Page 57 of Because of Blake
“No, it’s okay. I told you we’d go. I’ll put Oscar in his crate in the basement with a blanket over it. He has a white noise machine. He’ll be okay… I hope.” Blake’s concern over his canine companion is endearing.
“As long as you’re okay with it. Are we supposed to bring anything?”
Blake shrugs. “What did the invite say?”
“Shit. I never even looked at it,” I say as I rummage through my purse, frantically searching for the envelope Joanna handed me a week ago. “Oh, good. I still have it.” I slide the invitation from the envelope and read it. “And please bring something to share.” I purse my lips, staring at Blake for a solution.
Blake points to the sky. “Wait, I have something.” He pulls a bag of plain Lay’s potato chips from his pantry and a six-pack of beer from the fridge.
“My hero,” I say, placing my hand on my chest and batting my eyelashes.
Blake walks from the kitchen to meet me at the couch. He leans over me, resting his hands on the back, staring down into my eyes. “All in a day’s work, ma’am.”
“Ouch. Ma’am?”
“Just being polite,” he says, bending his head down and putting his lips to mine.
Our kiss grows stronger by the second and, suddenly, Blake’s hand runs under my shirt and over my breast, squeezing gently.
“You’re not being very polite now,” I say against his mouth.
“I’m not always a hero,” he growls, keeping his hand where it lies.
“We don’t have time. The block party already started.”
“I’ll be quick.”
“Please don’t be.”
The block party isn’t actually held on the block. Instead, it’s hosted in the park next to the pool. It’s quite the grand event, and I would expect nothing less since Joanna heads up the committee. Balloons and streamers hang from endless folding tables littering the park, and children’s laughter mingles with loud conversation as the din thrums through the air. Everyone seems to be having fun, and I’m not dreading it with Blake by my side.
I walk to the HOA table to greet Joanna. Blake parts ways with me and takes our offerings to the food tables.
“Maggie! Hi, so glad you came!” Joanna says loudly, eyeing Blake as he walks away. “And with Blake Averson. How long has that been going on?”
“Hi, Joanna. Um, about a week.”
“A week, is that all? Huh. We all thought it was longer. After the Christmas party last year, everyone started saying you two–”
“Uh, Joanna, I’m really hungry. I’m going to get some food and we’ll catch up later, okay?” I don’t even wait for her response before I’m walking toward Blake. I meet up with him, hook my arm in his, and nudge him toward the food.
“Joanna?” he asks with a knowing grin.
“Uh huh. Keep walking.”
We pile a couple of plates with food. A hot dog and plain Lay’s potato chips for Blake, and a bunch of sides for me. Vegetarians are very rarely considered at these types of events, but I’ve grown used to it.
Once we have our food and drinks, Blake searches for a place to sit. “Well, there’re two choices. Either at the table between drunk Mark and his drunk buddies, or over there under a tree.”
“The tree, please.”
Settling down into the grass, I welcome its coolness. July is always so hot, and while evening is closing in, the heat hasn’t wavered. At least we found some shade.
“So, what did Joanna say this time? More interior decorator advice?”
“She wanted to know about you and me. How long we’ve been...together. She saideveryonethought it was longer, which means people have been talking about us.”
“Does it bother you? To be the talk of the town?”