There she is. The snappy woman I hired.
Slowly enough so we can read it, she scrolls down the script. About two-thirds into it, we jolt in our chairs simultaneously, having found the issue. Surprised that we reacted in unison, we briefly side-eye one another. With the keyboard in front of her, she starts the corrections. There’s nothing I would have done differently, so I let her handle it, observing her in silence.
“I like your work,” I say when she’s done, removing my glasses. “It’s clear, concise, and you comment on everything, so it’s easy to follow your chain of thought.”
She nods and gives me a smile that I can tell is forced. Did I do it wrong? Was that not an acceptable compliment?
Before I can let it go to my head, I roll my chair back and stand. “Time to head home, Andrea.”
“Sorry for earlier. I’m not usually this scattered. I promise it won’t happen again,” she says as I return to my laptop.
I’m the one answering with a simple nod this time.
She turns her computer off, and once the cooling fans stop spinning, I become keenly aware of the silence surrounding us. She must feel the same way because she grabs her stuff and walks to the door.
“See you tomorrow,” she offers, fleeing into the nearly empty office space.
That was… almost courteous. Maybe we can work together after all.
Chapter 06
I’m not really sure what to make of those ten minutes working with Alexander. He was oddly pleasant and even gave me something that resembled a compliment. And I didn’t, at any point, imagine myself slapping his handsome face.
It was … weird.
But despite that, the tension that always fills the air between us was there, as strong as ever. It is strange how Oliver’s presence makes me feel calm and comfortable, but I’m tense and jumpy with Alexander. The physical reaction I have to the man frustrates me. Up to this point, I never felt that sort of undesired and unrequited attraction to anyone. Wanting someone I don’t actually want is exhausting.
“Is that everything?” Oliver asks, ripping me from my thoughts.
“Uh, I think so, yes,” I say, looking at the boxes filling my old car from floor to roof.
Oli is becoming a great friend, which is crazy since we have known each other for less than a week. But he’s sweet and considerate, and we’re on the same wavelength for most things. When he offered to help with my move, I initially refused, not wanting to impose. But he insisted, arguing he didn’t mind, so I caved in. Moving nearly got the best of me the first time, even though Kate and my dad helped. Doing it all over again alone would surely kill me.
We’re just done getting everything down from my apartment, and after a quick check to make sure I didn’t forget anything, I’ll head to Mrs. Godfrey’s office to give her back her key.
“I need ten minutes,” I explain. “Then we’ll drive to Tami’s, and after that, you’re free.”
“Take your time, Hulkette. I’m not in a rush.”
The nickname, which he came up with after seeing me carry three piled-up boxes, makes me chuckle.
“Be right back,” I insist.
As I climb up to my studio, I scold myself for not caring for my body like the temple it is. I’m twenty-six, in the prime of my youth, and my fat ass can’t even handle the few rounds up and down those stairs we did today.
I look everywhere in the studio, making sure there’s nothing left. I cleaned up the best I could, and honestly, it’s better than when I moved in, so I decide it’s good enough, even though my abuela would disagree.
Mrs. Godfrey is her usual sunshine self when I knock on her door once I’m back downstairs. “Miss Walker, I hope you left the studio in the same state you found it,” she bitterly mumbles.
“Wait, do you mean I have to put back those two dead roaches and the three flies?” I ask with sarcasm. She gives me a very unamused glare, and I come closer to hand her the keys. “I’d say it was a pleasure to have met you, but it really wasn’t.”
She raises one of her poorly drawn eyebrows, not used to being addressed like this. But I have nothing to lose, so I keep going. “I got this for you,” I explain, pulling out a tall prayer candle with Jesus plastered on it. I set it on her desk and give her a fake smile. “You should light it and pray for your soul. And next time you try to scam someone, remember that his sky daddy is always watching,” I say, pointing at Jesus.
With that, I put my hand forward, still holding the keys, and drop them into her awaiting hand. “Andy out.”
I feel light and unburdened as I leave the dreaded building, especially since I finally managed to get rid of that haunting candle mytiagave me before I left Portland.
Oli is waiting for me by my car, leaning on it. “All good?” he asks.
