Page 29 of Our Own Light
“Nah, I like listening to you. Even those silly remarks of yours and the obscenities you seem so fond of.”
Oliver’s stomach fluttered as Floyd’s compliment made his face tingle, his cheeks heating up from Floyd’s unexpected praise. God, he had never felt this way before. About anyone.
“Alright, well, I’ll see you tomorrow for work, Floyd.”
“Goodnight, Ollie.”
Oliver was so Goddamn excited for the weekend.
Chapter Five
Floyd
On Saturday, Floyd was pacing back and forth in the living area, counting the minutes until Ollie was supposed to arrive. He kept fiddling with his shirt, unbuttoning the second and third buttons from the top, only to refasten them moments later. He wasn’t sure why he was fretting so much about his appearance. It wasn’t like Ollie hadn’t seen him like this before. He had worn nearly the same exact outfit to work many times.
Except that this particular shirt was a plaid pattern of sky blue and steel gray rather than a single muted color like most of his work ones. Floyd had chosen it on purpose since Ollie had kind of implied that he thought Floyd would look nice in these colors. And, well, as such...
Floyd blew out a forceful sigh, one that had him puffing out his cheeks. After a moment, he settled on leaving the top three buttons of the shirt unfastened, telling himself that it looked more casual that way. Besides, it was hot outside. He wouldn’t want to be uncomfortable.
He continued to pace. Josephine was out with their neighbor’s boy, William, probably playing in the woods, while Effie was scrubbing the stove. Earlier, Floyd had urged Effie to see one of her friends instead. It was only fair that she have some fun, too. But Effie was Effie. If she had set her heart on scrubbing the stove, then that’s what she would do.
“You’re about to wear a hole in our floor,” she said.
Floyd stopped. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. I know how you can be.”
“What do you mean?”
“When you’re sweet on someone.”
“What?” Floyd asked, feigning surprise, though both Effie’s bluntness and the truth in what she had said sent the blood rushing to his cheeks. “I ain’t sweet on Ollie.”
“It’s sweet that you got a nickname for him already.”
Floyd scoffed and said, “We’re friends.”
But he knew that Effie would see right through him.
“Uh-huh. You know, I swear I seen Oliver making eyes at you, too.”
“Don’t start. Ollie ain’t like that.”
“He might be.”
Floyd’s heart sped up—a lot. Ever since the pool hall, Floyd had come to accept the way Oliver could make his heart pitter-patter with all that handsomeness of his. But that had been the extent of it. He hadn’t never allowed himself to consider the possibility of Oliver liking him back. It made no sense to entertain silly fantasies like that. Men liking other men wasn’t exactly common. Or, if it was, no one ever seemed to talk about it. Besides, the thought of maybe starting something with Ollie, it was enough to wake that copperhead in his stomach. Somehow, the snake had been calm ever since the pool hall. But if Ollie and him ever...
No. Ollie and him could never be more than friends. He had a family.
“So what if he is? Did you forget that we’re married?”
Effie said, “We could figure something out,” like it would be the simplest thing in the world.
Her words sent little tremors of fear rolling through Floyd’s body. For years, he had been keeping his heart safe. Ever since he had lost his most important person all them years ago, Floyd hadn’t never allowed himself to even consider being romantic with someone else. His palms started to sweat, painful images flashing in his mind—thick black plumes of coal powder and the enormous pile of rubble.
“Effie, stop,” Floyd shot back, unable to let himself think of a relationship with Ollie right now. He had to steady himself. Ollie was supposed to arrive any minute.
Effie held up her hands innocently. “Alright, I won’t bother you no more.”