“I’m going to teach you.”
“My brother said the same thing when it came to my bike and the roller blades he got me for my birthday. We both ended up at the ER on more than one occasion.”
“I’ve been to the ER before and I’m sure I’ll be there many more times. I’m not scared of a few falls.”
He has no idea how dangerous I am when on a bike to not only me, but everyone around me. It’s cute that he thinks he’ll be the one to teach me how to balance.
“Sure, sure.”
“Let me have your phone.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to give you my number.”
“I don’t need your number.”
He grins. “Sure you do.”
I shake my head.
“Please?” He gives me this big loopy smile. “I promise not to abuse your number.”
“Why do you want my number?”
“How else am I going to make sure you eat?”
“I eat.”
“Woman, you were half starved when I found you today.”
“That couldn’t be helped.”
“I call bullshit. Eating is a necessity. You can’t go out looking for jobs on an empty stomach. It’ll only make you tired and grouchy.”
Truth, but still…
I shouldn’t. I really shouldn’t.
Despite my better judgment, I hand over my phone.
He smiles like he won the lottery.
“So you’re okay with me sending myself a text so I have yours?”
I’m shocked he asked. Most guys wouldn’t. At least not the ones I know.
“If you must.”
“See you tomorrow, Daisy!” He shouts after me when I close the door and start walking toward the house.
I wave and head inside, my mood lighter than it was.
CHAPTER 7
Hutch
My momstill lives in the same house I grew up in. It’s in a neighborhood that’s seen better days. There are no gangs here, but the houses are just this side of run down. Our small home isn’t as shabby as the ones around it simply because over the summer, I’d wrangled all the guys to help me paint it. I’d also repaired the front porch steps and fixed the busted plumbing in the bathroom. I wasn’t kidding when I said I cleared a lot of money from grants and scholarships. Mom never wanted me to spend it on her, but I had the funds to make the repairs so I did. I caught her at work and we had the entire house painted by the time she got back. The front porch was just me, but I did a decent job. I’m not a carpenter by any means, but nailing a few boards isn’t rocket science. The framework was already there.
