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me feel like I can come by any time I want… like Cole, where you wouldn't run me off if I stopped by."
    "Yeah, but I don't want you coming by," he said, completely serious.
    A rush of cold sweats hit me as it sank in that this encounter would probably end awkwardly like the others had.
    "Why in the world not?" I asked. "I'm a good person. I come from a good family. We're neighbors." I hesitated before continuing. "Listen, I'm not saying I want to stop by every day—or even on a regular basis—I'm just saying I want to believe I'm welcome if I would ever decide to do it."
    Even as the words left my mouth, I realized they made me sound petty and maybe even selfish, but I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted to feel like I was on cordial terms with him. It bugged me to think there was someone out there who specifically didn't want me around.
    "I'll vote for you if you're running for mayor or whatever, but I don't really need a friend. Thanks anyway."
    "What about Cole."
    "He's as bad as you are about pushing himself on me, if you want to know the truth."
    "Why'd you call him, then? Why'd you even tell him you were moving here?"
    Jacob started to speak and then stopped as if my question had taken him by surprise and he needed a second to think about his answer. "I guess I don't really know the answer to that," he said. "Maybe I knew I needed a link to at least one other human. Not that it's any of your business."
    "Well, Cole comes with a family, just so you know." I paused. "We all live out here, and we care about each other and our neighbors. I'm not trying to bug you, I just want to be your friend."
    "That is bugging me," he said. He said it in that same dry tone he always used, but the tiniest hint of a smile touched the corner of his mouth. I stared at it, wondering if I was hallucinating, or if his expression had indeed lightened by a fraction of a percent.
    "Can I come in?" I asked, trying to take advantage of the slightest sign of hope.
    "No," he said, losing his barely existent smile, and returning to his normal scowl.
    "Why not?" I asked. "I thought we were having a moment."
    "A moment?" he asked in disbelief.
    I nodded. "I thought you were just kind of smiling a little bit," I said. "I was hoping to get that hug and check out your workshop in there. Don't worry, I won't stay but for a second."
    He regarded me cautiously. "You people are aggressively friendly down here," he said. "Like violently friendly."
    "That's an oxymoron," I said.
    He nodded as if he totally agreed. "I thought so too, until I moved down here. I'm just trying to disappear, and you guys keep inviting me to pot-lucks and asking for hugs."
    "Because we think it's sad that you're trying to disappear."
    "Oh, so everybody's been talking about how sad it is?" he asked.
    "No, I, uh," I stuttered. "I'm not talking about anybody else. I don’t even know or care what they think. I'm just talking about me. I'm sad that you want to disappear."
    "It has nothing to do with you."
    "It still makes me sad," I said.
    "That makes no sense."
    I threw my hands into the air. "Feelings never do," I said.
    "I don't want you feeling anything for me," he said.
    "Too bad," I said.
    "Too bad for you," he said. "Just stop."
    "It's too late," I said. "I want to be your friend, and I'm pretty stubborn."
    He narrowed his eyes at me like he was thinking something. "Are you trying to hook up with me because you think I have money?" he asked.
    I couldn’t believe the accusation.
    "If anything, you should be wanting to hook up with me because I have money," I said, defensively.
    "Are you stuck down here in the swamp with no eligible men or something? Because I promise, I'm no catch."
    " Obviously ," I said. "And no, in spite of your winning personality, I'm not trying to hook up with you. I came over here the first time to be nice, and I came just now because I thought you'd been on my front porch." I stopped and sighed, knowing I'd been misunderstood. "We've already blown it