I cleared the vision as I cleared my throat. If I kept down that route, I’d end up getting a hard-on and never hearing the end of it from Pace.
“Man, I love seeing how red I can make you get.” Pace shook my shoulder, my screwdriver slipping off the head of the screw into the wires. I glared at him. “Sorry, sorry. But it’s freaking nice to see you into her. I’m messing with you. I know you never kiss and tell. Which, in its own way, confirms my suspicions.”
“No. It’s not like that. She is just a tenant. Passing through. She likes rules and boundaries.” They were the same truths I’d been repeating to keep the distance.
“You’re truly a match made in heaven,” Pace said.
I paid close attention to my hands, and I found the words to work through my feelings. “I really like Claire,” I admitted. “She’s wildly smart and thoughtful. She’s kind and inquisitive. And obviously, she’s gorgeous.”
“But she doesn’t want to cross any lines? Is that the issue?” Pace asked.
“No. The opposite actually.”
“But you don’t want to?” Pace asked with a frown.
“She’ll be gone before Christmas,” I said. “I really like her,” I repeated, cringing at how juvenile that descriptor felt for the massive knot of feelings currently tying me down.
Pace leaned back as understanding dawned. “You don’t want to get caught up in anything, only for her to leave.”
“Basically.”
“So, then, maybe she’ll stay a little longer if you’re having fun.”
I shook my head. “Her ex made her choose between her career and him. That didn’t go well for him.”
I wasn’t about to derail her life. I wasn’t going to make her decide between her career and me. I already had one woman I loved give up everything for me.
“Make her choose? Levi. You hardly know her. Now you’re talking about serious life changes.” His voice grew tense with incredulity. “You’ve only known her a few weeks.”
And it only took a few hours, I thought, but didn’t say.
An image of her flushed and laughing next to me, her deepdimples on full display, had my heart thump hard. He didn’t understand. I didn’t understand. How could I express what I was still working through?
“You didn’t even want a tenant, and now you don’t want her to leave?” he added.
“That’s not what I’m saying?—”
“Because take it from someone who knows, it wouldn’t do any good to go and fall for someone set to leave,” Pace said flatly.
My screwdriver slipped and connected with something, causing a loud pop and bright spark that zapped my finger and set all my hair standing on edge.
I swore and dropped the screwdriver, cradling my hand as I winced.
“Oh shit. Sorry, man!” Pace covered his mouth as he looked at me. “Are you okay?”
I shook out my hand. “I’m fine. Just scared the shit out of me.”
“Fuck. I’m so sorry. I must have flipped the wrong breaker.”
I took a minute to collect myself and assess for any major damage. Mostly, my heart had a scare, and my finger was tingling, but it could have been a lot worse. “Now who’s distracted?” I asked.
Pace looked sheepish and apologized again. There was a metaphor here: Pace’s carelessness leading to my pain. He was lucky he made up for it by being a great friend. “I know, man, I’m sorry.”
I looked at him closer now. It had been what I needed though. I jolt of electricity to get my head on right. I couldn’t go and fall for a woman I just met. I was building it up. I was just … lonely and projecting all sorts ofshit on her.
I looked at Pace, really looked at Pace. There was a noticeable tension in his jaw and bruising under his eyes that spoke of a lack of sleep.
“Hey. For real, are you okay?” I asked.
