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“This is awesome. What does that mean?”
“I told her Saturday that it couldn’t happen. I mean, it’s pointless, right?”
“No. Why would it be?” He leaned over and held the next plank in place, both of us working in tandem as we had the last few hours.
Fortunately, when I asked Hale to do me this favor and keep it from Jonah, he agreed a lot faster than I thought he would with very few questions. He even suggested we knock off early from a residential job to get the flooring done here in one day.
I thought he was just being generous, but now I knew he was trying to invade my personal life. I could hardly pretend that I wasn’t doing this job partially because of my feelings for Anna. Besides, I had no one to talk to about it, seeing as my best friend was part of the whole damn problem.
“Why would it be pointless?” he asked again.
“Anna’s younger. She’s still playing the field.”
“Anna Hebert?” he asked with obvious surprise. “That girl’s been too serious her whole damn life. I can’t see her suddenly wanting to sow some oats and sleep around.”
“Maybe not.” The tight knot in my gut refused to loosen. “But I’m not the kind of guy she usually dates. She likes college boys. Her type is…not me.”
“Funny, because she broke up with all of those other college boys, right?” He didn’t wait for an answer as he hammered the next plank into place. “If she’s open to seeing where this goes, then you should listen to her.” He sat back on his heels, giving me a heavy look, which wasn’t Hale’s norm. “She’s worth the risk, isn’t she?”
Anna? She was worth everything. I suddenly felt stupid. If I knew that she wanted me for more than a night, I’d fight Jonah and his brothers and anyone else for the chance to be with her.
She’d even insinuated the other night that what she wanted was more than casual sex. The knot in my gut tightened. I’d pushed her away because I was afraid.
Standing, I combed both hands through my hair and laced my fingers behind my head as I looked out, noticing the sun had set since we’d gotten here.
“Fuck.” I looked at Hale still on the floor. “I’m a goddamn idiot.”
“If you gave up on Anna before it even started, then yeah, you are.”
“Fuck!”
I glanced at my watch. She might still be at the house, though she’d made a point all week to be finished and gone by the time I got home around eight. It was close to seven now.
“Go on.” He grinned. “I’ll finish and lock up.”
“Thanks, man.” I quickly pulled the key off my keychain and handed it over, then jetted out the door. I was pulling into my drive ten minutes later, cursing because her car was gone.
Still, I rushed inside, somehow hoping she’d miraculously be there. A delicious smelling dinner covered in foil waited on the stove. My kitchen and living room were swept and mopped clean, my clothes dried and folded in a laundry basket beside the sofa. She’d never invaded my bedroom and put things away.
Pulling out my phone, I texted her.
ME: Hey. Where are you?
It was read almost immediately, and the little ellipses of her typing back hovered for several minutes before a message came through.
ANNA: None of your biness.
What the hell? Did she meanbusiness? Then another one.
ANNA: I don’t have to tell you where I’m at. I did my job. Made yur favorite dinner to.
This was weird. The few times she’d texted me before to ask where the Windex or my cutting board was, before realizing I didn’t own such things, she’d always been polite with perfect grammar. Her texts were just like her, sweet and perfect. But these weren’t. Something was off.
I hit dial and waited. She answered on the second ring. The sound of people laughing and a loud crowd in the background had me frowning.
“Where are you?” I asked without saying hello.
“I told you,Reeeed. None of your business.”
