I stand back to consider both options. “The right one.”
“Cool,” he says, putting the left sheet back into its box.
My phone rings from my bedroom, which makes my smart watch go off. “It’s already past noon?” I grumble, letting out a sigh. “I have three video conferences today, so I’m going to close my door to muffle all the tool sounds. If you need me,” I say, stopping mid-sentence and shrugging. “Actually, don’t need me. I’ll be busy all day. Work stuff.”
“No problem. I’ll be quiet.”
I head back toward my room, stopping when Max calls my name.
“You want pizza for dinner? I can get some delivered.”
I look at him for exactly half a second before averting my gaze.Piece of furniture.
“Sure,” I say, because saying “Heck no, leave me alone, I’m trying to be independent” would just be rude.
Plus I love pizza.
Four
My best friendAnnie makes gaga eyes at me on our video chat, her thick dark eyebrows going up and down suggestively. “He must be really hot.”
I roll my eyes. I’ve only told her the briefest of information about my unwanted, unexpected roommate Max. The timer on my phone says we’ve been talking thirty seven seconds. That’s not nearly long enough for her to gather that he’s totally hot, but she’s right. He is.
“He’s just some guy.” I keep my voice low, a slight bit above a whisper. It’s just after seven in the morning here in Texas, which means it’s eight in New Jersey where Annie lives. She just got off a night shift at the hospital so we catch up in the mornings before she falls asleep for the day.
“What does he look like?” She wiggles her eyebrows again.
“He looks like a guy who better hurry up and finish the remodel so he can leave.”
“Why are you whispering?”
“So he doesn’t hear me!”
Annie tosses her head back in a laugh. “You’re the biggest dork, Jules, but I love you.”
I heave a sigh. “This is just really bad timing. I’m supposed to be working on my next novel and I’m already behind schedule. I had planned on diving into writing the second I unpacked and now most of my crap is in the hallway waiting on Mr. Fix-it to finish!”
“When is the manuscript due to your editor?” she asks, using her phone screen as a mirror to check her hair.
“In two months.”
“That’s not too bad. How much do you have written?”
I bite my lip. “None of it.”
“What!”
I jump, lowering the volume on my phone. “It’s just been so hard lately. Between the breakup and the move and stifling the urge to eat five gallons of ice cream each day, it’s just been hard to get started on my next book. I was supposed to move in yesterday and then immediately write and now…” I crinkle up my face and glance toward my closed bedroom door. On the other side of it is my dream home in a mid-renovation mess.
I sigh. “I’m too stressed to write.”
Annie frowns. “What happens if you don’t meet the deadline?”
This is the question I’ve been avoiding for weeks now. Pushing it to the back of my mind and pretending it won’t ever happen. I had hoped—no, I hadknown—that once I moved into this gorgeous house on the lake I’d be fully rested, motivated, and inspired to write my next book. And now… that’s not going according to plan.
“I don’t know…” I say softly as dread builds in my stomach. “My publisher already paid me a huge advance, which I spent on this house. I can’t think about missing the deadline because it can’t happen. I have to write this book.”
“Well get to it, girl!” Annie smiles, flashing me her bright white teeth. My beautiful Filipina best friend is just as stunning even after pulling a twelve hour overnight shift. “You can do it. Get off the phone and go write.”
