The hum of the lawnmower woke Ruby up the next morning around 11:00. After laying
in bed for a few minutes she threw the covers off herself and went to her bedroom window
that overlooked the front yard.
She saw Zac pushing the lawnmower across the yard wearing navy blue Umbros
and an old t-shirt that said “Friends Don’t Let Friends Go to the University of Texas” on
the back.
“Good morning,” she said smiling to herself before making her way to the
bathroom.
************************************************************************
“Mm hmm,” Ruby nodded while she talked on the phone to her friend Holly. She
was partly listening to what Holly had to say, but mostly watching Zac out the living room
window. By now he had made it to the backyard and his white t-shirt was hung over one
of the lounge chairs.
“What are you doing today?” Holly asked.
“I’m not sure,” Ruby answered running her fingers through her almost-dry hair.
“What about you?”
“I have to go to the doctor. But maybe we could meet up for dinner.”
“Okay, sure,” Ruby said. “Give me a call when you get back.”
“Alright,” Holly replied. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay. Bye.”
“Bye.”
Ruby pushed the talk button on the cordless phone and tapped the antenna against
her chin. She positioned herself she she was on her knees looking over the back of the
recliner chair. She watched as Zac stopped the lawn mower and walked over to the chair.
“No, no, no,” Ruby said to herself as Zac picked up his t-shirt. “It’s too hot to put
that back on.”
He pressed the shirt against his face and down his neck. Ruby licked her lips and
rested her chin on the palm of her hand. She tried to think of an excuse to go outside
without looking desperate.
Zac looked across the backyard into the windowand saw Ruby. She raised her
head from her hand. Zac smiled giving a small wave. She bit her bottom lip and waved
back with just her fingertips. What the hell? She figured. She got up off the chair and
went out through the sliding glass door.
“Hey there,” she squinted into the sun.
“Howdy,” Zac replied tossing his shirt back on the chair.
“Sorry you have to work when it’s so hot outside,” Ruby said gathering all her hair
and letting it fall behind her shoulders.
“Ah, it’s no problem,” Zac grinned resting his hands loosely on his hips. “It’s extra
money, ya know?”
Ruby nodded fingering the fringe of her cut off denim shorts. “So you want
something to drink?” She tilted her head towards the house.
“Yeah, sure,” he smiled.
“Okay,” she said sliding the door open. “You can come in if you want. Sit in the
air conditioning for a while.”
“That sounds great,” he laughed. “But I smell like crap, seriously.”
“Ah, I’ll live,” she smiled.
“Alright, but I’m warning you,” Zac said following her into the house.
