“So, you’ve always been an entrepreneur then. Cool.”
Seth nods. “There were a few hourly jobs here and there in my late teens, but for the most part, yep. Guess I never really liked being told what to do.”
“Does anyone really?” I ask with a laugh.
“Guess you’re right.”
I re-wet my roller, then move on to a new section of the wall.
“My first and last job was working at my uncle’s diner. I’m sure he bossed me around a bit when I first started, but I don’t even remember those days. I put in so many hours there, things that needed to be done were just instinct, you know?”
“I get that,” Seth nods. “How was it working for family, though?”
I shrug. “Fine. Uncle Dusty’s always been more than just an uncle, so that’s probably got a lot to do with it. He’s been more of a dad to me than myactualdad, so it helps knowing he’s always got my best interest at heart.”
Seth is quiet, and I feel exposed, like I’ve said too much, blurring that line of professionalism.
“Fathers can certainly do a number on us,” he mumbles, but then doesn’t probe for more information, which I appreciate.
Besides, now that he follows Pandora, there probably isn’t much about my life he doesn’t already know.
We keep the rest of the conversation light as we finish up, standing back to look over our work when we’re done.
It’s nearly midnight, which means I would’ve been heremuchlater if I’d gone at this alone, so… I guess it was better having help.
“Thank you for staying.”
He nods. “We do pretty good work together.”
“Yep,” I laugh, tossing my trash into the can so we can get out of here. I’m beat and just want to get back to Hunter’s to shower and climb into bed.
I kill the music next, dropping the speaker into my duffle bag. My keys are in the side pocket, so I’m pretty sure I have everything. Seth turns off the light and winds the extension cord, setting it near the window where moonlight floods in.
We start toward the steps and make our way down in silence. For me, the awkwardness is because I’m still uncomfortable being alone with him, especially in the dark.
I stop in the foyer when I think I may have forgotten my phone but realize it’s in my back pocket.
“If you’re ever inspired to do a little late-night painting, just give me a call. I’ll drop in to help.”
I smile but keep it chill. “Thanks, but you already spend an unholy number of hours here, so…”
“Yeah, but this was nice,” he says. “Hanging out with you, getting to talk about something other than work.”
There’s this strange twisting in my stomach, and I’m suddenly even more focused on making a clean break. But before I get the chance…
Seth’s mouth crashes down onto mine.
My hands fly to his chest, pushing him away to create some distance. Through the darkness, I canfeelthe anger etched across my face as I stare at him.
“What the hell are you doing?”
He seems confused, like he thought this was what I wanted. “I’m sorry, I—”
“Go,” I hiss. “Now!”
“Blue, I… I thought you—”
“You thought what?”
