Asking for help… I grimace. It’s like the conversation I had with Wes last night. He wants me to lean on him, but I was telling the truth. I’m not quite surehow.
“I guess I’m just used to doing things on my own,” I admit with a shrug.
“Well, you’re not alone anymore,” Santi says cheerfully as he looks around at the progress I’ve made. “Shoot, with a few more hours in here tomorrow, and an additional pair of hands, this storage closet will have a whole new look.”
The space is too big to be considered a closet, despite the others calling it such. It's more like a gloomy conference room. Once I get a bed in here, a medical cabinet, and possibly a sink, it’ll make for a decent nurse’s station.
“Tomorrow?” I repeat, confused. “I can just get it done now. What time is it?”
“It’s a little past four.”
Technically, it’s not the end of the day just yet. Santi gets off work before everyone else given that The Shop closes earlier than the rest of Gnarly Pines.
He raises a brow and asks, “Want to get out of here for a few hours? I can show you downtown Caddawalk and then we can grab a bite to eat.”
Leave Gnarly Pines and the shitstorm I’ve stirred up?
I grin. “Hellyes. Get me out of here, Santi.”
Santi returns the grin with one of his own, causing his dimples to pop out.
Damn it, there goes another pair of panties.
To my surprise, he grabs my face with both hands and leans down real close. I suck in an uneasy, but excited breath, and let it out as a shaky giggle when he wiggles his eyebrows.
“Then it's a date.”
A shower has donewonders for my mood. Clean clothes have helped too. I rake my fingers through my hair to keep it from falling into my face and when that doesn’t work, I flip it to the side and tuck it behind my ear. When I feel presentable, I slip out of my room and hurry down the hall. I glance toward Rhett’s door but I know he’s not off work yet.
I wonder what he’ll think of me and Santi going out.
Rather than dwell on that thought, I skip down the stairs and head for the kitchen where Santi is undoubtedly waiting, probably with his head in the refrigerator. As I approach, I realize he’s not alone.
“—can’t do anything foolish. Do you understand, Santi?”
My footsteps slow as I realize it’s Ledger’s voice I hear.
“Relax, Ledger. We’ll be fine. Like I said, there’s been nothing out of the ordinary going on lately, so I think it’s safe to assume whoever was right on Blair’s heels has moved through the area. In any case, it’s not like you can just never let her leave. She’s safe going out for the night with me. We’re just headed into town.”
Ledger scoffs. “Assuming anything about a contract killer is what will get you killed.”
“Alright, calm down, boss man.” I smile at Santi’s flippant tone. I’m sure that’s going over really well with Ledger. “Like I said, my eyes will be peeled the entire time.”
“You still have the gun I gave you?” Ledger asks. I can’t tell by his tone if he believes Santi or not.
“Yup, and, get this—” Santi snickers and I know he’s about to say something that will irritate Ledger. “—I got a hitwoman with me in case things go sideways and I need some back up.”
There's a heavy sigh of exasperation that comes from my godfather.
“Santi…”
“Ledger, chill. I’m pretty sure Blair can handle herself.”
“Yeah, you and Rhett found that out the hard way, didn’t you?"
There’s a pause, and I freeze.
“Ah…”
