Read Online Romeo Fails by Amy Briant - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Amy Briant
Tags: Bella ebook
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lifted the top off the box.
“What is it?” Gargoyle called.
“Come see for yourself,” Luke said, picking up the box and holding it so she could view the contents. Which were a dozen carnation heads, all spray-painted black. Except for one on top, in the middle. It was painted red.
* * *
Dorsey wiped the sweat off her forehead with the sleeve of her T-shirt and decided to call it a day. The locusts were keening so loudly she could hardly hear herself think. The Bartholomews’ deck was looking pretty good. A few more days and the job would be complete, in plenty of time before their scheduled return from Europe.
By the time she’d put her tools away, swept the deck and watered the plants, it was almost seven thirty. Maggie and Sarah were running late, which was odd. Maggie was the type who would always show up early so Dorsey wondered what was keeping them. She never drank on the job, but had brought a cooler with a six-pack of St. Pauli Girl beer in it for the “party.” She opened one now, savoring the coolness of the green glass bottle in her hands and the cold beer on her tongue as she sat down on the steps of the deck to await the arrival of her guests.
After that debacle on Sunday night, she had wondered if the picnic plan would still be on, but Maggie had assured her on the phone that it was. She sounded the same as ever—cheerful and enthused—so apparently Sarah hadn’t said anything to her. Maybe it was all for the best, Dorsey kept telling herself. Anything that involved lying to Maggie was not good. And besides—did she really think Sarah from the big city had any long-term interest in her small-town self? It was better just to view her as a new friend. A short-term friend. An acquaintance, really. Her social circle was so limited, any addition to it was to be valued.
She hadn’t seen Sarah, or Maggie for that matter, since Sunday and was looking forward to seeing both of them now. Between the hardware store and the deck, she’d been busy with work. Maggie was off for the summer (one of the perks of her teaching job) and thus was free to go do whatever with Sarah. Dorsey wondered what they’d been up to. After they’d visited all the Bigelow relatives in the tri-county area, what was there to do? And where the hell were they anyhow?
She decided to change into her swimsuit in the Bartholomews’ kitchen, which was just off the deck, and then fire up the hot tub. Whether Maggie and Sarah showed or not, she might as well enjoy the bubbles. Although just how enjoyable that would be all by her lonesome was debatable. And to think she’d splurged and bought a new bathing suit for this. Her old Speedo one-piece was fine for swimming laps at the community center pool, but she’d found herself wanting to look good for Sarah. What was the point of staying in shape if you couldn’t show off your abs once in a while? Her daily ritual of fifty push-ups and fifty sit-ups ought to earn some reward. As she shucked off her jeans to change into her green-and-black bikini top paired with black boyshort-style bottoms, she wondered what Sarah would be wearing… Then told herself to snap out of it. This wasn’t a date, she firmly told herself. Maggie was coming too. Just three friends hanging out.
She finished changing, then walked out on the deck to turn on the hot tub. She dipped a toe into the bubbles. Although the warm night air felt good on her skin, she realized she did not want to greet the other two in just her swimsuit. She pulled her jeans back on and stuck her bare feet in her unlaced work boots, in case she needed to venture out on the gravel driveway to help them unload. The sunset was spectacular off to the west, with the sun hiding behind big puffy clouds glowing pink and gold. The external lights for the house, deck and yard came on automatically as the light diminished, casting shadows amongst the large potted plants that lined the railing of the deck. The Bartholomews, who were one of
“What is it?” Gargoyle called.
“Come see for yourself,” Luke said, picking up the box and holding it so she could view the contents. Which were a dozen carnation heads, all spray-painted black. Except for one on top, in the middle. It was painted red.
* * *
Dorsey wiped the sweat off her forehead with the sleeve of her T-shirt and decided to call it a day. The locusts were keening so loudly she could hardly hear herself think. The Bartholomews’ deck was looking pretty good. A few more days and the job would be complete, in plenty of time before their scheduled return from Europe.
By the time she’d put her tools away, swept the deck and watered the plants, it was almost seven thirty. Maggie and Sarah were running late, which was odd. Maggie was the type who would always show up early so Dorsey wondered what was keeping them. She never drank on the job, but had brought a cooler with a six-pack of St. Pauli Girl beer in it for the “party.” She opened one now, savoring the coolness of the green glass bottle in her hands and the cold beer on her tongue as she sat down on the steps of the deck to await the arrival of her guests.
After that debacle on Sunday night, she had wondered if the picnic plan would still be on, but Maggie had assured her on the phone that it was. She sounded the same as ever—cheerful and enthused—so apparently Sarah hadn’t said anything to her. Maybe it was all for the best, Dorsey kept telling herself. Anything that involved lying to Maggie was not good. And besides—did she really think Sarah from the big city had any long-term interest in her small-town self? It was better just to view her as a new friend. A short-term friend. An acquaintance, really. Her social circle was so limited, any addition to it was to be valued.
She hadn’t seen Sarah, or Maggie for that matter, since Sunday and was looking forward to seeing both of them now. Between the hardware store and the deck, she’d been busy with work. Maggie was off for the summer (one of the perks of her teaching job) and thus was free to go do whatever with Sarah. Dorsey wondered what they’d been up to. After they’d visited all the Bigelow relatives in the tri-county area, what was there to do? And where the hell were they anyhow?
She decided to change into her swimsuit in the Bartholomews’ kitchen, which was just off the deck, and then fire up the hot tub. Whether Maggie and Sarah showed or not, she might as well enjoy the bubbles. Although just how enjoyable that would be all by her lonesome was debatable. And to think she’d splurged and bought a new bathing suit for this. Her old Speedo one-piece was fine for swimming laps at the community center pool, but she’d found herself wanting to look good for Sarah. What was the point of staying in shape if you couldn’t show off your abs once in a while? Her daily ritual of fifty push-ups and fifty sit-ups ought to earn some reward. As she shucked off her jeans to change into her green-and-black bikini top paired with black boyshort-style bottoms, she wondered what Sarah would be wearing… Then told herself to snap out of it. This wasn’t a date, she firmly told herself. Maggie was coming too. Just three friends hanging out.
She finished changing, then walked out on the deck to turn on the hot tub. She dipped a toe into the bubbles. Although the warm night air felt good on her skin, she realized she did not want to greet the other two in just her swimsuit. She pulled her jeans back on and stuck her bare feet in her unlaced work boots, in case she needed to venture out on the gravel driveway to help them unload. The sunset was spectacular off to the west, with the sun hiding behind big puffy clouds glowing pink and gold. The external lights for the house, deck and yard came on automatically as the light diminished, casting shadows amongst the large potted plants that lined the railing of the deck. The Bartholomews, who were one of
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