I looked over your contract again, and the non-compete clause is tighter than Sister Meredith’s ass hole. Sister Meredith was my fourth-grade teacher and had a face that could scare the stink off a dead skunk. If anyone can get you out of this, it’s me, but it’ll take time and it won’t be cheap. Sure you don’t want to quit while you’re behind?
The invoice for Thomas’s first-month retainer nearly made her eyes water… or maybe that was the sludge of mystery dinner now roiling in her stomach. Alanna’s savings account was already in the lightweight division. If she moved forward with this, she’d be putting everything on the line.
And if Thomas didn’t come through? She’d have nothing. She’dbenothing.
Alanna flopped onto her stomach. More than anything in the world, she wanted to talk to Petunia. It was idiotic, really. What would the cat have done, except hiss and try to claw her eyes out? But it’d always felt good to talk to Petunia.
Slowly, Alanna bent over the bed and peered into the darkness beneath. No ice-blue eyes stared back at her.
It still hurt.
Thedingof her phone startled her. After a very un-elegant pinwheeling of arms, Alanna managed to scooch herself back onto the bed. She gripped her phone and smiled.
Haven’t heard much from her majesty, Princess Alanna, tonight. Have you found out everything you wanted about me? [winky face emoji]
Right, shedidhave someone to talk to, but she didn’t want to lay all her troubles on Sully even if those well-developed shoulders of his were ready and willing.
You’re getting in too deep,she reminded herself. After a thought, she texted,It was a tough day. Thanks for making me smile.
Three little dots appeared. Anticipation tightened in her stomach. After a few seconds, a new message popped onto her screen.Want to talk about it?
Thanks, but not right now. Still processing.
Understood.
The dots appeared again. Alanna waited. It was pathetic how much she hung on to those dots. She tried to picture Sully. He’d be in bed now. Good guys went to bed on time. Would he be sleeping without a shirt? Maybe totally naked? Would his fluffy white cat be purring on the bed next to him?
Lucky cat.
This is going to sound corny. [Candy corn emoji] But it’s the truth. Whatever’s going on, you can handle it. You’re the strongest person I know. [Wonder Woman emoji]
Her fingers moved before she could stop them.Careful. I might accuse you of trying to blow up the house again just so I can go out to dinner with you.
Long pause. Her feet suddenly needed to skim across her cool silk sheets. Sully, naked in bed. So many tingles. She imagined him strumming his guitar, his brown hair messy, his jaw shadowed with just a hint of beard growth.
Let’s skip the accusations,he wrote back.I’ll pretend to be offended. You apologize. And I’ll pick you up this Friday at 3.
Such a bad idea. A terrible idea. She liked him far, far too much.
Yes, she texted.
Traitorous fingers! But she’d already agreed to another date last night anyway after that kiss stole her self-control. One more date. But that was it.
Ironically, Sully’s words sealed the doom of their nascent relationship. He was right. Alannawasstrong. Whatever it took, she would rebuild.
Flipping to her email screen, Alanna replied to Thomas.
I’m in. Get me out of the non-compete clause. Whatever it takes.
She sent the message and let out a breath. Her eyes landed on the peace lily sitting on the windowsill, the ribbon still tied around the pot. Its leaves were perking up, more green than yellow for the first time in recent memory.
“I don’t do long-distance relationships,” she whispered to herself. And she certainly didn’t do nice guys, no matter how much she was starting to care about this one.
Her phone dinged.
Goodnight, princess.
After a long, unhappy pause, she answered.
