to read it.”

  “What if it’s something silly? I don’t want to forever remember that Jack’s last communication with me was about something trivial.”

  “If he’s really communicating with you, then whatever it is will matter in one way or another. Like the water bill. Right?”

  The women stared at each other as seconds ticked by. Maddie broke first and looked out into the yard where the fireflies flitted and glowed for their mates.