Chapter 14 #2
When he’s gone, I go in my room, get my laptop, and bring it out to the kitchen table. ‘I don’t know where to start.’ I sit down and wait for the screen to appear. ‘How am I going to fit everyone in?’
‘Want some help?’ Kate pulls up a chair and sits beside me. ‘I’m really good at organizing.’
‘This is more about scheduling. I need to figure out how to get the most done that I can.’
‘Scheduling is a type of organizing.’ She looks at the spreadsheet showing my list of customers. ‘Do you have them plotted out on a map?’
‘No. I don’t need a map. I grew up here. I know every street.’
‘Yes, but plotting everyone on a map would help you better plan your route. Are all the driveways the same size?’
‘No, some are out in the country so they’re longer. They’re more like private roads going up to the house.’
‘So maybe those are last since they’ll take longer and they’re outside of town.’
‘Yeah, that’s a good idea. But I still don’t know where to start. I guess I’ll go to whoever’s closest to here and then work my way across town.’
‘Can I make a suggestion?’ she asks.
‘What is it?’
‘How about you go get ready and I’ll work on figuring out the best route? Is there a map of town online?’
‘Yeah, on the town’s website.’
‘Okay, so I’ll use that and the addresses in the spreadsheet and see how far I can get while you’re getting ready.’
‘Kate, I already know where everyone lives.’
‘Just let me do this, and if you don’t like my plan, you don’t have to use it.’
‘If you really want to, go ahead.’ I get up from the table, then sit back down. ‘Hey, we should probably talk about last night.’
‘What about it?’
‘I didn’t plan on that happening.’
‘Brody, don’t worry about it. We were both drunk.’
‘Not the second time.’
She looks back at the laptop, looking like she wants to say something.
‘Kate, c’mon. I can tell something’s bothering you, so what is it?’
She hesitates, then says, ‘We didn’t use anything.’
I pause, thinking back to last night. ‘Shit. You’re right. I wasn’t even thinking about that. ’
‘Neither was I.’ She pauses. ‘Do you, um, have anything?’
‘Not that I know of.’
She huffs. ‘Not that you know of? So you’re saying you might?’
‘I haven’t been to a doctor recently, if that’s what you’re asking.’
‘So it’s possible.’
‘It’s been awhile since I’ve been with anyone. I think I’d know by now. And I used protection when I was with her.’
‘What’s awhile? Like how long ago?’
‘I don’t know. A few months? What about you?’
‘I told you, I haven’t done it in over a year. And I’m on the pill so at least we’re safe there.’
I put my hand on her arm and look in her eyes. ‘I’m sorry, okay? I wasn’t thinking.’
‘It’s not your fault. It’s both of ours. I wasn’t thinking either. I was so into what we were doing that I completely forgot. That’s so unlike me. I never forget.’
‘It was pretty damn good,’ I say, smiling. ‘I can see why we forgot.’
‘Yeah. It was really good.’ She looks back at the laptop, smiling.
‘Is there anything else? About last night?’
‘No. You need to go get ready. You have a big day ahead.’
I’m surprised she doesn’t want to talk about where we go from here. I don’t have an answer so I guess it’s good she didn’t ask.
‘Can I use your printer?’ she says as I’m going to my room.
‘Yeah, go ahead.’
I don’t know why she’s helping me. Maybe she’s bored and needs something to do.
But watching TV would be more fun than figuring out how I’m going to get everything done today.
I won’t have time to get to everyone. I’ll just have to do as much as I can and hope people will understand if I can’t get to them until tomorrow.
It’s not like they can go anywhere. Stores are still closed and I’m sure most businesses are too.
When I’m showered and dressed, I return to the kitchen and find Kate there with a big grin on her face. ‘I did it.’
‘Did what?
‘Found a way for you to get to almost all of your customers today. I had to make some assumptions on timing, but even if I’m off, you’ll still be able to get a lot done.’ She hands me a sheet of paper. ‘Here’s the printout. I also emailed you a copy.’
‘What is this?’ I ask, looking at the paper
‘It’s your schedule. I have you leaving in ten minutes so hurry up and eat if you’re hungry.’
‘You want me to start on Mulberry Lane? That’s on the edge of town.’
‘Exactly. The west side. From there, you’ll work your way to the south, then east, and then finish on the north side of town.’
‘I don’t think that saves any time.’
‘It will. I already calculated it.’ She goes past me to the fridge. ‘But if you want to do it your way, go ahead. I was just offering a suggestion. You want a sandwich? You could take it to go.’
‘I’ll just get something at the gas station. I need to go fill up the truck.’
‘Then leave now.’ She comes back over to me. ‘That’ll use up your ten minutes. ’
I smile at her. ‘You’re really into this schedule.’
‘I’m just trying to help. Oh, and if you want, I can call the people you can’t get to today and let them know you’ll be there tomorrow.’
‘You don’t need to do that. I’ll do it when I get home.’
‘It might be better to let them know now so they’re not wondering.’
‘Maybe. I’ll think about it.’ I hold up the piece of paper. ‘Thanks for your help.’ I kiss her. ‘I’ll see you later.’
I head to the door to get my coat, wondering why the hell I just kissed her. I kissed her goodbye, like a boyfriend would do. I’m not her boyfriend. I’m barely her friend. We just met. So what the hell was I doing kissing her goodbye?
This is getting complicated. Last night messed everything up. She was just supposed to be my temporary tenant, paying me to stay here for a few weeks. But now I don’t know what we are. What if she thinks we’re dating? I don’t want that. Why would I date a girl who lives two hours away?
I shouldn’t have let her spend the night in my bed. That’s a relationship thing, something couples do. But I didn’t want her to leave. I actually wanted her there, which is strange because I prefer to sleep alone. I like having the bed to myself, but for some reason, I wanted Kate there last night.
We need to end this before it gets out of hand.
Like Nick said, if Kate’s feelings get involved, she’ll end up getting hurt and I don’t want to do that to her.
I don’t want to hurt her. As for me? I can keep my feelings out of it.
I’ve been doing it for years, with every girl I’ve dated.
It’s why I’m still single. It’s a choice I made, to not let any relationship get serious until I’m ready for that. And I’m definitely not ready.