by Goode, Ella
A little line appears on Khloe’s forehead. She isn’t expecting anyone.
“It’s Ren, Connie’s brother,” I tell her as I cross over to the door.
“Now how do you know that?” she wants to know.
“Cuz he was coming over to check on his sister and Connie will have told him that I’m making sure there aren’t any unwelcome guests.” I nudge her aside and crack the door open. Sure enough, Ren’s curious face peers at me from the other side.
“Connie said she’s got a new neighbor. Thought I’d introduce myself.” His hair is slicked back and he’s holding his hat between his hands. Connie must’ve told him the new neighbor was a woman.
“You can do that tomorrow.”
He cranes his head, trying to see past me. “I’m here now, though,” he protests. “Plus, Connie has a piece of pie for her.”
I take the pie and start to shut the door.
“Wait,” Ren calls.
“What is it?”
“What’s her name?”
“Tomorrow, Ren.” I shut the door and turn to Khloe. “Connie makes good pies. I’ll put it in your kitchen.” The layout of Mae’s place isn’t much different than Connie’s and since I’ve been here before, I head upstairs.
Khloe follows behind, arguing the whole way. “You can’t just barge in here and act like you own the place.”
“I’m just putting your pie away.” There’s nothing but boxes in the kitchen. I slide the pie onto a spare bit of counter and survey the rest of the place. Mae wasn’t much for that open concept living. She liked her rooms to be separate. The kitchen was made for cooking and the living room was made for living. “I can knock down a couple of these walls for you.” I pat the barrier between the living room and kitchen. “It’ll make it seem bigger here.”
“Maybe I don’t want that.”
“I think you do.” Khloe doesn’t seem like a closed-in kind of person. I make my way through the living room, which features more boxes, Mae’s ugly-ass plaid furniture, and plastic blinds covering the windows. The bathroom is clean and a couple of fresh towels have been hung on the rods. Khloe fixed up this space first. The one bedroom also smells of lemon and bleach. A white comforter is draped invitingly across the bed. “Looks nice,” I say. But it’s an understatement. I could crawl right onto that mountain of pillows and cotton and feel right at home.
“I’m so glad you approve.” She doesn’t sound happy at all. “You broke my microphone.”
I cock my head in question. I don’t remember breaking anything of hers.
“You made me drop a box and it had my microphone in it. I use that for work and now I’m going to have to replace it.
“Okay.”
“Okay? That’s all you have to say?”
“Pretty much.” I give the rooms one last peek before descending the stairs. Khloe is hot on my heels. At the bottom of the stairs, I tell her, “If you plan to open up a shop here, you’ll need to close by five.”
“Why? Is that some kind of town rule?”
“No. It just applies to you.” I tilt my head toward the handle. “Don’t forget to lock up once I go and don’t let anyone in.”
“What do you mean, it just applies to me?”
“Khloe, honey, you can’t have men in here after the sun goes down.”
“What?” she shrieks.
I tip my hat. “You heard me. Now lock up.” And I shut the door behind me.
4
Khloe
I sit in the kitchen happy with the progress I’ve made with unpacking and cleaning this place up. It helped that I couldn't sleep. My mind kept wandering back to the bossy sheriff. What makes him think that he can tell me who I can or can’t have come over? Why would he even say that? It doesn't make any sense at all. It doesn’t help one bit that he is crazy hot.
A knock sounds at my door. I glance at the clock on the wall to see it’s only a little after ten. Who would be here? I jump up, thinking it might be Dane. I don’t know why I’m excited. He’s probably only here to try to lay down some more ridiculous rules. Ones that I already know I’ll be breaking. I do have to admit it was fun sparring with him. It felt good to stand my ground for once. I’m the type that usually bends over to make others happy even if it’s not the best for me.
I open the front door to see Connie standing there. “Hi, neighbor.” She steps into my house without being invited. “I brought pie.” What is it with everyone around here inviting themselves in?
“Thanks.” She heads off to the kitchen, clearly knowing where it is.
“How come we never saw you before? Mae had been alone for years.” Well, I guess she doesn’t believe in beating around the bush. It seems to be a common theme with the people in this town.
“I didn't know her, to be honest. She was on my dad’s side and he was never around. Then he passed.” I shrug, feeling guilty that Aunt Mae had been alone. I could have been here. My mom was the one that kept me away. She didn't want me to have anything to do with my dad’s side of the family.
“And she left you her house?” Connie scrunches her nose, setting the pie down on the table.
“I was just as surprised. I wish I could have gotten to know her,” I admit.
“You have her nose and eyes.” That makes me smile.
“Did you know her well?”
“Of course. It’s a small town. Everyone knows everyone. It’s why I’m here.” She smiles at me.
“To get to know me?”
“That and to tell you I’m dating Dane.” A surge of jealousy and confusion hit me. I thought he was lightly hitting on me. Maybe I misread it. He might be protective over the whole town. But then again, why would he tell me I can’t have men over after five? He might have been close to my aunt I guess, and he’s trying to keep an eye on me for her. That’s the only thing I can think of.
“Okay,” I respond, not sure what else I can say to that.
