“I didn’t realize this is where you worked, though.” I hook a thumb over my shoulder, gesturing toward the other office. “I could talk to your coworker if that would make you more comfortable. Or if you’re busy…”
“No, it’s fine.” Sitting, she pulls her chair in and crosses her legs under her desk. Then, settling her elbows on top, she searches my face. She’s curious at heart. Suspicious, even, of anyone she doesn’t already know. “I’ve been bored all morning, actually.” Finally, she allows a small smile to cross her lips. “Today’s my first day back since the accident, and though everyone has really good intentions, their refusal to send any customers my way means my brain is rotting.”
She exhales, powerful enough that her breath touches my fingertips as I set my hands in my lap. Then she nods, like a decision has been made.
A decision to work, I suppose.
To serve me.
“They mean well, but I’m ready for normalcy. Though I must admit, I’m confused by your need for a bank account.”
“That’s because you didn’t let me finish explaining yesterday.” I settle back and hold her stare, the glittering green jewels as pretty as the finest treasures hidden in the most secret caves. “I wasgoing to saythat I wasn’t traveling anywhere. I’m renting a house out by the five-mile marker on Maple, and once you tell me what I need to do to secure a home loan, I’d like to buy the place, since the owner is selling.”
“Y-you want to buy property? Here in Mount Gaines?”
“Mmm.” I rest my right ankle on the opposite knee. “Ryan and I talked a million times about what we’d do once we retired. He always sang praises about this town, so I knew when it was time, this is where I’d come. He told me about the Fall Festival every year and the Halloween haunted houses. The Winter Gala, and the Christmas carols at the park.” I drop my gaze and shake my head. “Dude wouldn’t shut up about Mount Gaines, and we thought it would be pretty cool to end up in the same place again. Well…” I allow my voice to thicken, because I’m a lying, manipulative prick. “You know what I mean. That was a while ago.” I study her eyes and say nothing of the tears she works so hard to blink away. “I was already heading this way when everything happened. Now he’s gone, and I just…” I shrug. “It’s time. I already got a rental, and as soon as my accounts are ready, I’ll apply for the loan and settle in, like we’d always planned.”
“You wanna buy the house out by Maple?” Her voice cracks. “Fred Carnagy’s house?”
“Yeah…” I glance around her office, like I’m searching for something, and allow a nervous chuckle to roll along my throat. “Why? Are you gonna tell me it’s haunted?”
“No.” She releases the tension in her shoulders and sits back in her chair. “Of course not.”
“Termites? Rats the size of barn cats?”
Her lips curl into a sweet smile. “No.”
“The owner’s a crackpot?” I guess. “Is he gonna make my life hell?”
“No, he’s nice.” She snickers. “He plays Santa every December, actually. He rides the fire truck through town and gives candy to all the kids. I just… I guess you surprised me. I didn’t expect to see you again after yesterday, and now you’re saying we’re practically neighbors.”
I startle tall in my seat and lean forward. “What?”
“I’m out near Maple, too. Mr. Carnagy’s house is about a mile from mine.”
“No shit.” I allow a long, languid grin to roll across my lips. “Small world, huh? At least I know the neighbors are decent, and if I find the cat-sized rats, I’ll shoo them your way.”
She laughs, the sound so soft and cathartic, it’s like bells in my fucking chest that leave me scowling when, really, I should feel the opposite. We’re getting along.Happy, happy, laugh, laugh. You’re doing your fuckin’ job, dickhead. Keep it up.
“Small world, indeed. Though I must admit, I thought brushing you off yesterday would be the end of things. Now you say you’re staying, and I know you have no friends…”
I press a dramatic hand to my heart. “I’m so lonely, Nova. And Rysworehis sister was sweet as hell.”
“Oh, please.” She snorts. “Laying it on a little thick there, Mr. Castro. And already using my brother against me?” She flattens twitching lips. “Low blow.”
“Desperate times and scary rats call for desperate measures. I’d like to say I ate alone last night, but the vermin actually held me hostage, stole my meal, and took my wallet. I didn’t sleep a wink.”
“That’s going to be a problem today, considering your plans to open a bank account.” Playful, she snags a pen from her desk and fusses with it. “First stop probably should’ve been the DMV for a new ID, don’t you think?”
“Okay, so I lied about the rats.” I chuckle. “I panicked and wanted to make you smile. I don’t know about you, but I’mreally fuckin’ tired of being sad this week. So, if making up stories about rats brings a little levity during dark times…”
“A lie worth telling,” she finishes, her eyes relaxing. “Sometimes that’s how it has to go, I guess.”
Opening her desk drawer, she rifles through files until she finds the one she wants. Removing a booklet-sized set, she places them on her desk and slides them across to me with the tip of her pointer finger. “Fill these out, and we can get started. You’ll need your driver’s license, credit cards, bank cards, and birth certificate. Anything you have that’ll help us satisfy the identification requirements. We also need income statements. Debts. Assets. All that sort of stuff.”
“Kinda forward of you, don’t you think?” I take the application and flick the pages the way you do with a novel. “We just met, and you’re already asking me about my finances.”
“You came to me, Mr. Castro.” Offering her pen, she sets it on the desk and sits back again. “But if you become uncomfortable at any point,” she jerks a thumb to her left, “I’ll happily refer you back to Genevieve.”
