"You know it causes constipation to keep things bottled up."
"So you've said. How do you know Josh?"
"I met him there in the parking lot. He came over and mentioned that he worked with you for your community service hours. I bent his ear to see if he could suggest someone to help me identify the eggs I found in the backyard. Seems like a nice kid."
"You think so?" I asked. Josh approaching Butch on his own accord wasn't something I had expected. Now he really had me confused. It wasn't two hours ago we had pretty much agreed to disagree over the party incident and now he was introducing himself to my father.
"Something wrong with him I should know?"
"Nah. I was just curious as to why you guys were talking," I said, dropping the matter.
We pulled into the driveway and I headed to my room to shower the day's worth of sand and grime off me. Once I was clean I pulled on a pair of comfy shorts and my favorite T-shirt. I grabbed a fresh journal from my shelf. It had been weeks since I'd written anything, and I was having withdrawals. Writing had always soothed me, which was exactly what I needed to get Josh out of my mind. I scooped up Player and went into the house to grab a drink before heading out to the gazebo. There was still plenty of daylight left, which was my favorite part about summertime.
An hour later I was knee-deep in a story when the sound of voices broke my writing trance. I nearly choked on my own breath when Butch and Josh walked around the corner of the house from the front yard.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded, jumping to my feet. Instinctively, I did a quick survey of my attire to make sure I looked okay.
"Rainbow, don't be rude," Butch chastised.
"Rain," I said through clenched teeth as Josh's lips twitched into a half smile.
"Don't be rude, Rain-n-n," Butch repeated. "Josh here came over to help me identify the eggs I found back by the shed. He's an expert in that area."
"Well, I wouldn't go as far as expert. I just know a little more about the animals in this area than your average person," he said, never taking his eyes from mine.
"Why didn't you tell me he was coming over?" I asked, glaring at Butch through the screen.
"Didn't I mention that part? Huh, my mind must be slipping in my old age," he said, shaking his head. "Anyway, I bow to the expertise you have, Josh. Florida wildlife is a whole lot different than what you'd find in Kansas," he continued, guiding Josh to the far corner of the yard where the small gardening shed sat.
I sank down on the chaise lounge as Player swiped at the pen in my hand. My swift reaction to Josh had caused me to feel slightly out of breath. I swear I needed to seek medical help where he was concerned. The constant hot and cold feelings I had for him were more than a little disturbing. He did look hot in regular clothes. Not that the red lifeguard muscle shirt I was used to seeing him in didn't suit his physique well.
"There's a special place in the loony bin for someone like you," I mumbled to myself, running a hand over Player's back as he purred loudly.
After a few minutes, Butch and Josh walked back around from the shed, chattering away like they had been friends for years. No surprise there. Butch had an easygoing way of building rapport if you gave him a chance.
"They're tern eggs," Butch called out. "Josh says they normally lay their eggs on the beach, but the sandy patch back there must have enticed them to lay their eggs here," he declared proudly, like he was personally responsible.
"As long as your little runt there doesn't take an interest in them, they should hatch normally," Josh said, taking in Player, who was once again racing across the screen in pursuit of a lizard.
It took me a moment to reply since I was in the middle of my self-therapy trance. "Player's an indoor cat, but he'd love to go crazy outside," I finally said, prying Player from the screen and scolding him by wagging my finger in his face. He promptly batted at it as I tried to ignore the way Josh was studying me. It was as if he was trying to figure me out. Butch watched us both avidly, finding amusement in the situation.
"Would you like some lemonade, Josh?" Butch asked. "My Buttercup makes the best fresh-squeezed lemonade."
"Sure, that would be great," Josh answered, not taking his eyes from mine.
"Rainb—" Butch said, stopping when I glared at him. "Rain, would you like some?" he corrected.
"Yeah," I answered, shifting from one foot to the next as Butch left Josh and me alone in the yard together.
"So, your name is Rainbow?" Josh asked, reaching for the door handle of the gazebo.
I cringed. "That's not exactly public knowledge," I sighed, sitting down on one of the chairs around the small table.
"Why did you change it?" he asked conversationally, oblivious to the running drama that was happening in my head.
"Seriously? Do you know what kids can do with the name Rainbow?"
"Other people's opinions are important to you, aren't they?" he asked, stretching his legs in the chair next to me.