Chapter 26 #2
“What in the world are you doing?” Izzy asked, causing me to jump out of my skin.
“Oh, I just needed some mindless busywork for a while. Doesn’t it look nice now?”
“Uh, sure. Are you alright?” She looked bewildered, and I couldn’t blame her. We never did more than toss the Lego pieces into bins, and we both knew they’d be a mess again soon.
I forced out a laugh. “Just ready for the weekend.” That wasn’t even true.
I was excited for tonight, but I was angry I couldn’t take Thor for our usual Sunday walk.
Liam and I just took him for a quick spin this morning—not that I could complain since we’d lost the time because we’d overslept together and then fooled around.
Nope, that was beyond amazing. But still, it pissed me off that it was all shadowed by self-defense classes, nightmares, rapists, and restrictions on my freedom.
Oh, and creepy guys and Tyler’s graduation.
Why’d it all have to happen now? I just wanted to banish all that crap so Liam and I could bask in our happiness.
“Yeah, sure. Me too.” The look Izzy gave me said she clearly knew that was pure bull, but she was letting me have it.
“Oh, one of the construction workers said they can’t get the paint we wanted.” I hesitated. “Do you think it’s weird that he asked me to go to the paint store with him?”
She cocked her head, thinking. “A little. He could just have them color match it. He should know that.”
“He said he wanted me to help pick out a new color so he didn’t have to repaint if we didn’t like it.”
“When I painted my house, I had to get all the paint for the painter. So maybe it’s reasonable that he didn’t want that responsibility,” Izzy said sensibly.
“Yeah, maybe.” It was a big responsibility to choose the paint himself. Maybe I had overreacted. Was Izzy na?ve, or was I paranoid?
There was more to it, though, something about the way he’d leaned in and the way his eyes had tightened when I refused. His voice had been angry when I said no. He was a man used to getting what he wanted, even though he sounded like a caring uncle.
“When you’re done unnecessarily sorting the Lego, we have plenty of books you can put away if you need more mind-numbing work to do.”
That was the last thing I wanted to do. Well, it was better than taking books off the shelves, waiting for sinister eyes to fill the void.
But only slightly better. I grabbed Liam’s early reader books—with a scrawled apology on scrap paper on top of it—and a few other picture books from the cart so I could start there.
Izzy helped too, and by the time I had to go into the regular stacks, Juliette was there following me around and distracting me.
“Are you okay after the class last night?” Juliette asked as soon as we were alone.
“I’m fine now. I had a rough night, but Liam helped a lot.” Or maybe I wasn’t as okay as I wanted to think, and that made me overreact with Dan?
“Good. I’m sorry for my part in it. I hated doing that to you.”
“No, don’t apologize! I’m glad it was you. There’s no one I trust more.”
Well, I trusted Liam just as much, but he had a penis and she didn’t, so it was better with her.
Not that I could say that at the library.
Instead, I gave her the ultra-edited PG version of how sweet and caring Liam had been last night—or rather, early this morning.
I’d never had anything illicit to share before when they came to visit me at work, but now I saw the drawback of talking here.
Just as I started telling her how adorable he was at the library today, both our phones vibrated.
Liam: Getting ready to leave. I’ll be at the library soon. You good?
Me: Yes, but I miss you.
Liam: Me too. Can’t wait to keep following you around like a creeper
I laughed out loud for real, and Juliette laughed too.
“What?” I asked, wondering what Dylan texted to her.
“Nothing. I’m just thrilled to see you so happy. I knew Liam was perfect for you.”
If you’d asked me mere weeks ago if my life would ever be so wonderful that my friend would break into laughter just because she was so happy for me, I’d have said that was crazy.
My life was good, but I wouldn’t have said it was full of joy or laughter or…
spark. Liam brought that into my life. The way he made me feel so safe and he accepted me so completely, he lit something inside me that I thought was snuffed out long ago.
And yeah, I was pretty thrilled for myself too.
“I really am so happy,” I agreed in a whisper, the feeling too big to let free.
“I love it,” Juliette said. “Everything really is good for you?”
Ah, crap. We couldn’t just focus on Liam? She had to throw that everything in there? “Things with Liam are great. Um, Tyler’s mad at me, but I’m trying not to let it bother me.”
“Are you positive about not going to his graduation?”
“Ninety-five percent? I don’t want to go, but he’s really upset about it. He hasn’t even answered the last few times I called. I’m afraid that if I don’t go, it’ll ruin our relationship forever.”
“What if Liam went with you?”
“I think it’s safer with him on the opposite side of the country from Brian.”
“That’s true. I’m sorry for bringing it up. Sorry for ruining the surprise about Six Flags too, but that’ll still be fun, right?” Juliette spewed all those words out in a jumble, a telltale sign that she really did feel bad.
“No worries,” I soothed. “It’s all fine. Tyler’s been on my mind anyway, and there wasn’t really any need for it to be a surprise. Not that I’m kicking you out, but do you want to go now that the guys are coming home?”
“No, Dylan’s on his way here with Liam.”
Just then, Nicky walked over with Izzy. After all the greetings, Izzy said, “Nicky said you guys are going to Six Flags tonight?”
“Yep.”
Juliette’s gaze dropped, her cheeks pinkening.
“Get over it,” I said to her.
Izzy looked confused for a moment before refocusing on me.
“It’s quiet today. You should leave a little early so you’ll have more time there.
Then I won’t feel so bad asking if you can cover for me on Monday.
” She smiled, hopeful and a little apologetic.
“It’s Sophia’s first playoff game, and she’s the starting pitcher. I’d love to get there early.”
“Of course! Anytime. No need for you to miss her games if I could help.”
“Thank you, and seriously, leave early today, so I won’t feel guilty when I do on Monday.”
“I will, but you know I’d tell you to go regardless.”
“Aren’t you guys the cutest?” Nicky teased.
I was about to get on her case to leave her job with the home care agency and find some nice colleagues instead of the sketchy families she worked with, but I stopped in my tracks at the sight of Dan right behind her.
“Six Flags and softball games! Lucky ladies!” he said with a big smile. “Enjoy your night out.” He continued to the construction area, pausing at the door to look back at me. A weird look passed across his face before he smiled, waved, and walked in, closing the door behind him.