Me:Yeah:’)
Ash:God, you’re smitten, aren’t you?
Me:Maybe… But it’s not like he’s into me or anything. It’s a one-sided, bound-to-end-in-snots-and-tears-if-I-let-it-affect-me-too-much kinda thing.
Ash:Then why tell me about it at all?
I wiped my fingers with the tissue Cruz had set on the tray for me.
Me:Because you’re my best friend? And also because he’ll be working at the house for weeks and I need someone to talk to about it.
Ash:Talk about how he uses his hammer to nail things, you mean?
I slapped a palm against my forehead.
Me:My eyes are burning from reading that. That pun just gave me a virtual-contact conjunctivitis.
Ash:Oh hush. We both know you want in his pants.
Me:…………
I liked to live my life by grasping onto any and every opportunity I could get. After losing my parents, and then myvovó, I’ve realized that if you restrain yourself, that if you keep long-term goals, then you may end up not fulfilling them at all. Piling up dreams and desires could leave you with disappointment and regret in the future, so why not do what you want to, in themoment?
Ash:Well, then what are you waiting for, babe? Grab him by the collar, pull him close, and fucking maul him. Life’s too short for those who don’t take risks. Live your extra life, girl. You’ve got my blessing and support.
She was right, wasn’t she? But sometimes, things weren’t as simple as that, because not every factor that led up to an ultimate decision was one that had a valid ground to stand on. And when it came to Myles, I really didn’t know how fast or slowI’d have to throw my dice, ifat all, to learn of the kind of pace he liked. But I’d find out soon enough, wouldn’t I?
5.Do You Have A Nickname?
Do I throw the dice, or do I let her take the lead?
Do I even have a choice in the matter? If yes, then whatisthat choice?
I righted the pile of catalogs next to me –again. Was it the seventh or the eighth time? I genuinely couldn’t remember.
I was nervous, if I was being honest with myself. I guess it was natural for me, given the circumstance, because I was terrified of what I might say, or do, ornotsay, perhaps. I’ve never conversed with someone who couldn’t speak, especially one who’d left me speechless, and had so effortlessly pulled at the most vulnerable string of my very being just by looking at me. I didn’t wanna offend or hurt her, or make her feel uncomfortable.
I shifted on the couch as I waited for her, and felt a lump forming in my throat, which I quickly pushed down by swallowing a few times.
I’d spent the day fixing some minor issues that Mr. Ribeiro had pointed out while showing me around. Pro bono, of course. He’d insisted on adding the charges to my final payment, but Taron and I ended up refusing the offer.
I think Mr. Ribeiro mainly let us off the hook easy over the small charges because Taron kept pissing him off every two seconds, and he prolly just wanted him to shut up and get busy with work so he’d stop annoying him.
Relatable.
The relief on his face when my brother left two hours ago had been utterly comical. Not that I blamed him, given Taron’s eccentric nature and talent for random word-vomit.
I tapped my bare feet on the carpet, one after the other, and fought the urge to move the catalog pile again. I was sitting in front of the massive living-room fireplace, and as the ember flames crackled and rose higher, so did the rate of my heartbeats.
I stretched my fingers and tried to distract myself by thinking of the storeroom. When I’d seen it earlier, it’d become clear, by the cluster of dirt and boxes in it, that it’d take Taron and our guys at least 2 days just to get everything out so we could clear out the space for further assessment. Mr. Ribeiro had told us that him and Carina had already gone through everything in there, and that there wasn’t anything in the room they wanted to keep. At least there was that, huh?
I turned my head in the direction of the door when it opened, and in walked – more likewaddled– Carina. She was shivering as she put the locks in, took off her shoes at the threshold, and then padded over to me.
I stood and grabbed the blanket Mr. Ribeiro had given me before retiring to his room an hour ago, and as Carina set her purse on the small wooden table next to the sofa before stopping in front of me, I completely lost my train of thought.
Fantastic.
She waved at me with a wide grin on her face, and so, I did the same. Just…wow; I’d really lost it.