“I’m not trying to be rude, it's just that we’ve never gotten the chance to date and now we have it, so please don’t mess this up for me.”
“How can I mess it up?” I ask, confused.
“I saw the way you were looking at him.”
“I was pissed at him.” I laugh. I might think he’s hot, but all I tossed his way was anger. I am still a little shocked he said he’d replace my microphone.
“Great.” She gives me a bright smile. “I think we’ll be great neighbors then.”
I hate that my insides are all twisted up over this. Why do I care if Dane is dating someone? It’s none of my business. My cell phone starts to ring.
“I’ll let you get that. Enjoy your pie.” She gives me a wave, showing herself out. I still don’t know what to think of all of this. If I was dating someone and thought I could so easily lose them, I would let them go. I wouldn’t go asking another woman to keep away. I don’t know Dane well, but I don’t take him for a man that would step out anyway. I guess I could be wrong. That isn't shocking with my dating history.
I grab my phone from off the table, not recognizing the number. “Hello,” I answer. The deep rumble of his voice lets me know who it is the second he opens his mouth. My heart does a funny flutter. That’s not good. He has a girlfriend and I’ll never be that girl. I would never play second fiddle to anyone. I don’t even know why I’m thinking about this.
“Did you eat breakfast?”
“How did you get my number?” I ask my own question.
“From your phone yesterday.” When he took it from me. Sneaky jerk face. Why is he doing this? “Did you eat breakfast?” he asks again. I grab a fork, sitting down at the table.
“Yep. I got pie.” I take a bite of the pie Connie brought over. I moan at the taste. This is the best pie I’ve ever eaten in my life.
“Are you teasing me, Khloe?”
“Teasing you?” I question, having no idea what he’s talking about.
“Fuck me. You don’t even know,” he says.
“Know what?”
> “I’ll be over tonight. Don’t eat dinner.”
I go to tell him I’m not having dinner with him, but he’s already ended the call before I can say anything.
I stare at my phone for a minute trying to figure out what the heck just happened. I’m starting to think everyone in this town is a little crazy. He should go have dinner with his girlfriend. Because I sure as hell won’t be home when he gets here. I’m not sure where I’m going to go, but I know I have to leave.
I get back to work cleaning and unpacking. When I look down at my watch again, I see it’s almost five.
Crap. I jump up, running to change my clothes.
I put on a coat of lip gloss and my favorite earrings before I grab my purse to head out the door. Dane is in for a surprise when he gets here. I’m sure as heck not going to be here. It’s time to explore this town. There has to be a restaurant or bar I can hang at and get some dinner. I smile, thinking I won this round.
5
Dane
Khloe’s place is empty when I swing by in my squad car. I knocked, but she didn’t answer. Concerned for her safety, I let myself in and did a sweep. The place was clean with not a box in sight. She must’ve worked through the night to unpack and get situated. In the corner of the living room is a large desk with two big computer monitors. Next to the keyboard is the busted microphone. There’s no camera, so whatever she’s doing on the internet doesn’t require pictures—as far as I can tell. She doesn’t seem like the cam girl, demon hour online stripper type. We have a few of those in town and we do what we can to support them because it’s a decent way to earn a living.
If horny men on the internet want to give some of my citizens their money, more power to them. Show up on their doorstep and you’re spending a few nights in our jail.
No, Khloe’s not that type and if she was, I’d have to shut it down. Not because I don’t believe she has the right to do that shit, but because I’d have to gouge out the eyes of everyone who had an internet connection, which would be hard on our future home life.
I don’t know when I decided that Khloe would be mine. It was somewhere between when she opened the door and when she smiled a welcome greeting. In that half second, I was a goner, but I had enough sense to realize she wasn’t fully ready to climb on board with me.
That’s all right. There’s no hurry. She lives in my town, eating at the restaurants owned by my friends. There’s no place that Khloe can go to escape me.
Before I leave, I take a picture of the microphone and order a replacement. Whatever she’s doing here requires the use of this thing but we don’t have a handy electronics store where she can pick it up.
In the garage, I find the discarded boxes in a pile and dismantle them for the recycling bin.
That completed, I give the diner a call.
“Yes, Chief? Do you need an order of the special to go?”
“No, Len, I’m coming in. You have a new customer tonight?”
“Sure do. Mae’s niece came in about a half hour ago and I put her in a booth toward the back, just like you asked. She’s got plenty of visitors, though. Couldn’t keep them away.” A hint of anxiety creeps into Len’s voice.
“Don’t worry about it, Len. Thanks for babysitting her for me. I’ll be over in five.”
Len’s sigh of relief puffs through the earpiece. “Good. Good. See you soon.”
The diner’s crowded when I arrive. Word has spread we have a new arrival and everyone’s come to check her out. The noise level mutes when I walk in. Several nod their head and all eyes are on me as I make my way to Khloe’s solitary booth. She’s warming her hands around a cup of coffee when I slide into the seat across from her.
“What are you doing?”
“Having dinner with you.”
Len drops a coffee in front of me. “The special?”
“The special,” I affirm.
