Page 77 of The Second Dance
“You sure did, Ed.”
He grins at her. “You need anything else from me?”
She shakes her head. “All set. We’ll send the bill to your insurance.”
He slaps the counter lightly, looking up at me. “How’s your dad?”
“Doing good, Mr. Hauser.”
“That’s good. Especially considering.” He grins. “My wife and I saw you at The Go Around yesterday.”
I tilt my head, glancing at Whit. I was definitely knee deep in the ravine at the Warton Eighty all day yesterday planting trees. That’s how I smashed my finger today, as a matter of fact. The Go Around is in Clark, a good twenty miles away from the farm. “You sure that was me?”
“I may be old, but I’m not blind, son. Would have said hello, too, but my wife said we ought to leave you two lovebirds alone.”
He glances down at Whitney. “Him and that Reed girl make a pretty couple, don’t you think?”
Whitney frowns a little. “Andy was there, too?”
He looks up at me. “Well, who else? I got to say, Bo. You look better with the glasses. Smarter. Well, anyway. I’ll be seeing you. Stay out of trouble, you hear?”
“Sure thing, Mr. Hauser.”
Whitney and I both wait until he’s safely out of hearing range.
Her voice is dull. “He’s talking about Skyler, isn’t he?”
“An honest mistake. We do look alike.”
“But there’s only one Andy.”
My heart throbs. It hurts almost as bad as my smashed fingers. “Yeah.”
Whitney looks up at me. “Are they dating?”
“I didn’t think so.” I say.
“You and Andy aren’t…”
“No.”
“So, she could be seeing Skyler behind your back?”
I give her a sharp look. “It’s hardly behind my back if we’re not together.”
“Why else would they be together?” Her voice is almost plaintive.
“I’m sure I don’t know.” I say, holding up my hand. “This is going to need stitches, though.”
“Oh. Right. I’ll see who’s available.”
I sit on the exam table, watching the med student attempt to sew my finger up. It’s not the first time I’ve busted my hand open. They needed to cauterize the fingernail, poking it with a needle to let the pressure go.
It’s a good distraction, watching something of mine get fixed.
Too bad they can’t stitch up all these troubles I keep running into. I’m sure Skyler has a good reason for taking Andy to lunch.
But my imagination is supplying me with plenty of bad reasons he might have taken her there.