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“It’s all over your legs. You can’t feel that?” Sadie ran a finger over my shin and around to my calf in one long swoop. And then another.
Well, I could definitely feelthat. She was practically rubbing it into me like lotion.
I should have worn jeans. And tall socks. Compression leggings under the jeans? I needed layers to keep her away from me.
I pulled her up to her feet and brought her hand to my nose, breathing in the scent of the body wash from her fingers. It was almost buttery, but with a hint of spice. Or was it citrus? “This is what’s so much better than my cologne?”
“Well, yeah.” She met my eyes, her fingers still in my hold. “Way better. Don’t you think?” The back of her knuckles brushed against my lips. Then her gaze dipped there. I should let go. She should let go. One of us should definitely let go.
I cleared my throat, trying to devise a non-freakout way to extract myself from the situation. “So, we’re good?” I choked out. “Exchange over?”
“Yep.” She took her hand back and sank into the couch, retreating into the corner and tucking her legs in. “I like both new shirts. Leave your cologne. You can take my old shirt on the arm of the couch there.”
“Sounds good. I’m gonna go.”
“Good. I need to get Nitro out. Bye.”
“Bye.”
I picked up the body wash from the floor, took her old T-shirt from the couch, and got the heck out of there. I wasn’t sure who was more relieved.
Why was I always escaping from her apartment? And why was I always at her apartment? My tight shirt was strangling me, so I peeled it off on her doorstep, knowing it was going in the garbage the second I found one to throw it in. The door across from Sadie’s opened, and I froze while a grouchy-looking older woman glared at my bare chest. “Shrieking parrots and now strippers? What’s next?”
“You tell me, lady.” Feeling reckless and a bit unhinged, I waved my shirt around my head a couple times and then tossed it at her. On instinct, she caught it, just like I’d caught every dodgeball Sadie had ever thrown at me. She stared at me in shock. I stared back. And then I laughed and ran to my Jeep.
Chapter 15 – Sadie
This was ridiculous. No amount of speeding was going to keep me from being late for work if I didn’t get it together right now. I gave myself a stern look in the mirror. Last time fixing my makeup. I would not cry again over a bird. Nitro had been gone for two days now. Just because I’d video chatted with him this morning and he’d said “YEAH, GIRL” when he saw me did not mean I needed to be emotional.
Ugh. I could feel the tears coming again. Dang it. I was going to miss that stupid parrot.
Everything was fine. Nitro was in a better place. I knew that now. The celebrity couple had sent a courier, so I’d been worried I’d never hear from them again or know if Nitro was okay. But they let me know the minute he arrived and sent me a video of him getting acquainted with the other birds. My brother had been wrong when he said Nitro didn’t need bird friends. Nitro needed lots of bird friends, and space, and things to do. I was so happy for him. Which meant moving on with my life.
I checked myself in the mirror, feeling slightly stupid in the new sage green shirt Denver had picked out for me. But a promise was a promise. Wearing this meant he’d lay off the heavy cologne. I should get a medal for my negotiation skills.
I grabbed my work bag and locked up behind me before running to my Jetta. Thanks to hitting all green traffic lights, I pulled into the parking lot with two minutes to spare.
I ducked into the main office space to say hi to Carmen. She bolted out of her rocking chair at the sight of me. “What happened with you-know-who?” she asked, keeping her voice down. “Come on, give me something.”
A highlight reel of Friday night’s events hit replay in my mind, and that squelchy feeling I got every time I thought about Denver taking in the scent of body wash off my fingers hit in full force. No, that was too weird. I couldn’t even explain that moment to myself.
“Um, we got takeout from the same place without telling each other. So, we ate a lot. The end.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s all I have time to tell you.” I bolted before she could grab me and demand more, waving behind me as I ran for the elevator. “We’ll talk at dodgeball!”
“Cute shirt!” she called after me.
It really was. I hated that I’d have to take the credit. There was no way I’d be telling anyone Denver picked it out for me.
With saying goodbye to Nitro, all thoughts of revenge had left my mind, but they all came flooding back when I saw Denver and Rob chatting with Marcel outside our office. I hadn’t come up with anything, and I wondered what Denver, with all his supposedly shady plans, had cooked up. He caught my eye for the barest second before reaching into his back pocket just as I walked up.
“Hey, Rob. I didn’t forget that cream you were asking about. My dad swears this will clear up any rash in…” Denver cleared his throat. “Certain areas. I still think you should see a doctor, though.”
Rob’s face turned a marbled purple and he fumbled with the tube of cream Denver handed him. “Adult Advantage Bum-Bum Balm? Oh, no. I don’t need—”
“Is this a bad time?” Denver asked interrupting him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything in front of Marcel. Pretend we never had this conversation.”
