He ignores my sarcasm. “Don’t you have a friend’s house you can go to? Or your parents?”
“My parents live three hours away. My friend Kayleigh already has her mother-in-law staying with her for a few weeks.” Are those my only two options? My parents or Kayleigh? I never realized how small my friend pool is.
He lowers his head as though he’s been defeated. “Okay. Grab some clothes. Since you have nowhere else to go, you can stay at my house.”
“What?” I laugh. “You can’t be serious.” He can’t honestly think I’ll spend the night in his home. He’s practically a stranger, and one I can’t stand on top of that. Not to mention the hatred I am feeling right now for him.
“I’m as serious as the tree sitting inside your bedroom right now.”
“I’ll find a place. Rent a hotel room or something.” Or rather, just plop onto my couch when he leaves. When is he leaving again?
“Nonsense. I’m right next door. You can’t get more convenient than that.”
I place my hands on my hips. “That’s just what you want, right? I’ll sleep at your house and you can hit on me?”
“Please.” Nowhelaughs. “This is hardly a ruse to get you into bed. I’ve called the fire department and they’re on their way to check out the situation. I’m going to go back home. If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
I let out a breath as Jimmy leaves the room, and ultimately, the house. In a matter of moments, the fire department arrives, assesses the damage, and recommends I find a place to stay.
5
This isthe last place I want to be, standing on Jimmy’s front porch with an overnight bag in my hand, ready to crash on his couch.
Crash. No pun intended, but I kind of crack myself up.
I clear my throat and knock on the door. Of course, there goes that dog. Not only will I be sharing a space with this man that I simply can’t stand, but I’ll be forced to deal with that dog of his.
The door swings open and Jimmy stands behind it, a grin on his face like he won some sort of a bet. I almost turn right back around.
“Oh! What do we have here?”
“Don’t start with me. I’m not in the mood.”
“Not in the mood for what?”
“You know very well. Now I hate to put you out, well, maybe I don’t, but youdidoffer to let me stay here tonight. It’s nearly 2:00 AM and I have to get up at six. While I’d much rather be checking into a hotel, it’s easier to walk next door.”
Jimmy remains standing in the doorway with a toothy grin. “Come on in.”
A construction zone greets me as I step through the doorway. I’ve heard all the ruckus from when he’s sawing and hammering, but I’ve never seen where all the action takes place. All the times I’ve come by to remind him how annoying he or his dog are, I’ve never once looked inside.
The living room appears to be in order, although the kitchen doesn’t have any cabinets on the upper portion. The lower part is missing countertops. Tools are spread out everywhere and the place smells like sawdust. It’s not the most pleasant smell, but right now I just want to go to sleep.
A little brown butterball races toward me, hopping on its hind legs just enough to touch above my knee with his nose.
“Kale, down boy.”
“Your dog’s name is Kale?”
“I’ve lived next to you for six months and you still don’t know my dog’s name? You’ve only been over here about forty times to yell at me about him.”
“And yet he continues to bark.”
“How else do I get you to come over here? Do I have to drop a tree on your house?” He smirks.
Heat creeps up my neck and I feel my face turn red.
“Too soon? Sorry. Anyway, his name is actually Dale. My cousin’s son kept referring to him as Kale and now he only answers to that.”
