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“What time are we going to clean?”
I stop short and turn toward her. “We?”
“Yes, dear.We. I told Jackwewill clean the apartment. I always keep my word. Ah ha! There it is.” She pulls a document out from a stack, seemingly pleased.
I should really talk to her about letting me organize her desk and her filing system. I put a pin in that thought as she rounds her desk.
“Oh, cleaning. Right. Jack said he will pick me up here this afternoon.”
Irene grins. “He is, is he?”
My cheeks heat. “He’s just giving me a ride to the apartment, Irene. Nothing more.” I’m hoping that stops whatever it is she’s implying.
“We shall see,” she says, walking out of her office.
I follow behind her, placing my palm to my forehead and shaking my head.
“Oh, by the way, I’ve had five people today ask me where I got that painting of yours,” she says as she walks ahead of me to the kitchen.
“Are you serious?” I ask in disbelief.
“Sure am. Looks like it’s a hit. You should do a few more,” she says casually.
“Y-yeah I can do that,” I stammer while doing a little happy jig right there in the kitchen.
I look up when I hear Charlie laugh. “Get it, girl! I told you!”
Irene and Charlie both have beaming smiles. After a few moments, Irene’s smile falls away as a more serious expression takes over.
My smile drops, too. “What is it?”
“You’re going to be okay,” she says with so much conviction in her voice that I can’t help but believe her.
Charlie steps up beside me and hugs me tight, and I embrace her just as hard.
“Thank you both… for everything. You don’t know what it means to me.” My voice is hoarse as I speak.
“Come on, girls. Let’s get the front straightened up,” Irene says.
We get to work, preparing to close. We only have a few more customers who come in for to-go coffees before the end of the workday is here. The anticipation of Jack picking me up gives my stomach that nervous, butterflies flying around sensation.
Irene says she’ll meet me there after she goes home to grab some cleaning supplies for us. I’m about to head back to get my things when the bell above the door rings, stopping me. I look up to find a very handsome but seemingly tired Jack. He looks exhausted.
“Hey there. Thank you for picking me up. You didn’t have to do that. When I called earlier, I only wanted to ask for the address and to make sure it was okay.” I clamp my mouth shut, hoping I don’t embarrass myself further. I tend to talk too much when I’m nervous, and those butterflies have only increased with Jack’s arrival.
He smiles at me, and my heart rate increases. I mentally scold myself.Stop it, Andrea. He’s your landlord and the town detective.
Charlie walks over and puts her arm around my neck as her eyes zero in on Jack. “Thanks for letting our girl stay at your place!”
Jack and I rush to correct her at the same time. “Above his garage,” I say at the same time he throws out, “Well not at my place, like with me.”
Our eyes cut to each other, and everyone laughs.
Charlie shakes her head and gives a playful roll of her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. You know what I meant.” She turns her head toward me and winks, and I reach over and pinch her in the side.
“Woah, girlfriend. I was just playing!” She side steps away from me.
I roll my eyes at her as she did to us a moment before. “Don’t make it weird then.”
