Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 96292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“Get up,” I say.
“Why?”
“Because this is stupid. Just get up.” I hold out my hand.
He studies me, gaze locked to mine while he takes my hand. When he’s on his feet, he squeezes my shoulder. “Good talk.”
“Was it?” I squint.
He releases my hand and heads back up the stairs. “Did Callie fire you?”
“No.”
“Then I guess you earned your paycheck today.”
“Think I’ll ever see an actual paycheck?”
He stops and turns. “How much money do you need?”
Is he serious? This has to be a trick question.
“Pay me what you think I’m worth,” I say as if he asked me if I want the money in his right or left pocket.
His lips twitch like he’s holding back a grin, then he slowly nods.
I grab my shoes, but I stop him before he reaches the top of the stairs. “Just so you know, my rent is seven fifty.”
Mr. Rawlings doesn’t respond, continuing up the stairs.
Chapter Eleven
June
I finish drying my hair and open the door. “Oh! Jeez, you scared me,” I say to Ally, who’s right on the other side of it. She shoves me back into the bathroom.
“There’s a tall and very hot guy who just ran back down to his car to grab tools from his trunk to fix our leaky sink drain.”
“What?” I squint. “Doesn’t sound like Kevin, the handyman. He’s short and not so hot. A new guy?”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s Flynn. He showed up with a bouquet while I was emptying the bucket under the sink. The next thing I knew, he was mumbling something about running back down to his car to get tools to fix it.”
I bite my lower lip.
“What’s that look about? I thought you liked him?”
I nod several times, and then I shake my head. “He’s been through it, if you know what I mean. And I don’t think I need that right now.”
“Been through it?”
I nod.
“You mean he’s had a rough life?”
Again, I nod.
“Well, that explains the dirty shoelace tied around the flowers.”
I scrunch my nose.
“What do you want me to do? I have to get to class. And honestly, if he can fix the leak, I say we let him do it before you kick him out.”
I roll my eyes. “Ugh! Whatever. I’ll take care of him. Just give me a minute.”
“Well”—she looks at her watch—“I don’t have a minute. I have to go. So hopefully he doesn’t rob us before you do whatever it is you need to do.”
I bristle.
“You’re the one who said he’s been through it. Oh!” Her eyes widen. “He’s back,” she whispers.
Ally closes the bathroom door behind her, and I check myself in the mirror again, opting for some lip gloss—not because I care what he thinks. My lips are just a little dry. I straighten the high waist of my floral linen pants and adjust my white crop top before opening the door.
“Toodle-oo,” she says, smiling at me before leaving.
Ally was right. Flynn looks good in his dark jeans and black graphic T-shirt with a bird and “Shindig revival” on it.
He’s clasping a freshly cut bouquet in one hand and a wrench in his other hand while standing by the sink. “Hi,” he says.
“Hey,” I say in a weak voice because I regret how I acted last night.
And he brought flowers … and a wrench.
Flynn holds out the bouquet. “I picked them myself. And I cleaned the sticky stuff off the car seat.”
I grin at the obvious. “They’re lovely. Thank you.”
He nods to the sink. “I’m going to fix this leak for you, then I’m going to suggest we start over. So just think about it. You know where I’ll be.” He lies on his back, the top of him under the sink.
I smell the flowers.
“I said too much yesterday,” he says. “You don’t know me well enough to understand I’m not a serial killer.”
“Excuse me?” I laugh nervously while untying the shoelace.
“I-I mean … shit, this is coming out wrong again. I’m not a serial killer. Not. A. Serial. Killer. Uh, can you hand me a towel?”
I stare at his abs peeking out from where his shirt has ridden up a few inches.
“June?”
“Huh?”
“A towel?”
“Oh yeah. Here.” I hand him the one hanging over the oven handle.
“Thanks. I’m gonna have to get some silicone caulk. I tightened it, but it needs to be recaulked.” He slides out from under the sink and stands.
I give him a nervous smile before filling a glass with water and putting the flowers into it.
“Listen”—he wipes his hands—“I’m not a bad person. That’s what I mean. I would never hurt you. If the Rawlings can trust me, can you give me another chance? I promise not to say stupid shit that’s scary.”
I set the shoelace on the counter next to the vase. “Stupid shit like not being a serial killer?”
He cringes, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Yeah. Callie put too much stuff in my head, and I’m not saying the right things in the right order or at the right time.”