Total pages in book: 196
Estimated words: 186555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 933(@200wpm)___ 746(@250wpm)___ 622(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 933(@200wpm)___ 746(@250wpm)___ 622(@300wpm)
What the hell did I have to lose? Clara had said she wasn’t interested in him like that, hadn’t she? I could always double check with her.
And it sure wasn’t like I’d sleep with him.
Sure, I thought Mr. Rhodes was hotter than hell, but it wasn’t like that meant anything. He barely talked to me, still. From the way he looked at me more often than not, I was pretty sure sometimes he regretted inviting me to stay longer. He could be so nice one minute and not so much the next. I didn’t get it, and I didn’t want to overthink it.
I had moved here to… move on with my life, and part of that included… dating. I didn’t want to be alone. I liked stability. I wanted someone around to care about me and vice versa.
This wasn’t the first time I’d gotten asked out since I’d started working here, but it was the first time I was considering it.
Screw it. “All right. Sure. At least you’ll talk back to me unlike my iPad, right?”
His smile grew even wider, and I could tell he was pleased. It made me feel nice. “I’ll talk back. Promise.” He smiled just a little more. “Want me to pick you up?”
“I’ll meet you there? Wherever we’re eating?”
The man nodded. “All right. Seven work?”
“Deal.”
He gave me the name of a restaurant I recognized on the river that wound its way through part of the town. “I’ll meet you upfront.”
I knew this was a step, like Clara had said. It was something. And something was better than nothing, especially when you had that to begin with.
“I’ll see you later then,” Johnny said with that big grin still on his face. “Thanks.”
“No problem, see you,” I said.
And it was only because the store was empty that Clara let out a whoop. “Did you just get asked out on a date?”
“Hell yeah, I did,” I called back. “Is that okay with you? I won’t go if you do like him.”
She shook her head, and I could tell from the easy way she did it she was telling the truth. “Go. I’m really not interested in him like that.” She paused. “Do you have anything to wear?” I must have thought about it too long because she made a face. “I guess I know what I’m doing during my lunch break.”
I raised my eyebrows at her. “What?”
Clara just smiled.
* * *
With one final look in the mirror of the bathroom of my apartment, I figured I wasn’t going to spontaneously get better looking.
I was as good as I usually got.
I hadn’t gone heavy with my makeup, but I hadn’t gone ultra-light either. Just right, I figured, for a date. Good enough to hide the scratches and dents in the used goods that I was, but not hiding so much that I looked like a different person.
A few times in the past, I’d gotten my makeup professionally done and ended up washing it off afterward because I didn’t like the way it felt. I didn’t have much to complain about without foundation. And if someone could see a hint of the pimple I’d popped that morning, too bad.
Fortunately, Clara had gone home during her break and brought back a skirt that she said was a size too small and a cute blouse she told me I could have. I didn’t have heels, my feet were a full size and a half bigger than her size seven and a halves, so I’d had to settle for some sandals that fortunately did match the skirt and emerald green shirt.
I thought I looked pretty. I felt pretty at least.
I didn’t expect anything from tonight except hopefully some pleasant company. I’d even pay for my own food, just in case.
Snatching up my purse—and for some reason randomly remembering the twenty purses and clutches that I’d left behind at Kaden’s, gifts from over the years—I grabbed my keys too and headed down the stairs and out the garage, only to stop short.
I hadn’t heard the garage door open, but it was a wide and gaping maw. Amos and Mr. Rhodes stood in the center, looking up at the mechanism that was the garage door opener.
I guess they hadn’t heard me either because when I said, “Hey, fellas,” Amos jumped and I was pretty sure that Mr. Rhodes’s shoulder might have jerked a bit too.
What I was sure of was that Mr. Rhodes’s eyes narrowed a little.
I think he might have glanced at my legs.
“Everything okay?”
“Hi, Ora. The garage door opener isn’t working anymore. Dad’s fixing it,” Amos answered.
Part of me was surprised he wasn’t bringing Yuki up again. He’d demanded to know why I hadn’t told him that I knew her. That I was friends with her. Good friends.
Personally, I was still butthurt he’d been so surprised to hear her say I was a good songwriter.