“You mean kayaking or at the cabin?”
A breeze comes up and tries to pull her away. Instead of taking the hint, she uses her oar to row herself back in line with me. “The cabin.”
I shrug. Something tells me if I tell her my weekend plans, she’ll make it her job to make me miserable.
“You know, I can just ask your sister.”
It’s true. She can. My sister and I share an online calendar for the cabin so we don’t try to use it at the same time. And I blocked out three days. It’s a great cabin, but it’s not large enough for me plus all of my sister’s friends, who she likes to bring up here. Which I thought might include Savvy.
“What brings you to this lake? I thought it was private,” I say.
Savvy grins. “It is. Maria didn’t mention I own the cabin two doors down from you?”
I grind my teeth. No, of course, she didn’t because she knew I’d walk away if I had known that. That’s how much I don’t want to be around someone who thinks so little of me. She frowns whenever she sees me.
I take another deep breath. I’m starting to sound paranoid.
“Wow, you really dislike me that much, don’t you?” she says.
“What?” I ask, not expecting her to be so direct.
She nods at me. “I mention I live close, and you look like you’ve sucked on a lemon.”
I paddle as the wind takes me, and it turns me away from her. “It’s not dislike,” I say.
“But it’s something.”
I glance at her. Is she kidding?
“If you recall, you decided you knew my type without getting to know me. You judged me with no evidence.”
She stares at me but doesn’t respond.
“Look, I’d like to enjoy my morning on the lake, so if you don’t mind?—”
“I’m sorry,” she blurts out.
She’s apologizing.
“What?” I ask.
“I’m sorry for judging you and offending you. I was having a really bad day, and well, the details aren’t important. I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”
Now I stare at her. I’m not sure how to respond.
“Okay, I understand if you don’t accept that,” she says. “But I’m hoping you might consider putting our differences aside. You work in protection, and I think I need some.”
And this is what she really wants. First, she insults me, and now she wants my help. I’m about to say no, but her eyes stop me. Eyes don’t lie, and Savvy is scared.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
My sister will have my ass if I don’t at least consider this. Although I’m lying to myself, I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to Savvy after she asked for help.
“I am showing a commercial building later today, and I don’t have a good feeling about it. Would you be willing to come with me? I’ll buy you lunch.”
“Why do you have a bad feeling?” I ask. “Is the client a dick or something?”
She stares at the shore. “No. Well, maybe. My boss said he’s creepy but harmless. He’s never said anything like that about someone before.”
