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And walked right into Brantley.
Everything I’d just picked up clattered to the floor.
“Shit,” I whispered.
“I got it.” He got on his knees and picked it all up as I ran my hand over my face. Standing, he flicked her eyes over me. “You look exhausted.”
“Damn. I should have left the paint on my face if it’s that obvious.”
He smirked. “Should I pretend that the paint on the rest of you hides it?”
“Could you? Thanks.”
“In Eli’s room?” He lifted the tray slightly.
“Oh, er, yeah. Thanks.” I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt. “Hey, I wanted to talk to you about something—”
He held his hands up. “Don’t worry. They won’t bug you anymore, I promise. I called Summer. They’re going to her every day until the walls and floors are done so you can work in peace. At the very least.”
I opened and closed my mouth like a fish.
“I’m sorry.” He met my eyes. “They never should have been with you in the first place. I was working with Ellie watching a movie, then the next thing I knew, she was upstairs. I was on my way up when…”
“When the gates of Hell opened up and swallowed my afternoon whole?”
“When the gates of Hell opened up and swallowed your afternoon whole.”
I grinned. “It happened. There’s no point in dwelling on it right now. I can’t change it, but I can fix it.”
“You’re very optimistic about this.”
“Hey—fixing things is what I do. If I got annoyed every time something went wrong, I’d never get my job done.”
He folded his arms across his chest, smiling. “You really are a regular little Miss Fix-It, aren’t you?”
I mock-curtseyed. “That’s what you’re paying me for.”
He laughed. “True. Thank you for, well, your bright outlook on the bullshit my children brought to your day.”
“You’re welcome.” I skirted around him and slowly made my way down the stairs. “I’ll see you at eight tomorrow.”
“Kali?”
My name on his lips sent a tingle down my spine.
I stopped, gripping the banister.
“I, er… I made a bit too much pasta tonight. Would you…wanna stay and help me eat it? The kids are ready for bed, and it just needs reheating…”
Dinner? Again?
Did we not establish last night that was not a good idea?
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I said slowly. “I mean…”
Brantley’s lipped thinned, his eyes flashing with something I couldn’t recognize. “Right. Forgive me. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I raised my hand in an awkward wave. Willpower made me walk, not run, down the stairs, but the second my feet hit the hallway, I was off. I left the house before either of the kids saw me or I changed my mind.
I pulled my keys from my ass pocket and got into my truck. My phone was in the glovebox, and I retrieved it, sticking my keys into the ignition at the same time. Then, I pulled up my messages and texted Jayda.
Me: He just asked me to stay for dinner
Jayda: Call me right now
I sighed and, still sitting in his driveway, did just that.
“He asked you to stay for dinner?” she rambled the second I answered my phone. “Why are you messaging me and not eating?”
“Because I said it wasn’t a good idea.”
“Of course, it’s a terrible idea! But, first, free food. Second, he’s hot.”
“You think the fact he’s hot and giving me food negates the fact it’s a bad idea?”
Silence. “Yeah, pretty much. Is it home-cooked food?”
“Does that make a difference?”
“It’s home-cooked.” She sighed heavily, the line crackling at her exhale. “Damn it, Kali. Just have dinner with the guy. What harm will it do?”
“What good will it do?” My voice raised a few decibels.
“With any luck, it’ll take you a little closer to getting laid. You’re basically a virgin.”
“I’m done with this conversation.”
“Wait! Maybe he needs a friend!” She quickly spat out. “Have you thought about that? Does he know anyone else in town? He spends all his time with pint-sized, puny humans. You’re, like, a unicorn.”
I paused. She had a point. And if Jayda had a point, we were all doomed. “You think that’s it? He needs a friend?”
“I think you should see if that’s what it is.”
“What if he kisses me again?”
“Kiss him back and hope you get laid.”
“Bye now.” I hung up before she could continue on any further down that track. But, damn. She’d planted the seed of an idea in my mind, and now I couldn’t shake it.
As far as I knew, he didn’t know anyone in town. Certainly not anyone on anything more than an acquaintance level. We were practically friends, I guess. If you considered we knew stuff about each other and talked every day…
And kissed once.
Sadness.
That had been what passed through his eyes when I’d said no.
A flicker. The barest hint of sadness, and loneliness, too.
I turned my phone over and tapped his name in the contacts.
