“So,” I turn on Lyndi, now that we are safely out of earshot of my team. “What brings mygirlfriendhere today?”
She bites her bottom lip to hide her smile, but the corners of her mouth still creep up. It’s as adorable as it is sexy.
“Oh, you know.” She fiddles with a button on the dash. “We were just in the neighborhood.”
I want to reach for those dainty fingers and thread mine through them. If we’re going to act like we are in a relationship, I should be able to hold her hand whenever I want.
My hand is about to make the leap when she speaks up.
“Do you happen to know anything about toilets?” she asks.
I drop my hand to my thigh. “Like, do I know how to use them? Or are you looking for random facts just for fun?” It’s only fair to tease her a little after that display down there.
Her eyes light up, and she grins at me. A smile itches to take over my lips knowing I caused it. “You made a joke!” She claps her hands for me like I’m a toddler learning to walk and I roll my eyes. She’s lucky she’s cute.
“But no. Mine’s not flushing and my terrible landlord can’t get anyone to look at it until Friday.”
“Spidey to the rescue!” Crew shouts and I grin down at him. I’m glad Lyndi came to me. I want to help them in any way I can.
“Yeah, I can come take a look at it. I’m on call tonight but free tomorrow.” It’s not my ideal job, but it’s a good bartering chip. “Then I’m going to ask a favor of you.”
Her smile freezes. “What kind of favor?”
“This is awkward, but I need you to bid on me at the gala. They’re auctioning off the firefighters in the department for charity.”
“Um,” she bites her bottom lip, “Do you think forty dollars will cut it?”
“Don’t worry. You won’t have to pay anything. I’ll give you my wallet,” I rush to clarify.
She shakes her head, chewing on her bottom lip. “No, I’ll think of something. It’s for charity, isn’t it? I’ve been meaning to do that kind of stuff for a while.”
Now I feel even more awful for asking her to do this. I’ve seen her apartment. She doesn’t have much to spare.
“No. Lyndi, I don’t want to upset you, but I’d like you to use my money. This was my mom and Sophie’s idea, and I plan to beat them at their own game. Just think of it as me buying myself.”
“That’s absurd.” She smirks. “What would you do with yourself?”
I can’t help the smile that lights my face. I want to say “give me to you”, but that’s too cheesy for our fake relationship.
Fake. Right. My smile disappears.
“Okay.” She agrees, then pushes open the opposite door.
“Where are you going?”
She smiles, a real gut punch, kill me over kind of smile. “To find Caleb.”
“No, Lyndi!” I say, but she’s already gone.
“Mommy’s not a very good listener,” Crew says with a sigh that matches his mom’s.
“She’s pretty cute though,” I whisper, more to myself than him.
“The cuuuuutesst!” he sing-songs.
Well, now there’s competition for that spot.
When I make it to Lyndi’s apartment the next day, I have to double check that I have the right door.
