Chapter 3
“What happened to you?”
“A damn Chihuahua bit me at work.” Nate waved his bandaged thumb in the air.
“How the hell did that happen at a bank? Were you at one of those ribbon cutting ceremonies at a school again? You should have the safest job of any of us, barring an armed robbery.” Ruben and Jasper, on leave from the fire station for the day, spoke at once and then burst out laughing. Jasper handed Nate a beer and they waited for his answer.
“Yesterday we were invaded by dogs. A tiny rat took on two snow dogs right there in the customer waiting area. When I caught the little one it bit me!”
Jasper laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. “No way. You let it bite you?”
“It was hardly a choice. It gets worse though. While I was in seeing the doctor, the damn thing chewed the back seat of my car. You should see it. Work is gonna be pissed.”
“What was it doing in your car?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Meh, it doesn’t matter too much. It’s a company car so it’s tough.” Ruben laughed and clinked his beer to Jasper’s.
“That’s what she said.”
“She who?”
“Fang’s owner. That’s the rat dog. She made some jokes about company cars not needing any care before I drove her home.”
“Hang on, you drove a woman home and we’re just hearing about it now? You holding out on us dude?” Jasper plonked himself in the chair next to Nate. “What’s she like? Why didn’t you invite her here?”
“Maybe because you two would grill her until she wanted to leave.” Mimi wrapped her arms around Jasper’s shoulders and leaned down to speak into his ear. “Leave poor Nate alone. No wonder he doesn’t date.”
“What do you mean? I date.”
“Oh yeah?” Ruben stared at him. “When did you last take someone out?”
“You can’t talk, Ruben. Alyssa has been dropping hints for months and you’ve ignored each one.” Mimi chuckled at Nate’s reply and Ruben frowned at them both.
“We’re not talking about me,” Ruben growled. “We’re talking about Nate. When was the last time?”
Nate took a swig of his beer and looked across the yard to where Becca and Chris were making a salad. He thought they made a cute couple, even if Chris wasn’t quite talking to him yet. Knocking back your friend’s loan application had the potential to affect your social life. “Not that long ago.”
“Sure, sure.” Jasper and Ruben exchanged a knowing look. “I’m pretty sure the last date you had was a month before Christmas—the year before last.” Jasper leaned in and put his elbows on his knees. “You should ask her out. Get back in the game.”
“She’ll be back to check on my injury on Monday, apparently.”
“So, ask her.”
“Maybe I will.”
“Don’t let them pressure you, Nate.” Mimi squeezed his shoulder on her way to the kitchen. “Only ask her if you like her.”
“Oh, he likes her, baby,” Jasper laughed. “It’s written all over his face.”
“Anyway,” Nate glared at him, “how about we change the subject. How’s that calendar going? Did you sell out yet?”
“Not yet. Mimi has the proper numbers but I think there’s only about a thousand left.”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
“Yep, she’s done great. I bet you wish you’d lent her that money now, right?”
“You know it’s out of my hands Jasper. Don’t you stop talking to me—I already have Chris holding a grudge about his loan a few months ago.”
“Who’s holding a grudge? You saying no to that money was the best thing that ever happened to me.” Chris walked toward them across the grass.
“Hey,” Becca said from behind him. “I thought I was the best thing.”
Chris laughed and stepped back to wrap his arm around her waist. “Same thing sweetie. That no led to the Love In becoming a reality with you.” Becca wrapped her own arm around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. He kissed her on the head and Nate watched his friends with a tiny twinge of jealousy.
He cleared his throat and stood up. “I think that’s my cue to head home. Thanks for thinking of me Ruben.”
“It’s only eight o’clock!” several voices chorused at once.
“I know, but I have some work to do since I left early yesterday.”
“Do it Monday.”
“That’s easy for a fireman to say, Jasper. You don’t exactly take your work home with you.”
“True, but don’t you have assistants or something to do the extra?”
“Some tasks I can’t delegate. Besides, I like getting the little tasks done. It means I have an easier day at work.”
Jasper shrugged and Nate shook his hand before he said goodbye to the others. When he slipped behind the wheel of the car a few minutes later he considered taking himself to a movie. There were a couple of new releases he wanted to see. Maybe he could ask Kelly if she wanted to see one with him next week.
He’d never admit it to his friends but they were right—he rarely dated. When he’d said to Kelly that he spent all his holidays renovating, he hadn’t been exaggerating. What he didn’t mention was that he spent every spare moment tinkering on the house, not just his holidays. Even this weekend he had plans to replace the letterbox. His life was quiet with little excitement besides the occasional movie, and he’d been convinced that he liked it that way. Lately, seeing his friends pairing up, he’d begun to wonder whether that was a mistake. At thirty-two years old, he was hardly past it. It could be time to make a change, though.
Maybe he would ask her out when she came in on Monday. If only to prove to Jasper that he could still get a date.
Maybe.
Probably not.