Page 25 of The Plus One Professional
It didn’t make sense to me, but my sister clearly understood where Layla was coming from. After a few minutes I flipped the chicken, then after a few more, I flipped it again.
“Well, it sucks that you lost a client, but I’m happy for her,” Sara relayed as she stood in front of the freezer and filled our glasses with ice.
“So am I.”
“And what about the wedding planner? Did you talk to her?”
“I didn’t say she was there.”
A wide smile spread across my sister’s face. “You didn’t have to.”
Right. I’d forgotten that she could ‘tell’ whenever I’d seen her. “Her name is Bailey, and, yeah, I did talk to her.”
I flipped the chicken and felt Sara’s eyes boring into the side of my face. Without looking in her direction, I asked, “What?”
“Details. I need details.”
Using the tongs, I grabbed the chicken off the grill and plated it. We sat down at the table, and I began to eat.
“She overheard Layla telling me that she would no longer be needing my services.”
Sara’s eyes widened as her hand flew over her mouth. “Oh no.”
“It’s fine. I think. She didn’t seem that bothered by it.”
“Did you explain that you do not have sex?”
“Yep.” I nodded. “That’s exactly what I told her. I said I do not have sex.”
She tossed a carrot at me. “You know what I mean. Did you make it clear that you don’t hook up with your clients?”
“I did.” The corners of my mouth curved upward. “Sort of. I started to, but I didn’t actually know how to phrase it. I fumbled my way through it, saying something like, I don’t…there’s no…and she blurted out hanky-panky.”
“Aww.” Sara’s hands clutched at her chest. “Hanky-panky, that’s adorable.”
Yeah, I thought so, too.
“Soooo…” Sara took another bite, and I saw some color back in her cheeks; she didn’t look quite as pale.
“So what?”
“So, did you tell her how you feel? Did you ask her out?”
No, I didn’t ask her out, but I wasn’t going to tell my sister that because she would ask why, and the answer would only make her feel guilty about things that weren’t her fault.
“What do you mean, tell her how I feel?” I deflected.
Sara rolled her eyes, and she looked exactly like Carly. “You like her, like her.”
“Like her, like her? What are we in elementary school?”
“You’re the one who’s too afraid to tell a girl that you like her.”
“I’m not afraid.”
“Right. Okay. Sure.”
I wasn’t afraid. I just...there was no way I could start something with anyone. Not until our living situation improved and I could stop moonlighting as a plus one. Before that, it wouldn’t be fair to bring anyone into my life. But if my sister wanted to believe that my hesitancy was because of fear, then I’d let her. She felt bad enough, and I knew if she knew the real reason, she’d only feel worse.
