Free Constant Pull by Avery Kirk

wondering if people were ever really in the neighborhood when they say they were.
    “Not yet” he said, glancing up at the nosey old lady who was still peeking out the window. He waved to her. I laughed.
              “I would help you look for it,” I said, “but I didn’t wear any shoes.” I felt a little silly and put one foot on top of the other on the brake pedal.
    “I did notice that.” He said, smiling . “That’s OK; I was just about to give up. I’m Wren by the way.” He put his hand in my window to shake my hand.
    I took his hand and shook it . His knuckles felt rough. “I’m Mel.” I said.
    “Mel . Is that short for something?” he asked, shoving his hands back into his front pockets.
    “Yeah, short for Amelia.” I said.
    “I like it.” He said, nodding.
    I smiled . I kind of wondered why he was still standing there.
    “So, you’re a carpenter, huh?” he asked, kicking some gravel on the street.
    “Yeah. I’m still learning but been a finish carpenter for a few years now.” I noticed his chin had a dimple and his blond hair was much neater today. It was brushed to the side and had a slight wave to it.
              “Do you have a business card?”
    “Oh, sure.”  I reached into my glove box and snagged a card out, straightening the corners as I handed it to him. It was only about the third one I’d given out in probably a year.
    “Thanks.” He said, acting very interested in what was on the card . He flicked it with his fingertips.
    “Do you need carpentry work done?” I asked, wondering.
    “I do if you’re going to do it.” He said, moving his eyes up to mine and holding them there, his gaze intense.
    “Oh” I said, not sure how to respond.
    “So, are you” he paused. “ with anyone?” he bit his bottom lip waiting for my response.
    I shook my head slightly, holding his gaze.
    “Do you think I could give you a call?” he said, looking at me with a sort of hopeful trust.
    I nodded. I really wasn’t sure what to say, so I didn’t say anything.
    “Maybe we can grab some coffee . I was just going to get some, actually. I would ask you to come now, but there’s that shoe thing again.” He said, smiling. He had perfect teeth and I noticed his hazel eyes.
    “If only I had shoes.” I said with a shrug.
    Something occurred to him. “Are you an adventurous type of girl?” he said to me.
    I looked at him sideways wondering exactly what he was referring to . He laughed.
    “Don’t read into that . I meant that I actually have some rubber boots in my truck. I was helping my uncle lay cement. I could bring you with me to get coffee right now. Those would be the prettiest feet my boots have ever had in them.”
    I smiled and looked down . “I would, but I actually slept in this.” I said, pointing to my black yoga pants and lime green T-shirt.”
    He shook his bent knee back and forth and set his hands on the sides of my window, leaning closer to me.
    He spoke softly. “ I don’t care if you don’t.”
    I realized just then that I’d been playing with my hair . I stopped abruptly and squinted my eyes, turning to him. “Can you have me back here in less than an hour?”
    “That I can do.” He smirked.
    “OK then, I’m in.”
    “ Excellent. Let me grab those boots for you.” He smiled, jogging over to his parked car.
    I hopped out of my truck, tossing on a gray hooded sweatshirt that I had on the passenger side . I used the sleeve to rub my teeth, realizing that I hadn’t brushed them. I grabbed a credit card and an atomic fireball from my center console and sucked on it for three seconds, putting it back in its wrapper as my mouth burned.
    I walked over to his car , pulling my hair into a ponytail. Wren was in the trunk getting the black rubber boots out for me and turning them upside down to pour out anything that might have been inside. The bottom of the boots had a thin coating of dried cement on them. He set them down behind