16. Ashton
ASHTON
I t’s been five days since my phone call with Griffin that went late into the night. And while our conversation started about social media, we definitely veered off topic.
“I may have watched a few episodes of Malibu Shores recently.”
“Oh, really? You don’t say.”
The smirk in his tone makes me slap my face with embarrassment at admitting to watching episode after episode of him running around on a beach shirtless.
“What’d you think?”
“I love your character. He’s charming, fun, and a caring friend. He’s a lot like you, really.”
“Huh. Never thought about it that way.”
“Don’t get me wrong, your acting is great, too. Quite frankly, you sell the role. You always manage to deliver the subpar dialogue in such a natural way. Viewers have no choice but to love you. I mean him. As in you, the character. You know what I mean.”
“Did you say love ?”
My face flushes. Oh. My. Gosh. Ashton, quit word-vomiting! “Yes. The character.”
Not him, you see. The character. The clarification is necessary. To him and myself.
He has a girlfriend!
“I’m sure you know how much fans love you.
I have no doubt they’ll follow you wherever your career leads.
” He’d told me about his big meeting that night with a film producer.
He didn’t give a lot of detail, only that he really wants the role.
I’m guessing until things are finalized, he can’t share many specifics.
“Thank you for that. Truly.”
Griffin’s tone of surprise that night, along with his sincerity at receiving my compliments, stuck with me throughout the week.
I found myself wanting to learn more about him.
I anticipated each of his measly texts like some teenager with a schoolgirl crush—pathetic, I know—especially considering he’s already taken, but I can’t seem to help myself.
Despite the simplicity of our texts, each one brightened my day, and made me all that much more excited about our next training session.
Monday
Griffin
Thank you for the cookies. They were delicious. I’m about five pounds of sugar fatter thanks to you.
Ashton
I highly doubt that, but you’re welcome.
Griffin
I only wish I had been there when you delivered them.
Ashton
Sorry. Luke expressed his thanks on your behalf.
Griffin
Yeah, he probably licked all the cookies before delivering them to me. Pretty sure some were missing too.
Ashton
Hahaha. Sounds like you survived though.
Tuesday
Griffin
I liked your blog post today about dog yoga.
Ashton
Oh yeah? Did you give it a try?
Griffin
Sort of.
Ashton
How’d it go?
Griffin
Roxy stared at me the whole time while I contorted my body in awkward positions. She stretched once and then farted in my face.
Ashton
Well, at least she was there to support you.
Wednesday
Ashton
Have you ever noticed how dog owners start to resemble their pets?
Griffin
Are you implying I need to shave and get a haircut? Inserts picture with exaggeratedly messed up hair
Ashton
You do sort of resemble the Beast…
Griffin
Hey now.
Griffin
Wait, does that make you Belle?
Thursday
Griffin
What’s something you wish you had done as a kid?
Ashton
Learn to ride a bike, skate, fly a kite.
Griffin
Seriously? Fly a kite?
Ashton
You asked.
Griffin
We’ve got to remedy some of these soon!
Ashton
What about you?
Griffin
Own a dog.
Griffin
So thank you for making my childhood dream come true.
Come Thursday evening, I feel lighter than air.
Just one more day until I get to see Griffin again, but as I pull up to my apartment near seven, and my stomach plummets.
There’s caution tape surrounding the building.
A work truck with the name GreenWorks printed on the side is parked in front of Judith’s apartment.
Several men wearing protective masks, carry various tools inside.
I spy my landlord, Miguel, and leap out of the car and rush toward him. “What’s going on?” My heart slams against my ribcage and worry gnaws at my stomach over Judith and my dogs.
Miguel places his hands on his hips, surveying the commotion. “It’s a mess, a real mess. That’s what it is.” He shakes his head. “There’s no telling what this catastrophe is going to cost me.”
“Where’s Judith? Is she okay? She was taken by ambulance over a week ago. I haven’t been able to reach her or her son.”
“She’s sick. That’s how I found out about this.” He gestures toward her apartment. “Her doctors suspect mold. I called for a team to access the apartment and sure enough, black mold. It’s infiltrated the walls.”
“Black mold?” I whisper. “Isn’t that kind of deadly?”
He nods and turns his attention to me. “Can be. I called you. Left a message. I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to evacuate this building until the mold is removed.”
“Evacuate? Like right now?”
“Unfortunately. It’s a health hazard. I’d offer another unit, but I’m full.
I can comp you for your stay somewhere, but it’ll take time to get you reimbursed.
