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“I spent about thirty seconds out there with that girl, and God help me.” She rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “You’re way less annoying than she is.” Turning on her heels, she shook her head and walked away. I smiled after her because that was the nicest thing she’d ever said to me.
“Her!” Kayla screeched and pointed to me when I finally exited the kitchen. “I told her that I was here over a half an hour ago, Fox.” He turned in my direction, but his face was unreadable. When he focused his attention back to her, he spoke in a low tone as he led her to the door. Kayla whined the whole way and Fox didn’t seem very sympathetic to her mood. I would be lying if I said the thought of Fox with her didn’t hurt because it did, but what could I do about it? I’d pushed him away. It was what I wanted, right?
****
By the end of my second week living with Blake and Tayia, I’d walked downstairs to see Tayia standing in the kitchen, looking through the window into the garage. I knew Blake was out there because of all the clanking of metal and scraping noises come from there all morning. Tayia had her arms crossed as she casually leaned against the door in quiet observation. I must have startled her because as soon as she saw me, she jumped.
“Oh, Harley! You scared me!” she cried out, putting a hand to her chest.
“Sorry,” I replied, not really feeling sorry. “What are you doing?”
“N-nothing,” she said dismissively and stepped away from the door. I eyed her thoughtfully before pouring myself a cup of coffee. I leaned against the counter and took a few sips as the silence between Tayia and me grew heavy. I still hadn’t found a way to click with her. Mostly because I felt she was being overly polite to me and I wasn’t sure what to do with it. I’d tried to convince myself that it was because she and I had two different personalities. Whatever the reason, I didn’t want to push it and suddenly be out of a place to live.
“Harley?” Tayia stared at me nervously as she chewed on her lip.
“Yeah.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Um, okay.”
“Why did you move here?” I was taken aback by her question, her tone sounded off, as if I’d done something to offend her.
“I needed a change of scenery.” I took another sip of coffee.
“What about your family? Do they live in Charleston?”
“I have no family. Not anymore.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.” Tayia lowered her gaze to the floor for a moment before lifting her eyes again. “Blake is my family. He is very important to me.”
“Of course.” I replied, not sure where the conversation was headed.
“It’s only fair that I ask…,” She took a breath before continuing, “I have to know if you are planning to try for something with him.”
“Try for something with him?”
“You know what I mean, Harley.”
“What?” I ask, genuinely shocked by her question. “No. No, no, no. It’s not like that between us. I mean he’s cute and everything but…no.” I left out the fact that I had been trying something with someone else she knew already. Tayia studied me for a moment.
“Okay, good,” she finally replied, her posture relaxing, “I’m sorry that I had to ask that. I just, um, didn’t want it to get weird if things didn’t go well and we would be out of a roommate. Blake’s not looking for… that…” Her voice trailed off. It was clear she looked out for Blake just as fiercely as he did for her.
“Well, you don’t have to worry. I don’t plan on making any moves on your brother. He isn’t screwed up enough for me,” I joked as I got up from the table and place my cup in the sink. Tayia gave me a small smile but didn’t say anything. The awkwardness of the moment loomed until Blake opened the garage door and walked into the kitchen. His forearms were covered with black grease and a dark smudge rested on one of his high cheekbones.
“Afternoon, ladies,” he said and flashed a grin at both of us as he walked to the refrigerator.
“Don’t you dare touch anything in this kitchen, Blake Jones!” Tayia shrieked as she jumped up from her chair, cutting Blake off before he reached his destination.
“Aw, gimme a break, Tay,” he grumbled.
“No way!” She put her hands out and pushed him back toward the garage. “Go wash your hands with that grease removal stuff.”
“Okay, but can I at least get a water first?”
“Fine.” Tayia turned and grabbed him a water bottle.
“And a sandwich?” he asked as his grin grew wider and Tayia narrowed her gaze at him.
