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“I know.”

“But ya haven’t tried.”

“Why would I need to when they’re not gonna try to not to be idiots?”

I give up.

For today anyway.

“Alright—” I push myself up to stand, but Bobbie Jo’s hand shoots out to stop me.

“Hold on, now. We’re not done.”

“Ya ain’t helpin’, and I’m gonna go home and think about it.”

“Clearly, he likes you if he’s flirtin’. Dodger doesn’t do that.”

“Would ya call that flirtin’ or annoyance, because it’s starting to mesh into one.”

Bobbie Jo smirks, places her full sandwich in between her lips with no hands, and pops open her mini cooler. “Flirtin’.”

Uh huh.

However, I’m still hesitant. I don’t want to make things weird between us. I do still need him for my home emergencies.

“You still comin’ over Thursday to help me transport all my flowers?”

Bobbie rolls her eyes. “Oh my God, just grow new ones. Ya dad is already movin’ that huge greenhouse for you over there. It’s gonna take half the town.”

“It ain’t big.”

“It’s big enough to need help.”

“Bobbie,” I drone. “Ya said you were going to.”

“I know, I know. I am.”

“Alright then.” I get to my feet and brush off any grass or dirt that may have gotten on my dress. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Well, what are ya gonna do?”

I begin to walk off, a bit frustrated because I was hoping for a clear answer and didn’t get one. “Go drown myself in the sink.”

“You’re being dramatic.”

“You’re still not helping.”

“I tried,” she yells back at me. “You’re just sensitive.”

Waving a dismissive hand in the air, I give up on our back and forth.

5

DODGER

“Mrs. McLowen, it ain’t against the law for your son’s coach not to put him in a game. He said he’s already explained it to ya.”

She scoffs and hikes her purse higher up her shoulder, clearly beside herself. And clearly wasting my time by calling me up here over a disturbance.