Free Ready to Fall by Daisy Prescott Page A

it.
    “You are a wonder with words. It’s no wonder you’re so popular, D.”
    “I have a gift. Well, I’m heading home. Gotta rest up for the weekend. You up for a trip to town?”
    “Maybe. Supposed to go to the movies with Diane.”
    “Sounds like a date. Dinner, too?” Donnely teased.
    “Not a date. We’re friends.”
    “Friends can screw too, dude. Try the whole friends with benefits thing. Maybe that’s what you’re missing out on.”
    “Right. Cause that works out.”
    “Did with me and whatsherface.”
    “Yeah, you and whatsherface were something to be envied.” I laughed at him. He was a piece of work, but as far as guys in my life, he was a loyal friend. No bullshit when it came to Tom Donnely.
    “Maybe not the best example. Let me know if Diane’s off the market. I’ll cut you some slack and tone down the charm to give you a chance.”
    “Thanks, man. You’re the best.”
    “That’s what she said.”
    I grumbled and waved good-bye. On the drive back down to the beach and my empty house, thoughts floated through my head about friends, love and hard work. The funny thing was I never shirked hard work, physical work.
     

     
    Later in the week I found myself back at the Doghouse again with Diane after a movie at the Clyde. Light snow fell but didn’t stick to the ground, giving everything a slight shimmer and softness.
    “Maybe if you lose the big sweater you’d have more attention than you’d know what to do with. Island’s a lonely place in the winter.” I teased Diane about her gray sweater, which had made another appearance tonight. We were sitting at the bar having a pint of beer before heading home.
    “You hate this sweater, don’t you?” she asked, picking a ball of fuzz off the shoulder.
    “It looks like it’s swallowing you whole. You have a nice body. Don’t hide it because you married an asshole.”
    “Ouch. My sweater’s comfortable and warm!”
    “And ugly.” My smile showed her I teased.
    “Your opinion is duly noted. I won’t wear it around you again.”
    “Maybe we should ceremoniously burn it?” I asked, half kidding, but mostly serious. The sweater was an abomination. Or her security blanket. “I’m going to start calling you Linus.”
    “Why Linus?”
    “Instead of a blue blanket, you have a sweater. I think I’ve only seen you without it once.”
    “That’s not true. I wore my fleece when we played pool. And I didn’t wear it the night you came over for stew.”
    “Okay, that’s twice. Still, I think we should burn it come spring. We’ll do it on the beach. First bonfire of the year.”
    “Bonfires on the beach sound wonderful, but you’re not burning my sweater.” She petted her wool covered arm as if protecting the damn thing from my loathing.
    “Fine,” I huffed, crossing my arms.
    “Maybe I’m using it as my superhero power to ward off the men. Maybe I don’t want any attention.”
    The mention of super powers hinted she was joking, but her eyes showed she meant the part about not wanting attention.
    “You’d use your one super power to ward off men? Seriously? No ability to fly? Read minds?”
    Her shrug told me she was serious about hiding herself. Unacceptable. That asshole did a number on her ego. Somebody needed to remedy all the shit her ex left her with. I told her as much.
    “It’s your superhero power to do with what you want. Invisibility it is.”
    “What would be your power?”
    “Strength, of course.” I put my elbow on the bar and flexed my bicep, wiggling my eyebrows and nodding my head to get her to touch it.
    “Nice. You must work out.” Her humor returned as she clamped her hand around my arm.
    “Chopping wood is hard work.”
    “I saw you outside splitting wood. You were going at it pretty hard. Working out some frustrations?”
    Here was the chance to come clean about Kelly. I took a deep breath and exhaled. “You might say that. Kelly’s out of the picture.”
    Her face showed genuine concern.