Chapter 1 #2
"What do you mean you need to cancel? This is the second time this week."
Oh boy. That doesn't sound good. I walk into the bathroom and tune out the conversation. It’s not my business, and I don't need to make it so it is.
I have enough of my own problems to last a lifetime.
I came to Willow Creek to see my brother and to get a fresh start from some crappy decisions I made.
The last thing I need to do is butt into other people's business.
The bathroom does indeed have everything, including towels.
I’m grateful for the little I won’t need to spend there.
I don't care if the place only has one towel, I’ll make it work until I get a job and can afford more.
There's such things as laundry. And, oh look—I open a small closet inside the bathroom to find my own stackable washer and dryer.
Score.
Despite seeing what the space has to offer, my problems continue to push to the forefront of my mind, demanding my attention. I know the only reason I’m here looking at this space right now is because I’m adept at running from them.
I know if I told my brother what happened, he would be more than willing to help me out.
But I don't want to do that. Not only would Owen kill my ex, he would try to take care of me, and that isn't an option.
I'm no longer anyone's damsel. I don't need my big brother's help.
He has Annalee to worry about, and I need to prove I can do this on my own.
I leave the bathroom just as my landlord slips his phone in his pocket.
"Sorry about that. That was my nanny canceling on me again. I was supposed to be over at the construction site for a meeting in thirty minutes. I guess I'll have to reschedule," he huffs out in frustration. "Again."
"I could go with you." My mouth's blurting out the suggestion before my mind can catch up.
When he looks at me like I suddenly grew seven heads, and even though I have no idea what I'm talking about, I further explain.
"To the jobsite. I could go with you and watch . . ." I wave at the child in his arms.
Not only don't I know his name, but I don't even know the child's who I'm offering to watch while he works.
"Everly. And why would you want to do that? You don't even know us."
"I mean, I really don't know anyone in this town except for my brother's friends. I just moved here. But I like to help, and don't have anything else to do today."
And now I sound like a loser.
Superb.
"Who's your brother?"
"Owen Baker. He works for Willow Creek Security. I know you said you spoke to someone over there. My guess would be his friend and coworker Nolen."
"I did, but I can't remember his name. Everly was throwing a fit at the time, so I doubt I even caught it."
I force a smile at the little girl who's no longer screaming. Kids may not be my thing, but I still can’t deny she's cute. In a weird way, I guess. When she doesn't look like a spawn of Satan, screaming and clinging to her dad’s leg while covered in snot and spaghetti sauce.
"I'm Angelo, by the way, but you can call me Ang." He holds his hand out and I shake it. A jolt of electricity transfers from his hand to mine and I quickly snap it back as he apologizes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to shock you. It must be the plush carpets in here."
"It's okay. So how about it? Are you going to let me help you?"
Why the hell am I pushing this? There are a million other things I could be doing instead.
Well, no, there isn't, but that thought is just as depressing, so I ignore it.
Ang looks unsure, and who could blame him. I'm a complete stranger offering to watch his daughter. I hijacked this meeting from Annalee because I'm desperate for a place, and admitted as much. Ang probably thinks I'm four shakes away from the nut house.
"Okay, but only because she should be going down for a nap soon anyway. You’ll only have to sit with her in the car while she sleeps. Thirty minutes tops while I meet with the building inspector."
Easy peasy.
I can handle a sleeping child.
Sleeping child my ass. Everly falls asleep long enough for her father to enter the building, but that's it. The second he's out of sight, she's awake and screaming her head off.
And let me just say the little girl has a set of lungs on her, and no amount of shushing I try to do is helping. In fact, I think it's only making it worse.
"Okay, okay. You win." Little demon spawn, I add in my head. I figure it's inappropriate to say it to the child's face.
I scramble between the seats in an attempt to get to the back, only for my foot to get stuck on the seat. My face connects with the leather bench seat next to Everly’s car seat, and for the first time since waking up, Everly stops crying.
Oh thank God.
But my grace is only for a short reprieve. Except this time it's not tears.
Is that laughter?
I peel my face off the leather and spin it enough to see Everly is, in fact, laughing at me.
Sitting there in her car seat with dried tears on her face, messy hair, spaghetti around her mouth because she refused to let her father clean her up before passing out, and a huge smile on her face is a mini psychopath who thinks my pain is funny.
"I'm so glad that amuses you."
I push up until I'm in a plank position, then try to bring one knee up and then the other. If you think I manage to crawl into the seat next to Everly gracefully, you're wrong.
The whole time I'm scrambling, Everly is laughing. I probably look like a drunk baby elephant considering I nearly fall on my face for the second time. Something–climbing through the seats to get to the back– I have done several times before suddenly kicks my ass. I’m from Chicago and those winters are cold as fuck.
You bet your sweet ass if I need something from the back, I crawl my ass through the seats to get it.
By the time I'm sitting next to Everly, I'm out of breath and my hair is a mess.
And if that isn't bad enough, I look out the window to see Ang is staring back at me with his own smirk on his face.
Well, this day is officially going fantabulous.
Not!