Page 69 of Reluctant Chemistry

"Come in."

"Hey, bud."

"What's on your mind, Maxwell?"

"You, of course. You're going around the place with a goddamned smile all the time. It's freaking me out."

"Well, I'm happy."

"I'm guessing you've bedded the wench?"

"Who talks like that?"

"We saw an old pirate movie last night. It stuck. So how do you see this playing out?"

Max is one of my best friends, and we always help each other out. So, I don't mind sharing what I've been thinking about.

"At the pace this is going, I'm going to end up with a broken heart."

"You don't do hearts."

"I don't have a choice with this woman. She's…"

"A witch?"

"An enchantress. She's got me following her around like a lost puppy, and she's got the good kibble."

Max lets out a low whistle. "So what are you going to do?"

"Spend the next two and a half months worshipping her."

And that's exactly what I do. True to my word, I spend every free moment with Brandy. I take her sightseeing, we go to plays and concerts, and we spend passionate nights together. As a matter of fact, she moves straight into my bedroom, and I find that waking up with her in my arms is an eye-opening experience.

As the weeks go by and the date of her leaving approaches, my heart fills with fear. Does she care for me the way I care for her? Can she see what's in my heart? Does she know I don't think I can live without her? There's only one way to find out. I need to talk openly about my feelings for her, even if it ends up in heartbreak.

Chapter 9

Erik

It's the weekend, and I want to spend it with Brandy, having important conversations between the two of us. She's showering while I'm getting dressed. I hear her phone ring.

"Bran, your phone is ringing."

"Can you take the message, please?"

I pick up the phone and answer.

"Brandy Lennon's phone, how can I help you?"

"Hello, this is Mrs. Jones calling for Brandy Lennon."

"She can't come to the phone right now. Do you want to leave a message? I'm trustworthy, I assure you."

"I'm sure you are, young man. Just tell her to get back to me and that I finally have an opening for her to be my apprentice if she hasn't left Miami yet."

"Oh…I…I'll give her the message. Thank you."

I hang up the phone and start racking my brain to remember what Brandy told me about this apprenticeship. I thought she had been doing it for the past month. What has she been doing with her time then?