Page 54 of Sexy Bad Neighbor

“Tell him to leave that to the professionals.”

The foyer goes dark, which I assume is because Paynt turned off the electricity. A few moments later, he’s back, carrying a pair of bolt cutters. “James says you should leave that to the professionals,” I tell him.

“Really? What does James know about taking down chandeliers?”

“As much as you do, I assume. Which is why he suggested calling someone.”

“Tell him to mind his own damn business. And why are you two talking about Kansas and a promotion in the same conversation?”

“He—he offered me a promotion.” I’m still holding the phone to my ear and I’m watching Paynt, who is standing near the base of the ladder, gripping the bolt cutters.

“In Kansas?” He says it like the words leave a bad taste in his mouth.

“Yes?” My inflection makes it sound like a question, because I’m not quite ready to have this conversation. It’s all so new, all so much to absorb.

“Are you going to take it?” Paynt demands.

“I don’t know. He just asked two seconds ago. I’m still processing.”

“What’s to process? It’s a yes or no answer.”

“What’s your problem?”

He throws his hands into the air. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that you’re seriously giving this move consideration? Like you really plan to move to fucking Kansas.”

“Wait a minute,” I say, pulling the phone away from my ear and clenching my fists at my sides. “Why wouldn’t I give it serious consideration? This is exactly what I’ve been working for since the minute I graduated from grad school.”

“What about us?” he says, echoing my thoughts. When I don’t answer right away, he grabs the ladder and begins climbing toward the top.

“What are you doing?”

“Cutting down this goddamn thing. I’m sick of looking at it.”

James has probably hung up by now, so I set my phone on the bannister and stalk over to the ladder. “Come down here so we can talk like civilized human beings.”

“What the hell is there to talk about? You’re moving to Kansas. You don’t even need to confirm it. This is your dream, remember?”

“Yes, I remember, and yes, we need to talk about it. Maybe … maybe I’ll turn it down.”

He’s at the top, positioning the cutters around the base of the chandelier.

“Did you hear me?”

He slams the tool onto the top of the ladder. “Yes, I heard you. And I think you’re an idiot for even thinking about turning it down.”

I grasp the ladder and stare up at him. “Wait a minute. Didn’t you just say ‘What about us’?”

“Yeah, I did. But I’m not an asshole. This is your dream. Your future. Everything you’ve worked for. So yes, I think you’re an idiot if you turn it down.”

“So what about us?”

He shrugs and starts to work at cutting down the chandelier again. “It’s only been a few weeks. You can’t base your future on something this new.”

“What I can’t do is have this conversation while you’re way up there and I’m down here.”

“It’s going to have to wait then. I can’t take living with this stupid phallic light fixture anymore.”

“Fine.” I grasp the side of the ladder and step onto the first rung. “Then I’ll come up to you.”

---