Page 24 of Down Bad

The sun’s almost gone when I’m back inside, showered, and in my flower-print PJ pants and t-shirt—yes, a bit on-the-nose, but they were gifts from my sister. I’m waiting on the microwave to decide my dinner’s done when I spot Diego out in the yard.

A stack of decorative edging stones sits next to him.

He’s making a border. Gently laying them out one by one. He nudges a stone. Turns it a little one way, then the other. Considers each placement like an artist.

I watch him even long after dinner’s ready. Watching him like a puzzle I can’t figure out.

But catch myself smiling.

—6—

Diego

I have the worst timing in the world.

Walk down to the end of the driveway to check the mailbox for something Lottie said might show up, and there stands Wyatt by his car, about to head to work. He’s peering at the flowerbed. I guess I froze in place because he looks over at me and says, “Your stones look nice, Diego,” gives a little nod, then gets in his car and heads off. I’m still standing there long after he goes, mail hanging from my grip, staring down the road.

I get to the auto shop right when a shipment is coming in, so I’m put to work the second I show up, which I guess is fine because it takes my mind off of Wyatt and the row of stupid stones I laid out to protect the flowerbed from monsters like me.

But not for long, since Joel’s wife Mindy shows up to bring him his lunchbox he forgot, then mentions something about a movie night at Wyatt’s. “I don’t wanna turn him down again, babe. Can’t we get your mom to watch the boys?” Joel sighs too hard at that, mumbles, “I’m only goin’ if Tanner and Billy are, ‘cause Lance keeps givin’ me these looks when I go, and I don’t know what I did wrong to him, but it’s just gonna be awkward if I—” “He’s like that with everyone,” she cuts him off, “and if you’re gonna be like that, then I’ll just go myself and you can stay with the kids.”

I bear listening to them go back and forth for as long as I can stand before clocking out to take a break, since there aren’t any customers anyway.

Then I can’t even enjoy that. “Hey, uh …” Joel appears at the coffeemaker, wincing. “Like, I didn’t mean to ignore you, or …”

I’m confused before he’s started. “Huh?”

“Wyatt’s movie night things. They’re kinda just … somethin’ he sorta-kinda started doin’ recently … kinda.”

That’s a lot of kindas. “So?”

“Did he invite you? I’m sure you’re welcome to go, too. I know you live just next door. Wyatt always welcomes extra guests. That’s just the kinda guy he is. Never turns anyone away. I just—”

“I’m busy,” I grunt back, not wanting to hear the rest, take my lunch outside to the curb, and eat under the shade of an oak tree growing way too close to the sidewalk, pushing up the pavement.

As if that wasn’t enough, that evening, the second I turn the corner and cross the street to my house, I spot Wyatt watering my flowerbed. I fight an instinct to ask what the hell he’s doing when he looks up, catches my eye, and says, “Evening, neighbor. I’m just giving them a little love, don’t mind me.”

“Wasn’t gonna,” I mumble.

Either he doesn’t hear me, or chooses not to, because then he has the fucking nerve to look back at me and say, “I’m having a few friends over Saturday night—tomorrow, just a few people, not a big deal, not a big thing. It’s a movie night, but no one actually watches the movie. We chat, eat whatever anyone brings over …”

“Fine with me,” I mumble, heading for the porch.

He rises. “No, no. I’m inviting you, Diego. That’s why … That’s why I’m telling you. About the thing. To invite you.”

I stop on the top step. Don’t quite look at him. Hand gripping the splintery railing.

And I’m a split second from saying no when he adds, “No need to answer me now. You can just come if you feel like it tomorrow. Would be a great way to meet people from around the town.”

My face scrunches up. “The hell would I need to meet people for? I don’t live here.”

“You kinda do right now.”

I’m sick of the word kinda. “Not for much longer. Second this house sells—”

“Might not sell for a while. Weeks. Months, even.”

I shoot him a look.