“I guess you’reright.”
We finish our teaand once Lee’s car backs out of the driveway, I’m safe to leave. I say mygoodbyes and I’m smiling and cheerful and my good mood lasts until Livi dropsme off back at home.
Then, as soon as mydoor closes behind me, I burst into tears. It was only for a few hours, but I’dhad something real with Gabe.
Now it all feels sofar away. So long ago. So hopelessly lost forever.
Chapter 14
I lean back in mydesk chair and rub my eyes. I’ve been listing properties for four hoursstraight and I’m sick of looking at the computer. I long for my high schoolyears when I played football and rode four wheelers and spent eighty percent ofmy life outdoors with the hot Texas sun on my face. Being an adult has its privileges,but I really miss being outdoors. Out of this office. Out of this stupid deskchair.
“Hey, Janie?” Icall out through my open office door.
“What can I do foryou?” my assistant replies, appearing in my doorway a few seconds later. Janieis nearly sixty years old and one of my mom’s best friends. Unlike my mom, whostill has long brown (dyed) hair and dresses modern, Janie looks like agrandmother. She was the assistant for my grandfather, and then for my dad, andnow for me. I consider her like a part of the family.
I shift around inmy chair. “Can you find me a new office chair? Something comfortable?”
She frowns. “Isthat one broken? It’s only about six months old, so it’s probably underwarranty.”
“Not broken,” I saywith a shake of my head. “Just uncomfortable. Get something fancy with goodreviews for being soft enough to spend hours in and not want to kill yourself.”
She chuckles. “Anyprice range in mind?”
“I don’t care. Justsomething nice. And get yourself one too, if you want.”
“What about theboys?” she says, referring to my cousins.
I smirk. “They cankeep their current chairs.”
She smirks backbecause she’s not exactly their biggest fan, especially after she walked in ona conversation they were having trying to convince me to fire her and hire a“hot assistant”. I assured her that her job is safe with me as long as shewants it. Hiring some hot woman just because she’s hot doesn’t seem like goodbusiness sense. I’m here to make money, not treat women like objects.
Janie lingers inthe doorway. “Is that why you’re down today? The chair?”
“Huh?” I say.
She frowns alittle, like she doesn’t want to talk, but I don’t let her off the hook thateasily. “What’s up?”
“Well … You’ve been…downsince you got back fromArizona. Is it the uncomfortable chair?”
I think we bothknow it’s not the chair. But I don’t feel like talking about it, even to Janie,who is a good friend to me, even if she is more than twice my age. “Nah, I’mjust tired,” I say, hoping I sound convincing. I give her a kind smile. “Don’tworry about me. I’m good.”
“Okay,” she says,not sounding very convinced. But she leaves anyhow, and I let out a breath I’dbeen holding.
Now my hurt overlosing Alexa is interfering with my job. I have got to get it together. Notonly are most of my waking moments filled with reliving that hot make outsession in my mind, but now I’m starting to think of other things, too.
Crazy things.
Things that shouldbe in a country song.
Like … is Alexa mysoul mate? Were we meant to find each other in Phoenix and then reconnect inTexas because we happen to live so close together? Was it fate? Am I supposedto throw it all on the line and go after her and hope for the best?
Or have I justbecome some crazy stalker? I mean, how many times have I read posts online orseen screenshots of text messages being posted around like memes that show somedesperate guy trying to win over this girl that doesn’t like him? Girls aren’ta fan of being pursued if they don’t like the guy back.
I could easily showup at her business and ask her on a date. She could also just as easily callthe cops on me for being a stalker.
A restraining orderisn’t exactly the most romantic thing ever.
But … I take a deepbreath and shove those thoughts away.I’m not a bad guy, and I’ve never been a creep. Girls like me. I get hiton occasionally, and I know I have a good physique because I work hard on it.
