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She was just about to get onto the elevator when the sound of loud heels caught her attention. Since the apartment manager, i.e. her boss, always wore heels, she could recognize that sound anywhere. She turned toward the sound and saw her boss walking toward her, hands waving. “Thank God I caught you. I really hate to do this, but there’s been an emergency.”
“Emergency?” They were managers of an apartment complex. What kind of emergency could there be that the emergency maintenance staff couldn’t take care of?
“The tenant in apartment 522 apparently started running a bath then got distracted by a noise down the hall. She went to check on it and forgot all about the bath. It overflowed so badly that it leaked into the apartment below hers. Let’s just say the tenants in 422 aren’t very happy. Maintenance is going to assess the damages now. I need to talk to them, and I need you to talk to the tenants and reassure them that we will do whatever needs to be done to make this right.”
Annalise groaned internally. Not only was she stuck doing the bitch work that her boss didn’t want to do, but because of that bitch work, she was going to miss out on seeing Brinley once again. “Okay. I just need to make two quick calls. I’m sorry. I had plans that I now need to cancel.” Annalise tried her best to keep the annoyance out of her voice, but she wasn’t sure if she did a very good job.
“I’m really sorry about this. If I could handle it on my own, I would.”
Annalise knew her boss actually meant that. As far as bosses go, she was pretty great, so there was no need to make her feel worse about a situation that she obviously had no control over. “Don’t worry about it.”
Annalise wasn’t sure if her boss actually heard her since she was already hopping on the elevator that was supposed to be taking Annalise back to her room. She decided to call Brinley first so she could catch her before she started to drive.
“Hey! I’m getting ready to hop in my car now.”
Guilt washed over Annalise at the sound of Brinley’s excitement. “ Wine Wednesday is going to have to be canceled. I just found out I have to stay at work for an undetermined amount of time.” Annalise sighed. “It sucks. I really wanted to see you. Plus, I know how disappointed my grandma is going to be. She’s going to act like it’s no big deal, but she doesn’t get a ton of company. This is the highlight of her week.”
“Nathalie and I could go keep her company, and you can join us whenever you’re done.”
That was so incredibly sweet of Brinley to offer, it caused Annalise’s throat to constrict, the way it often did before she started to cry. “Nathalie can’t go either. Since she got the weeks confused, she was never planning on going this week.”
“Then I’ll just go.” Brinley was silent for a few seconds before adding, “I mean, if that’s okay with you. It’s your grandma. I don’t want to overstep at all or assume that she would even want me there.”
Annalise laughed as a few tears escaped from her eyes. Wow, I’m pathetic. “Trust me, she would love to have you. Probably a little too much, honestly. I can’t make you do that though.”
“You’re not making me. It’s actually kind of selfish on my part. Spending time with your grandma makes me think of my grandma, and I like that.”
Just when Annalise thought her heart couldn’t feel any more full… “Are you sure? I have no idea how long this will last. I might not even make it.”
“Then I’ll get quality time with your grandma, and I’ll bring you food whenever you’re done. You can’t go all night without eating.”
“After today, I’m not sure if I’ll have any energy to… you know.” Annalise didn’t want to say the words out loud since she was standing in the lobby of her job and was technically still on the clock.
“That’s funny. I don’t remember mentioning sex at all.” Brinley laughed. “Just take care of yourself and let me do the same. Don’t worry about anything else. If you haven’t called your grandma yet, don’t worry about it. I’ll let her know you might not be making it. Just send me her address so I can go right to her house.”
“Thank you.” That was all Annalise could get out, because Brinley’s sweetness had her all choked up. She could barely handle it, so she hung up the phone and focused on something she could handle—schmoozing her neighbors.
Chapter 14
Brinley
Brinley smiled as she pulled into the driveway of the one-story, ranch-style house belonging to Annalise’s grandma because even this house reminded her of the house her grandma had lived in. The red shutters and door were even exactly the same. She was disappointed Annalise couldn’t be there but still weirdly excited for this time with her grandma.
As soon as she knocked on the door, a voice yelled for her to come in. To the right of the entrance was a living room filled with old items that she would consider antiques but were probably just things Annalise’s grandma had collected growing up. To the left was a TV room, with the TV turned up way too loud. Annalise’s grandma was sitting on a chair that was so close to the TV, it was a wonder she had heard the knock at the door. Annalise’s grandma picked up the remote that was sitting next to her and hit a button, which caused the TV to finally stop screaming at them.
“Where’s my granddaughter?” Annalise’s grandma moved her head as if she was trying to search behind Brinley for her.
“Bad news.” Brinley walked across the room and took a seat on the couch. “Annalise is still at work and doesn’t know if she's going to make it, so it looks like you’re stuck with me.”
Annalise’s grandma stared at her for a long time, causing Brinley to worry that she didn’t actually want her there. That worry disappeared when a huge smile spread across the old woman’s face. “I’m still waiting to hear the bad news.” She pointed toward the hallway Brinley had just walked from. “The kitchen is straight down that hall. There’s a wine rack with everything we need. Go grab two glasses and your favorite kind of wine. It’s time to gossip about my granddaughter.”
Brinley was only a little bit scared about what Annalise’s grandma was going to ask her about Annalise, but she was more excited than anything else. She picked out the bottle of wine that sounded the fruitiest and grabbed two glasses. Luckily, the bottle was a twist top, so she didn’t have to bother searching for a wine opener. When she walked back into the room, she set the glasses on the small end table that was situated between the chair and couch and poured two hearty glasses of wine. She knew by now that Annalise’s grandma wouldn’t accept anything less than that.
“Sit down, dear. I have a few questions to ask you.”
Brinley swallowed hard. Now she was a little bit nervous. “Yes, ma’am.”
Annalise’s grandma waved her hand. “Don’t call me ma’am. It makes me feel old.” She drank almost all of the wine from her glass, then set it back down on the table. “First question. What are your expectations with my granddaughter?” Brinley couldn’t form words because her blood pressure was rising and heat was pooling throughout her body. Luckily, before she could think of what to say, Annalise’s grandma laughed and slapped her hand down on the table. “I’m only shitting you. I know you two are hump buddies , or whatever you kids call it these days. Speaking of which, do you think Annalise is a little bit gay or are you just really good in bed?”
