“Thank you so much for your call, Ms. Falcon.”
I fall against the brick wall outside of the Walden’s. It’s finally my turn to give someone a chance in life—like the one my parents gave me.
People are staring at me as they pass by in the line, and I wish I could scream my news out to everyone. They’d all think I was crazy, but this is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
With a deep breath and a cool breeze to bring me back to reality, I step behind that last person in line, wondering how August will react to this news.
That is if August is still at my house, and Didi hasn’t intruded.
Chapter Twenty-Six
August
Naturally,I might be concerned about waking up in a man’s bed alone, but I remember the latter part of last night very clearly. The last thing I wanted was to be alone in my apartment. The reminders of Keegan lingering in every corner are destroying me, bit by bit. Even with Keegan’s boxes gone, I still feel his presence everywhere.
Maybe I shouldn’t have asked Chance to sleep next to me. It might have been too forward, asking a man to comfort me because I didn’t want to be alone, but he seemed more than willing, and he understood what I needed. He’s respectful, and I don’t sense any ulterior motives on his part.
I stretch my arms to the side, relishing the high-thread-count of Chance’s sheets. His comforter is soft, worn, and smells like soap and fabric softener.
“Chance?” I call out, wondering where he went. Maybe he decided to take the couch halfway through the night. I could understand.
Although, the silence makes me wonder if he’s even home still. I sit up a bit, pulling the sheets up to my neck, and glance around the room. A small white note on the nightstand beside me grabs my attention. I hope it’s for me and not something I shouldn’t be reading.
I pinch it between my fingers and flip it open.
Chance went to get us breakfast.
I feel undeserving of the attention and kindness he’s giving me. I haven’t done a thing for him, and I’m starting to feel like a charity case. I hope that’s not how Chance is looking at me.
I’m not sure when he left, but it’s only a few minutes after waking up that I hear his voice outside on the front porch.
I glance out the window behind the bed, carefully peering through the blinds so he won’t see me. A woman next door is in a dress far too tight to be wearing on a Saturday morning. She’s reading a magazine on her front porch, talking to Chance.
Is she his neighbor? Good God. Her legs must be as long as my body and her breasts—there is no possible way those are real. I wouldn’t be surprised if her perfect blonde hair is a wig too. She’s like a real-life Barbie doll.
Chance looks uncomfortable on his front step, answering whatever questions she’s tossing at him. He scratches the back of his neck and squints up at the sun.
I hop out of bed and make my way to the front door, stepping outside. “You got us breakfast?” I ask him.
He appears relieved to be interrupted, but maybe I shouldn’t have assumed that’s what he wanted. I guess something inside of me told me to break up the interaction.
It’s unexpected when Chance loops his arm around my back, tugging me into his side. “I sure did.”
The look on Barbie’s face is priceless. Maybe they’re just friends. She could be married or in a relationship for all I know. I’m just assuming the worst.
“You’re sweet,” I tell him.
“I’ll catch ya later, Didi. Have a nice weekend,” Chance tells her.
If looks could kill, I think I’ll go with my gut on this one. When we close ourselves back inside, Chance covers his hand over his face. “Sorry about that,” he says. He doesn’t owe me an apology, though. We aren’t together. We haven’t committed ourselves to one another in any way, and I invited myself back to his place last night, which could be considered far more promiscuous than Barbie—Didi.
“Without sounding arrogant, she’s been seemingly after me since she moved in next door a few years ago. Not my type, though. I’ve been polite, but sometimes she can be a bit of a pain.”
I guess my gut was right. However, I don’t know a ton of men that wouldn’t refer to a Barbie look-a-like as their type.
“Ah, well, life is better off not being dull, right?” It’s the best line I can come up with on the spot.
“I suppose that may be true in some circumstances. Didi brings me baked goods once a week, so there’s that.” Food is always the way to a man’s heart.
