Page 17 of Succeeding Love
“Oh, you’re up early. How did you sleep?”
I cringed, our neighbor across the street's face coming into my head. “Great,” I muttered.
“That’s good, dear,” she said, moving to the cabinet with her tea.
I slugged back the rest of my energy drink as I pressed the garage door opener, and when I looked back down, there were legs on the other side of my garage. Distressed jeans and sneakers. As the door opened more and more, it uncovered ateenage boy. He had both the trash and the recycling carts and was dragging them out to the curb.
“Hey, kid,” I yelled, but he must have not heard me. The white ear buds poking out from the sides of his head are probably to blame. I followed behind him, then scared the snot out of the boy when he turned around. He dropped the wheeled carts in the process. The black garbage one skidded to a stop, but the blue recycling fell over, cardboard boxes tumbling out.
“Jeez,” he gasped, “You scared the crap out of me.” He pulled out his ear buds and slipped them in his pocket before bending over to clean up the mess.
“Sorry,” I chuckled, going to help him. “I yelled out to you, but guess you didn’t hear me.”
“Headphones,” he muttered.
“Ah,” I nodded. Teenagers and their headphones these days. He doesn’t look like a bratty kid like most teenagers, though. And he was even taking out our trash for us.
He eyed me warily for a second, then looked back at my house, seeing my mom in the kitchen window. “Are you visiting Mrs. Trude or something?” He kept looking at the window at my mom until she looked up and saw him. When she smiled and waved, he returned it with a more relaxed expression. He was obviously worried about the stranger in my mom’s house. I liked this kid more and more.
“I just moved in.” I held out my hand to shake him. “Name’s Kevin. I’m her son.”
“Kevin?” He snorted and smirked, but returned the handshake firmly. I was taken back for a second. Was my namethat funny? “Sorry. That’s my dog’s name. I’m Preston. I live across the street.”
That explains the humor. This must be Feighlynn’s other kid. I guess she didn’t mention me to him yesterday.
“Hi, Preston,” I said, tossing my empty can into the recycling. “Um, thanks for taking the trash out for us.”
“Yeah, no problem. Mrs. Trude forgets, so we try to get it for her every week. Don’t scare my mom if she brings it in later for you. She usually gets to them before I get home from school.”
“I won’t,” I grinned. This is a good kid. Feighlynn did well.
“Well, it was nice meeting you human Kevin. I got to get my sister and me to school.” He waved and hurried across the street as I stood there in stunned amusement.
Human Kevin. Yep. The kid was definitely Feighlynn’s.
I watched the kid go into his front door before I adjusted the trash cans a bit. They were in the driveway halfway and I was getting my car delivered today. Plus, I had to get the uhaul back this morning. I needed all the driveway space.
Right when I was about to walk back inside, I heard a garage open, and sure enough, it was theirs.
“Did you grab your lunches?!” Feighlynn called out to the mustang backing out of the third car spot.
Preston stuck his head out of the window. “Jessie got them. Thanks mom.”
“Have a good day! Make good choices,” she waved excitedly, her dog on his leash in her other hand. “I love you!”
She had to be the happiest person I have ever met. I was stunned, just standing there and watching her until her son drove by and waved again at me before rolling up his window.
“My action hero!” Feighlynn said when she saw me. I felt like puffing out my chest and flexing my arms when she called me that.
“Hey, Lynn,” I smirked instead.
“Morning,Vin,” she giggled. It was just like in my dreams. Maybe even better. “Pres said he met you this morning.”
“He did,” I grinned, remembering him calling me human Kevin.
“He asked me if we should make sure you’re really Velma’s son and not some friendly robber.” She bit her bottom lip, her eyes shining with humor.
“At least he called me friendly,” I huffed, acting offended, but I’m actually just impressed.