Willow:
Lenny, you could at least pretend to care and be excited. That’s a dick move even for you.
Rina:
I will kick your ass, Lenny…
I chuckle at the girls’ responses. I would put money down that Lennox is just working and came across an endangered animal or some shit like that, so I’m not upset by his pretty standard message.
Me:
Leave him alone. He’s probably working and finding some magical animal.
Lennox:
Thanks, big bro. I was trying to catch a hurt armadillo, jerks. I am really excited for you, though! You’ve put a lot of hard work into this, and you deserve it.
Rina:
Armadillos are neither magical nor endangered, so I stand by what I said.
Lennox:
You just don’t have an appreciation for animals, Marina.
Rina:
Excuse the fuck outta me. Guess that sweet-ass new bed you wanted isn’t going to get built… It seems like you just don’t have an appreciation for furniture building.
Oh shit, here we go.I’m laughing my ass off reading this. They constantly fought as kids, and it didn’t slow down much once our parents passed away. Now, they verbally spar more than they talk, and I’ll say it’s entertaining as hell. Willow and I usually just sit back with drinks and listen to them until one leaves out of frustration.
Lennox:
Jesus, you are a pain in the ass.
Me:
And on that note, I have to get back to work. But great conversation, guys, and thanks for always helping out at the nursery so I could grow the company. It means a lot to me.
I’ve always made it a mission of mine, when I took over the role of sole guardian, that I would never shy away from showing my gratitude or expressing how proud I am of my siblings. I never wanted them to feellike they needed to prove anything to me. I just wanted them to continue to feel loved and supported, even though their world fell apart around them.
Closing out of our chat, I open up my email in hopes of catching the National Landscaping Association email before Ainsley does. A new email pops up, and I see it’s exactly what I’m looking for.
I move it to my Needs Attention folder and open it up. I am unsure as to why I’m hiding it, but I want to surprise her with the good news. I want to be the one to tell her the presentation she single-handedly created made one of my greatest career aspirations come to fruition.
Reading over the details and the conference stuff is all straightforward and standard. When I get to the hotel information, I go in search of a long-ago sent email with my room confirmation. This conference usually fills up fast, so as soon as they announce it, many people book a room immediately, myself included. Now, I want Ainsley to come with me because she’s been a huge hand in this and she knows the material better than I do at this point. I pull up the website and look at my options. Sadly, I’m fucked. There are only two options, and I’m not about to force her to share a bed with me. Calling the hotel, I change my reservation to the only option that will work.
It’s a suite, technically, but at least she’ll have her own space. Plus, maybe this will force her to talk to me outside of work shit.
And the business may be doing well, but it’s not raking in the cash either. So, this is a logical move for the business too.
Sure, keep telling yourself that.
But maybe the close proximity will help her forgive me, help her see I’m not the guy who lies about his name to be malicious. I’m just a guy who never quite got over his high school crush and is learning the adult version of that woman is even better than he could have imagined.
When I get the new confirmation email, I stare at it and decide how to approach this whole situation with Ainsley.
Knocking on the door, my hands start to sweat.
