We discuss timelines.
“I’ll get started on it right away,” I tell him.
Lewis stands and walks toward the door.He glances back while I’m sorting through colored pencils from my stash of art supplies.Sallee Construction could use software for artists’ renditions, but the old guys are loath to learn it, and apparently I’m cheaper and leave them time to work on other stuff.
“Tell Gen…” He grips the doorframe.“Tell her I said hello.”
I hesitate, then remember he’s my boss’s son and I can’t be rude to him.“Sure,” I say stiffly.
I trust Gen, but I don’t trust this guy.He’s uptight and, more important, unavailable as far as I’m concerned.
Lewis walks out, but I hear him talking in the front area, which I can see from my desk.His manner is clipped as he speaks to the receptionist, but she says something, and his face softens.She has that effect on people.
While they’re talking, the front door opens, and Mira walks in wearing a short summer dress and platform sandals.I don’t have a good read on Mira.She’s super proprietary over Lewis, and that seems to be her main focus.What I can say about the girl is that she’s breathtaking, not that Lewis seems to notice.He looks at her like he does his friends, which is entirely different from how he looks at Gen.
Lewis’s body stiffens and he speaks so low to Mira I can’t hear what he’s saying.She seems to ignore his words and greets our receptionist as if they’ve known each other for years.They probably have.
After a moment, Lewis pulls Mira aside.They argue, her voice rising, until she smiles without it touching her eyes, and glides calmly out the door, the bells chiming behind her.
Lewis looks over and our gazes meet.I quickly look away, but I catch him storming off out of the corner of my eye.
A door slams down the hall, punctuating my earlier assertion.Lewis is very unavailable.
And maybe this time, Ishouldwarn Gen.
That eveningwhen I arrive home from work, Gen’s getting ready for her shift.
I walk into the bathroom and sit on the toilet lid.“Lewis works at Sallee Construction.He’s the owner’s son.”
Gen sets the hairbrush in her hand on the counter and stares into the mirror at her reflection.
Not the reaction I was looking for.It answers the question of whether or not she still thinks about him.“You don’t actually care for this guy…?”
She sighs and walks out.“Leave it alone, Cali.”
“Gen—” I trail after her into the living room.“I was stupid at the start of the summer.I didn’t really understand what you were going through because I’d never been in love.You were more involved with the A-hole than I ever was with Eric.I get that now.And I don’t want to tell you what to do, because when it comes to this, I’m not as experienced as I thought, but I’m scared for you.”
Gen looks up from rifling in her purse and shakes her head.“Cali, there’s nothing to fear.”
I lean my hip against the side of the couch and study her.“I’m worried I pushed you to date guys before you were ready and now you’re running headfirst into the same situation you escaped.”
“You’re giving yourself too much credit.I do actually select when and who I want to date, and I told you, the situation with Lewis is not the same as my past relationship.Besides, I’m not actually in a relationship,” she adds, and heads into the bedroom while I stand in the doorway.
Gen grabs a shirt from the closet and sinks onto the bed without putting it on.“I can’t help who I’m attracted to.That’s just nature.”She looks up.“But I’m not planning on repeating the past, if that’s what you’re worried about.Even if I did, it wouldn’t be your fault.”She tugs the printed T-shirt over her head.
“Okay.But Mira visited Lewis at work today.If you’re spending time with him, just—be careful.”
Gen pauses.“I will,” she says without looking up.She pulls on dark jeans and walks around the bed toward me.“You don’t need to protect me, Cali.I’ll be okay.”
God, right now, I could use protection.Every day with Jaeger is a lesson in what it means to care for someone.I want what’s best for him, even if that means not being with me.If I can’t be the right person for him and his daughter, he needs someone who can.
Eric spoke to me like I was an idiot when I told him that I’d given up law.He never once asked me what made me happy.Everything Jaeger does is to make me happy.A profound difference, and something I’d like to be able to return.
Jaeger texts shortly after Gen leaves for work.
Jaeger:Trip unsuccessful.Kate’s sister never showed.Stayed too long waiting around.Have a project to wrap up… could be late before I make it over.Miss you.
So the wait continues.Not knowing where things stand makes me crazy.I could sit around and twiddle my thumbs, but that’s not really my style.