I’m hoping this team will work around the clock to fix this, but there’s no telling how long it will take before it’s repaired.
Could be a week, could be months. They won’t know until they dig into the wall and see how extensive the damage is.
” He rubs his balding head. “At this point, I’m just praying I won’t have to tear the whole thing down. ”
“As in the whole building?”
This can’t be happening.
“These experts,” he says and points to the truck, “they say it happens sometimes.”
I’m gonna be sick.
What am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go? I searched for months for this place. It was the cheapest I could find within a decent distance of the shelter, and with a patch of grass—as meager as it is.
“Judith. How’s Judith? Is she okay?”
“Her son called me. Told me about the suspected mold. Said she’d be fine, but she’ll have to be hospitalized for a while.
I feel terrible. She’d told me about a slow leak in her bathroom a few weeks ago.
I’ve been backed up with work orders. Couldn’t get to hers.
How was I supposed to know it was leaking into the wall?
” He rubs his brow with his thumb and forefinger. “Such a mess.”
I inhale a shaky breath, relieved she’ll be okay but worried for my dogs, who’ve been home all this time with the racket next door. They must be terrified. “Excuse me, I need to go check on my dogs.” I walk underneath the caution tape.
“You have twelve hours to evacuate,” Miguel hollers over the noise as I retreat. “The sooner the better.”
“What about my stuff?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know yet. Probably best to leave most things or pack them in storage.” He lifts his hands into the air. “At this point, we don’t know what’s salvageable due to the mold.”
My hands shake as I attempt to unlock my door. I half-heartedly greet the puppies and Teddy before circling the living room, unsure of where to begin. What can I take? More importantly, where can I go?
I have a small amount of money saved for emergencies, but it’d get me less than a week’s stay at a hotel.
And that’s assuming I can find one that accepts dogs, much less three of them.
I could call Lynn. She’d let me sleep on her pullout couch, but she’s still in that newlywed phase.
I couldn’t put her in that position; she has three fosters of her own, so that would put us over the city limit.
While I’ve started a tentative friendship with my sister again, I’m not sure I’m ready to be confined in a physical space with her quite yet.
That leaves me with one more option.
Griffin.
He has the space to take the dogs, at least for one night—until I can figure out a better long-term solution. My gut tells me he would agree to it, but I hate asking for help from anyone—even one so generous. I pace my living room, trying to talk myself out of it.
Before I chicken out, I text him.
Ashton
Can I come over?
Griffin
Now?
Griffin
Yes.
Griffin
Is everything okay?
Ashton
Yes. No. I don’t know. Can I bring my foster dogs and Teddy with me?
Griffin
Sure.
Ashton
Great. I’ll be there in an hour.
Griffin
Drive safe.
I arrive at the guard’s station, the sun low in the sky, with a car full of dogs—the siblings barking from their crate. Just call me the crazy dog lady, I guess.
Jimmy peers into my car and gives a slight eyebrow raise but makes no mention of the dogs.
I must look really desperate or slightly crazed. I twist my grip on the steering wheel, nerves jittering through my body.
“You’re good to go, Ms. Reid.”
“Thank you.”
Teddy sits dutifully beside me, emitting a small whine while his head tilts in question.
I scratch behind his perked ears. “I know, buddy, I know. I’m a little tense right now, but everything’s going to be fine. It’s going to be fine.”
It has to be.
I pull into Griffin’s driveway and turn off the car, clenching the keys in my hand.
What if he rejects me? What if he refuses to help?
What other choice do I have?
Sleep in my car, I guess. Wouldn’t be the first time.
I take a fortifying breath and exit the car. Armed with the dog crate, a bag of their supplies, and a leashed Teddy, I march toward the front door. I outstretch my arm to press the doorbell, but tuck my finger back in. My feet twitch, itching to run away.
What am I doing?
This is insane.
I can’t ask this of him. We barely know each other. We’re just becoming friends. Then again, I don’t have any friends apart from Lynn. It’s my own fault for keeping myself so closed off for years.
I spin to escape just as the door opens.
“Ashton?” The confused tone isn’t Griffin’s.
I face the doorway. “Hey, Luke. I told Griffin I’d be coming by.” I try to keep my tone light, not revealing the panic and vulnerability that chokes me inside.
“Yeah. He told me. He’s on a phone call, though. Come on in.”
“You know, actually, I’m not sure coming here was the best idea. I’ll call him later to explain.” Or not .