I have to get out of here.

I can’t stay on this roof. Looking out, I can see directly into the windows of neighboring houses across the street. If I can see them, then someone can see me.

I have to get down.

I pull my pants up, leaving them unzipped as I try and twist into my shirt. I might have slipped it on inside out but there is no time to care about that.

Curtis came home. I see his truck in the driveway. If I can see him, then he can see me—

For fuck’s sake. Move, Nate.

I force my shoes on and crawl to the edge of the roof, looking for a good place to get down. If I hang down, it’s not too far to drop. I can probably reach the railing of the porch with my toes to keep from falling the whole way. If I do slip, it might hurt a bit but the bushes will break my fall.

Or I can leap off, grab that tree branch, shimmy across, and climb down...

Eh, the drop is probably safer.

I take a breath and turn around, slowly letting my legs down first. I feel so stupid. So unbelievably stupid but, hey — had sex.

She took the blindfold off. I can’t believe she did that—

Focus, Nate.

I lower down, stretching my toes to touch the porch railing. They just barely graze it. This is so risky but it’s either get down and run or come face-to-face with the man whose wife I just came into.

I let go. The railing slows my fall and I tumble safely into the bushes below. I roll out of them without thinking and run around the house toward the backyard, hoping to find someplace obvious to hide until Curtis leaves again.

I dive into the bushes of the next yard over and curl into a low fetal position to catch my breath.

A burst of water sprays my back.

I twist around only to get hit in the face again with the stream of a hose held by Jovie Ross.

“Hey, Joanne, check it out,” she says, her hand on her hip. “A weed.”

I close my eyes and exhale hard, dripping wet and painfully out of ideas. “Hi, Jovie...”

Jovie chucks the hose to the ground next to Joanne’s kiddie pool. She bends down and picks the splashing baby up, her smirk curling to one side as she turns to stares at me.

“Come on in, milkman,” she says. “Let’s talk.”

* * *

Jovie hands me a bath towel.

“Thanks,” I say before smothering my wet face with it.

She sits down at her kitchen table across from me, instantly crossing her arms and glaring at me as I dry myself off. Three large rectangles of white paper sit rolled up to one side, propped back by three jars or red, white, and blue paint and giant brushes.

Joanne hops up and down beside her, strapped into a bouncy chair and giggling at us every so often.

I smile at her. Cute kid.

I connect again with Jovie’s glare. “It’s not what it looked like,” I say, setting the towel down.

“Really?” she says. “Because it looked like my neighbor shoved a half-naked man out of the bedroom window seconds after her husband walked through the front door.”

“Okay...” I nod. “That’s accurate.”

“First of all...” Jovie raises her hand. “High five, dude.”

I accept it with a half-smile. “Thanks.”

“And second...”

She leans forward and smacks the side of my head.

“Ouch,” I deadpan.

“What are you even thinking?!” she asks.

“I don’t know!”

“What is she thinking?”

“I don’t—” I frown at her. “Hey, you’re the one who filled her head with that crap about me talking my way under skirts.”

“Yeah, unmarried skirts.”

“Well, apparently, my skills don’t discriminate based on marital status.”

“So, you’re an equal opportunity idiot?” she quips.

“Yes.”

She scoffs, shaking her head in disappointment. “Kudos, though.”

I blink. “Okay, are you supporting this or not?”

“I don’t know! On one hand, you’re so stupid!” She exhales hard. “On the other, I love a good underdog story. I’m so very torn right now.”

“Yeah. Welcome to my life, Jove.”

She sits back in her chair. “Look, man, I’m not gonna lecture you. You obviously know what you’re doing and so does she... I’m guessing. It’s not my place to tell you what to do otherwise.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m not judging you...” She looks me in the eye. “But they will.”

I shake my head. “I don’t care what they think.”

“That’s what I said, too. But someday, you might. This is a small town, Nate. Everything gets out eventually and when this does, they will crucify both of you.”

“Oh, come on.” I laugh. “You’re being dramatic.”

“No, I’m speaking from my overwhelming life experience as Clover’s punching bag.”

“This is different,” I argue. “Kimber’s unhappy. She’s trapped and lonely and he doesn’t love her.”

She tilts her head. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yes!”

“So, what’s your plan?” she asks. “You swoop in the back door, act like the alpha hero for a while, and then... what? Leave town again? Make her pick up the pieces?”

I go quiet.

“Today was a close call but what about tomorrow?” she asks. “Or the next day?”

“I get it, Jovie,” I say. “I get it. Believe me.”

She turns her head to check on Joanne. Still bouncing. Bright eyes watching us with curiosity.

“Just something to think about,” she says. “That’s all.”

“Yeah, I know.” I gesture at the art supplies spread out on the table. “What’s all this stuff for?”

Jovie’s eyes roll. “We can’t paint Mr. Warner’s barn this year, so Sara is making all members of the party planning committee do three posters each to hang and decorate the thing. Something patriotic and festive.”

“Decorate for what?” I ask.

“The Fourth of July hoedown this Saturday.”

My jaw drops. “Oh, right. I forgot about that thing…”

A perfect night flashes in my mind with pure clarity.

Me and Kimber dancing in the moonlight.

Kissing at the edge of the lake beneath the fireworks.

“Should be oh-so-fun,” she says, her voice lacking all enthusiasm.

“You know, Kimber paints,” I say. “She might be willing to help out if you ask.”

“I already did. She said no.”

“She did?”

She nods. “Kimber said she didn’t want anything to do with the hoedown.”

“What? Why?”

Jovie’s eyes land on me. “Because it’s the hoedown.”

“And?”

She pauses. “Oh, that’s right. You weren’t here last year.”

I turn my hands up, prompting her to explain.

“The accident,” she says. “The one that left Kimber…” She points at her face. “That was the night of the hoedown.”

I sit back. “Oh.”

“Right? Poor thing.”

“Yeah.” I stand up. “Anyway, I’m gonna go. Thanks for the towel.”

“You’re welcome.” She waves at me. “Say, ‘Bye, milkman!’” she coos at the baby.

Joanne giggles in her bouncy chair. I give her a smile and a wave before walking out the back door.

I cross through the bushes between the lawns, my feet feeling heavy with each step toward the VanHouten house. I pause in front of the back door, thinking twice before reaching out and turning the knob.

“Nate?”

I step inside and Kimber rushes into the kitchen, her hand on her heart.

She breathes a sigh of relief. “Where did you go?” she asks. “I was freaking out.”

I close the door. “It’s all right. I just... laid low over at Jovie’s for a bit.”

She comes in for a kiss and pulls back, touching my shirt. “Why are you wet?”

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” I look into her face and smile. “Are you okay?”

Kimber nods and smiles back at me. “Yeah...”

She steps closer and lays her head on my chest as I hug my arms around her. I inhale her sweet scent, feeling a wave of euphoria as blood rushes to my head. But Jovie’s right. If we’re not more careful, this won’t end well for Kimber. I can pack up and leave at any moment, but she can’t. Not easily.

Kimber turns her head up. She looks at me with those bright, happy eyes. The same eyes I saw when she removed that blindfold and revealed herself to me.

Jovie may be right about some things but so am I.

Curtis doesn’t love her.

I do.