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“Shut up, Rob,” we both said. Sadie took her hand back and held it protectively against her chest. There was an accusation in her eyes, like I’d caused this shift between us. Was there a shift? I’d thought it was all on my side, but now I wasn’t sure. We didn’t talk again for a long time.
Chapter 13 – Sadie
I was almost to the outside doors. Sunshine was waiting for me. My Jetta. My apartment. A bird looking for attention. Carmen practically tackled me from left field. “Not so fast, chica. I caught you. And now that you have your phone on you, no more ignoring my texts.”
I pulled my phone out and checked. “Carmen, this is ridiculous. You’re worse than my dad, and I have three missed calls from him.” In his defense, Ihadpromised to call him this week, but I was getting to it soon. Soonish. He had his new wife Gina to keep him company. He didn’t need to hear from me all the time.
Carmen linked arms with me. “Don’t read all my texts yet. I’ll ask you right here.” She looked around. “Okay, not right here. Too many ears.”
“Too many ears?” There were a lot of people in the lobby, but they were all in a hurry, either to come in for the second shift or to leave for the day, like we were.
We walked out and headed towards our cars. Carmen’s cherry-red VW bug was a few rows behind my Jetta, so we stopped at my car for whatever secret she couldn’t wait to launch at me. She glanced around one more time before leaning in. “I promise I’ll let you get home to your parrot. But, um, what’s the story with you and Denver? You didn’t tell me the two of you used to…” She dropped her voice. “You know. Be an item.”
“What? Who’s saying that?” I unlocked my car and got in, motioning for Carmen to get in on the other side. After the chill of indoor air conditioning all day, it was nice to sit in a place warmed by the sun. “Did Denver tell you that? Because he’s a liar.”
“No. I heard it through the GoWithFriends gossip network. Everyone is talking about you two.”
“Why?”
“Because you keep trying to hit him with dodgeballs. And supposedly, he’s coming to your place tonight.”
I couldn’t deny either of those things, dang it. And when no denial came out of my mouth, Carmen’s eyes got really big, and she had to cover her smile with her hands. “So, he actually is coming to your place?” she whispered.
“Yes. This is unbelievable. And I know who told. I’m going to kill Rob. No, I’m going to report him, and then I’m going to kill him so everyone knows what happens to snitches.”
Carmen snorted. “If I didn’t know you so well, I’d be terrified right now.”
She was right. I was all bluster. Except Rob really was going to get it tomorrow. I just had to think up the perfect non-death revenge. Something that wouldn’t get anyone fired, but would definitely make him think twice about crossing me.
“Denver and I are not an item. We’ve never been an item. No two items have ever had less of a chance of becoming one item.” I was mixing my metaphors, but hopefully the message was coming through loud and clear. Enough warming up in the enclosed car. I was starting to sweat. I turned on my car and blasted the air conditioning before turning it down to a level below squall. Late September in Phoenix was a bit like having a toddler controlling the temperature dials. Yesterday was breezy and seventy. Today? Pushing closer to a hundred.
“What happened to all the talk about privacy and security?” I asked.
“I think since no one’s allowed to talk about the customers, they compensate by talking about each other. Anyway, I wanted to give you a heads up. Not that you care what people think of you.”
“I don’t.” I didn’t. I was not going to care. But maybe I could stop with my dodgeball attacks. At least in the open. Giving up completely was not an option. I would get him eventually.
“So, um, why is Denver coming over to your place?”
I stared down Carmen. “I’m not telling you.”
“Why?” She put her hands up in a plea. “Please, please. I’m not an active participant in the gossip ring. I just hear things. Pretty please? Por favor, mi amiga. Dulcita. Te lo ruego. Por favor.” Her accent was getting thicker with every word.
“That’s not going to work on me. I’m not telling you because I don’t want to and… I just don’t want to. Now get out of my car.” I could be grumpy like that with Carmen. And as I expected, she found my answer hilarious.
“Well, have fun tonight.” Carmen climbed out of the passenger seat, giggling to herself. “Don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll hear all about it tomorrow. From Rob.”
“Rob dies at dawn.”
“Sure thing.” She shut my door and scampered over to her own car. One of these days I’d actually have to join her and her new work friends for half-price appetizers. Just because Carmen put up with me being this grumpy didn’t mean I should always act that way. But for now, I really did need to get home to my bird.
I ran into my apartment and got him out of his cage. He was so excited that he turned in three circles and then flew onto my head. “WOOHOO. HIGH FIVE. LOVE EM AND LEAVE EM.”
“Are you a pretty bird, Nitro?”
“I’M A LADIES MAN.”
Some things never changed. I tugged at the collar of my T-shirt. It really was ugly, but then, I hadn’t expected to have Denver next to me today. Rob and Wendy never cared what I wore.
