“Think I’ll ever see an actual paycheck?”
He stops and turns. “How much money do you need?”
Is he serious? This has to be a trick question.
“Pay me what you think I’m worth,” I say as if he asked me if I want the money in his right or left pocket.
His lips twitch like he’s holding back a grin, then he slowly nods.
I grab my shoes, but I stop him before he reaches the top of the stairs. “Just so you know, my rent is seven fifty.”
Mr. Rawlings doesn’t respond, continuing up the stairs.
Chapter Eleven
June
I finish dryingmy hair and open the door. “Oh! Jeez, you scared me,” I say to Ally, who’s right on the other side of it. She shoves me back into the bathroom.
“There’s a tall and very hot guy who just ran back down to his car to grab tools from his trunk to fix our leaky sink drain.”
“What?” I squint. “Doesn’t sound like Kevin, the handyman. He’s short and not so hot. A new guy?”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s Flynn. He showed up with a bouquet while I was emptying the bucket under the sink. The next thing I knew, he was mumbling something about running back down to his car to get tools to fix it.”
I bite my lower lip.
“What’s that look about? I thought you liked him?”
I nod several times, and then I shake my head. “He’s been through it, if you know what I mean. And I don’t think I need that right now.”
“Been through it?”
I nod.
“You mean he’s had a rough life?”
Again, I nod.
“Well, that explains the dirty shoelace tied around the flowers.”
I scrunch my nose.
“What do you want me to do? I have to get to class. And honestly, if he can fix the leak, I say we let him do it before you kick him out.”
I roll my eyes. “Ugh! Whatever. I’ll take care of him. Just give me a minute.”
“Well”—she looks at her watch—“I don’t have a minute. I have to go. So hopefully he doesn’t rob us before you do whatever it is you need to do.”
I bristle.
“You’re the one who said he’s beenthrough it. Oh!” Her eyes widen. “He’s back,” she whispers.
Ally closes the bathroom door behind her, and I check myself in the mirror again, opting for some lip gloss—notbecause I care what he thinks. My lips are just a little dry. I straighten the high waist of my floral linen pants and adjust my white crop top before opening the door.
“Toodle-oo,” she says, smiling at me before leaving.
Ally was right. Flynn looks good in his dark jeans and black graphic T-shirt with a bird and “Shindig revival” on it.
