“Hi. Would you be willing to take my set next week for worship at church?”
“Um, sure.” An edge of concern creeps into her tone. “Is everything okay? You’re not hurt or anything, are you?”
“No, I just won’t be able to make it.”
She’s silent for a beat, and then when she talks again, she almost sounds excited. Eager. “Is this about a guy?”
I shift in my rattan living room chair, the synthetic upholstery creaking beneath me. “Why would you think that?”
“You know the guy that’s been hanging around Logan at church? I see him staring at you sometimes during service.”
“You’re so funny. Thank you again,” I say in my most polite,you won’t be getting any information from metone. And then I hang up before she can pry further.
Has she really seen Bash staring at me? The thought makes my stomach flip. And I can’t deny the thought of traveling alone with him makes me nervous. Excited. More nervous, though, now that this upcoming fight has served as a reminder that he won’t be my bather forever. Even if he does stick around longer than he planned, he’ll eventually get tired of washing dogs and want to focus on fighting.
I’ve known this, of course, but it still hurts to think of him leaving. I know it’s silly, but I was starting to get used to having him around, which is exactly what I was worried about.
He’s not leaving you, just not working with you forever. And that’s okay.He’s not another Cole.But the thoughts are as loud as bad feedback on a mic and my brain won’t turn down the volume.
As I put up the listing for his job online, I can’t shake the feelings of abandonment, and he hasn’t even left yet. He can be my bather as long as he wants, but it won’t hurt to have another person to help. Especially since there’s a chance Agatha still won’t come back after Elena writes her article on my business. I checked my ratings again last night, and nothing has changed, so Elena really is my only hope.
I head to my room and glare at my open suitcase on the floor, the corners sagging under the weight of half-folded garments and loose, unorganized toiletries. I need to finish packing. Bashis supposed to be here to pick me up any minute, and I’ve barely made any progress, because every time I imagine tucking my suitcase into his trunk and driving away with him, my stomach rockets with nerves.
My phone rings, startling me from my thoughts. When I see Bash’s name on the screen, those nerves practically triple.
“Hey,” I say.
“Hello, pumpkin.” A pause. “Are you packed?”
“You could say that.” I bite my lip, hoping he won’t detect the note of unease.
“What’s wrong?”
So much for hoping.
“Nothing is wrong, per se.”
“Do I need to come over and help you?” he teases. And then his voice drops after a brief pause. “Are you regretting saying yes to coming?”
Ugh. If he didn’t sound so resigned, I’d tell him yes right now. I’d tell him how nervous I am to be alone with him now that I know he’s staying in my little town with me. Now that I have no reason left to keep pushing him away.
“I’m fine, Bash. I’ll be ready to go in twenty minutes.” I hang up the phone.
The knob to my front door turns. Zara comes in, courtesy of her spare key. “And here I thought the favor would be something difficult or inconvenient.” She fully enters without my permission, flopping onto my couch and coaxing Jasper to her lap from his spot on the floor. “But all you need me to do is feed and cuddle with the cutest cat in the whole wide world. Is that a bow tie he’s wearing? How cute.”
“It would help if you watered my plants, too.”
“I will,” she says. “But I want all the details about your trip with Bash when you get back.”
Despite the invasion of privacy, I can’t help but crack a smile. “Thank you for reminding me again why I so badly need to stop telling you things.”
“Oh, stop. You love me and you’re going to miss me terribly once I move to my dorm.” Zara gets off the bed and heads for my closet. “Now, let’s find something hot for you to wear on your trip.”
I frown. “No, that’s not necessary. I’ve already chosen my outfits.”
“Let me guess…flare jeans and several cute tops. Maybe a jumpsuit, and about three to five jackets.”
My sister scares me sometimes. I cross my arms. “Fine. What would you suggest?”
