Page 12 of Homestead

“I didn’t know. You’re… you’re askingme?”

“Sure. Not a lot of single women around. Been watchin’ you.”

My surprise is finally breaking, and my chest instead swells with excitement.

He’s askingme. Offering me a home and a place in the world and food and shelter and safety that I have absolutely no other way of obtaining.

“So you and Laura aren’t… aren’t…” I’m not sure what the right word is here. It used to be dating, but no one seems to date anymore. They couple up. Fuck. Live together. But they don’t date.

“No.” He briefly makes a face before he settles his features into a frown. “No, why would you think we were together?”

“I… I don’t know. Because…” I start to say it’s because Laura implied it, but I don’t bother. It doesn’t matter anymore.

“We’re not. Never have been.”

“Okay. But I don’t know how to do most of those chores.”

He shrugs. “You can learn. You’re already doin’ good.” He nods down toward the laundry. “You’re a hard worker. You’ll be fine.”

I moisten my dry lips and turn toward him more fully. “You’re serious?”

“Yeah. Yeah, of course I am.” He’s meeting my eyes for real now. Seems sincere. “I need help. It’s too much to do on my own. And be nice to have some company.”

I want to hug myself. Barely manage to keep my voice calm and mild. “I would… I would like to try. But I honestly don’t have much experience with this kind of work. I’d hate if you were disappointed.”

He shrugs, his expression relaxing. “Don’t have unrealistic expectations. We can figure it out.”

My mind is whirling so much it takes a minute for me to think through the next logical question. “So… just so I understand. You’re looking for… for a partner?”

He nods and glances away. “Yeah. That’s right. A partner.”

“So you and I would…” The words get trapped in my throat.

He appears equally embarrassed. His cheeks are slightly flushed. “We don’t have to do anythin’… anythin’ in the bedroom right away. I mean, we can get to know each other and see how it goes. But I wanna partner. Not a maid.”

My cheeks burn, and I twist my hands together to keep them from shaking. This is like a dream. Like a miracle.

I’d be willing to be a maid if that was what he needed—if it meant I was sheltered and provided for—but I’d rather be someone’s partner. Closer to an equal.

Jimmy might be kind of gruff and grumpy, but he’s not mean. I know it for sure. He’s not even bad-looking. He just needs some better grooming.

And being his partner is a better option than I believed was possible for me.

It might actually be the best thing that’s ever happened in the twenty-three years I’ve been alive.

“Okay,” I manage to say as I swallow over my growing excitement. “Okay. That would work fine with me. I’ll do it. Thanks for asking.”

So that’s apparently settled. In one weird conversation over the laundry tub.

I’m going to be Jimmy’s woman.

I suppose that means he’ll be my man.

* * *

Laura is pissed.

I mean, she’spissed.

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