The Anti-Boyfriend(16)

Carys: How was the show?



Deacon: It was okay. I’m kind of looking forward to heading home and going to sleep, though.



Carys: Heading home alone tonight?



Deacon: Yes. Not feeling it.



Carys: Ah. You win some, you lose some. That’s too bad. But at least I know I’ll get some sleep ;-)

Deacon: That’s very true.



Carys: Sorry, couldn’t help myself.



Deacon: I can take it.



Carys: This explains why you’re texting me from your date. I hope she’s not right in front of you?



Deacon: No. The champagne was from earlier (but in your honor). I’m on a bathroom break right now.



Carys: So nice of you to think of me in there.



Deacon: I’m not on the shitter. Don’t worry.



Carys: Well, that’s good.



Deacon: What did you have to eat with your champagne?



Carys: I got sushi rolls from Miku.



Deacon: That place is good. But have you tried Ichigo?



Carys: No.



Deacon: Ohhh. You need to! I’ll pick some up this week and bring it by.



I was already looking forward to that day a little too much. Then I thought of something.



Carys: Hey, what were you going to tell me earlier? When you asked me not to laugh at you? I got that call about the job and you never had a chance to tell me. LOL



Deacon: See? You’re already laughing.



Carys: I’m sorry.



Deacon: You really want to know?



Carys: Yes.



The dots moved around while he typed.



Deacon: I used to crochet.



Carys: What? LOL You did?



Deacon: Told you not to laugh.



Carys: I’m not really laughing. I swear. Not out loud. I just wasn’t expecting you to say that.



Deacon: It’s a fucked-up story how I learned. I was sort of forced into it. I’ll tell you the next time we have coffee. I gotta get back to the table or else she’ll think I’m whacking off in here.



Well, that provided quite a visual.



Carys: Yeah. I’ll let you get back to your date.



Deacon: And I’ll let you get back to your bubbly.



Carys: Thanks for checking in.



Deacon: Enjoy the rest of your night.



Carys: My imagination will be running wild, thinking about you being forced to crochet at gunpoint.



Deacon: It’s not that bad. But close.



My finger lingered over the keypad. I wanted so badly to tell him he should stop by when he got back. But I thought better of it.

Then he texted again.



Deacon: Okay. I’ll tell you real quick. When I was sixteen, I was acting up, getting into trouble. My parents made me live with my grandmother for the summer. All I was allowed to do was go to football practice and come back to her house. At the time, she was crocheting clothes for families in need. Sweaters, scarves, stuff like that for the upcoming winter. She made me learn how to do it. Forced me to sit down with her every night and help.



I couldn’t contain the smile on my face.



Carys: Wow. That’s sweet.



Deacon: At the time, I was pretty fucking miserable. But when we delivered the items we made, and I got to see the smiles on those kids’ faces, it didn’t seem so bad anymore.



Carys: That’s an awesome story.



Deacon: Take it to the grave, Kincaid. I can’t let a rumor about me crocheting with an old lady ruin my game.



Carys: You got it. LOL



Deacon: Okay. Really going now.



Carys: Have a good night.



Deacon: You too.



He closed out our exchange with three little celebration hat emojis, and I wanted to slap myself for being happy that he “wasn’t feeling” his date. He’d been thinking of me tonight.





CHAPTER 5





Deacon



WHAT GOES IN MUST COME OUT




I knew today was Carys’s first day of her new job. Over the past few weeks, she’d interviewed a ton of people about watching Sunny. She’d finally found a woman she liked—a retired daycare worker looking for something to keep herself occupied, and who didn’t require a set schedule.

I’d gotten up at 5AM and gone to the gym, grabbing Starbucks on the way back so I could drop one off for Carys before she had to leave for work. Even if she’d already had her coffee, an extra might not hurt today.

Holding the cardboard tray, I knocked on her door.

She opened, and it was clear from her face that something was wrong.

“What’s going on?”

Her voice was shaky. “Sharon, the woman who was supposed to be watching Sunny today, just called. Her husband is having problems breathing, and she had to take him to the emergency room. She’s not going to be able to come.” A tear fell down her cheek. “This is my first day, and I’m already flaking out.” She blew out a breath. “I’m done, Deacon. So done.”