“You may not have noticed, but I’m sitting here,” Khloe tells me when Len leaves to put my order in.
“The special looks good today,” I say peeking at her dish. “Len makes the noodles by hand.”
“It is good, but that’s not the issue.” She leans over the table. “You’re at my table.”
“Technically this is my table.”
A line in her forehead appears. “What do you mean this is your table?”
“It’s the table I sit at every night for dinner. I’d planned on bringing you here, but you must’ve read my mind and came over on your own accord. I like that.” I grin at her. “Since our minds are working in the same direction, we won’t have many misunderstandings.”
“Mis-misunderstanding?” she sputters. “I’m having dinner. Alone.”
I tilt my head. “You’re not alone. You’re with me.
Her jaw drops and I feel like it’s good timing because Len is back with my plate of rib tips and noodles. He replaces the old gravy boat that Khloe had used with a fresh one. “Want a second helping?” he asks her.
“No. I don’t, but I’d like this man to be seated at a different table,” she replies.
Len looks at me and I give him a small shake of my head.
“Wait. This is my table. Shouldn’t you be asking me?”
“This is Chief’s table and he asked me to put you here. Said he was meeting you later.” Len’s confused.
“It’s all good, Len. Thanks, and tell Candace the food looks awesome.” I pick up my fork and dig in while Khloe sorts through it all.
“How did you know I would come here?”
“There aren’t many dinner options. It’s either this place or the bar on the edge of town. Jeannie serves a good steak, but the crowd can get rowdy. I gave her a call to let her know that you’d be better off at Len’s, but you chose Len anyway.” I give her a thumbs-up, which causes her pretty mouth to tighten.
“And my broken microphone?
“I stopped by your place to pick you up and when it was empty, I entered to make sure you weren’t hurt.”
“You cannot just go into my house whenever you feel like it.”
As Chief, sometimes you have to know when to shut up, like when a witness is on the verge of remembering some important detail or a criminal is about to confess or when the person across from you says something obviously wrong, but her hand is clenched around her water glass. So I don’t tell her that I can enter her house whenever I feel like it, but shove some food into my mouth and let her temporarily believe that she can lock me out.
“And I already ordered a new mic.”
“Then you’ll have two.”
“You’re paying for it.”
“Sure.”
“Sure? Sure is all you have to say for breaking and entering my house, snooping in all my things, and then having your diner friend sit me at ‘your’ table?”
I wipe my mouth with a napkin, take a drink of my coffee, and then move the water glass out of her reach. “Welcome to my town, baby.”
6
Khloe
I stare across the table at the most infuriating man that I’ve ever met. He continues to nonchalantly eat his dinner as though he didn’t barge in on my dinner. Why does he have to look so handsome in his uniform? I want to smack the smug look right off his face. He makes me madder than my ex, and that loser cheated on me.
“Hey, sweetheart. Brought you a root beer float.” The waitress sets a giant frosted mug in front of me. “The ice cream is homemade. It’s on the house,” the woman with soft brown wavy hair says. “It’s our specialty.” So much for slipping out of here while Dane ate. Now I have to stay and eat all of this creamy ice cream. I can’t leave it; that would be rude. I also can’t remember the last time I’ve had a root beer float.
“Thank you.” I give her a smile. I see Dane watching me out of the corner of my eyes.
“I’m Candace if you need anything.” She winks at Dane, who gives her a half smile. It's then that it hits me. They set this up so I’d have to stay. That seems to be going on a lot tonight. Dane has gone
to a lot of trouble to make sure he got to spend time with me. The only thing I can’t figure out is why. I resign myself to enjoying my root beer float. I pull out my phone and begin playing with it. Dane snatches it from my hand.
“Give it back.” I hold my hand out.
“Tell me three things about you and I will.” Somehow I know it will be easier to do what he’s asking than fight with him. I still can’t believe he tricked me right into dinner with him. This man is crafty. I’ll give him that. I’m going to have to step up my game. No wonder he has that smug look on his face. I think it’s the same one I had when I thought I’d gotten away this afternoon. I was so sure that I’d given him the slip.
“I record audiobooks.” I hold up one finger. “I'm allergic to cherries.” I put another finger up. “I was engaged at the beginning of last week and now I’m not. I’m also not looking for anything serious.” I realized I actually gave him four things. But it’s too late to change it now.
I watch as his jaw gives a small tick. Is he jealous? I like that entirely too much. I smile, taking a giant swallow of my root beer float. He’s the one that’s got a girlfriend. Okay, she might not be his girlfriend, but she’s interested in him. It makes me feel a little bad that I’m here having dinner with him. Even if it is against my will.
“Why did you end it?”
“Cheater.” My eyes burn with tears thinking about it. I try not to sniffle. It’s not because I'm upset. I’m mad because I wasted time. I was a fool for not seeing what was right in front of me. I knew that it wasn’t the right fit, but I wanted my happily ever after. A house full of kids and white picket fence. The family that I never had. I read too many romance books.
“You’re still in love with him.” I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head no. I was never in love with Derrick. I thought it might grow with time, but it didn’t. “You’re about to cry. That means you care.”
