J. Rusolo Ward

Hard abs, glistening with sweat, Andy swung the axe.  He was chopping wood all day.

Ruth fanned herself as she sipped her vodka.  She had been watching him from her kitchen window all morning, enjoying delicious thoughts about the many ways she could get him sweaty.

She hated to admit it, but she didn’t stand a chance with him.  He was young, virile and handsome.  She looked like she had recently given birth to triplets.  Why was the dad bod something to be admired, but the mom bod considered repulsive?  Granted, she had not come by her mom bod by having kids.

She needed to do something about her feelings.  She wasn’t the typical cougar: svelte and rich, so couldn’t attract him with promises of evenings out and fancy vacations.

She thought of Misery, but immediately rejected it.  She wasn’t about to shackle him to her bed.  Unless he was into it.

Some men liked older women.  Some men liked women with a little meat on their bones.  She needed to open his eyes to news possibilities.  A half bottle of vodka convinced her she was right.

Fortified with courage and alcohol, she marched over to Andy.  In no uncertain terms, she described what she wanted to do with him.

His jaw dropped.  “It wouldn’t work.”

Ruth turned red. She wasn’t sure if she was more humiliated or angry.  “It’s fine.  It was the vodka.”

She turned to go, but he stopped her.  “You don’t get it.  My brother Evan is into you.  He’s been meaning to ask you out.”

“Evan?”  He was Andy’s older brother.  He was cute, smart, and shy.

“I shouldn’t be saying this, but he’s had a crush on you for years.  He even watches you in the garden.”

Ruth smiled.  Her day was looking up.