Page 43 of Pinch of Love

Maya didn’t press me with any questions. She just heard me and started back toward the house as I took in her silhouette and thought about the idea of love.

I’d had it once and figured it had been enough to last a lifetime, but as I watched Maya wandering up the grass, I wondered why I was so determined to imprison myself.

But I knew.

And it was a secret I’d never let see the light of day.

Maya spun around and waved. “Want another beer?”

“Sure. I can always walk home.”

She laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. This is your house. You can crash on the couch with Chewie, and if you’re really nice, I’ll let you have one of your guest rooms.”

I chuckled and walked up toward the house.

By the time I’d sat down, she had brought out two beers and slumped in the chair next to me.

“This place is good for the soul.” She turned to look at me. “Or maybe it’s you.”

I grinned.

“Did you know I started an internal game?”

“Yeah?”

“Every time I can get you to smile, I get a point.”

“How many points do you have?”

“After today, I’m at about twenty.”

“Oh, come on.” I laughed. “I’ve definitely smiled more than twenty times.”

“I don’t know. You’re pretty stingy.”

I took a sip of beer at the same time she did, except she kept chugging.

When she was done, she set the half-full beer on the ground and kicked out her legs. “I haven’t done that in years.”

“Which part?”

“Pounded a beer.”

“Technically, since it doesn’t look to be empty, you didn’t pound it.”

“Are you the Frat Boy Police or something?”

I chuckled. “Just sayin’.”

She reached for the beer and polished it off. “Fine. Just you watch. Crazy Maya is on the way.”

“Haven’t Chippy and I already met her?”

She shot up from the chair and put her hand on her hip. “Not even close.”

My eyes widened as she skipped to the grass and put both hands in the air like she was a cheerleader, and the next thing I knew, she was doing a line of cartwheels across the grass.

Dress be damned.