Page 47 of Mending Me

“I wish you would let me help you launch your own company.”Her words rang out in my ears as I read the rejection letter again. I wish she was here right now, she would give me the pump up I needed to get out of this funk. She was on a work trip until Wednesday though, which meant I had the next five days to myself. Only Ophelia would offer to help me launch my own company after letting me live with her for the last two years. I don’t know what I did in a past life to deserve her as a friend, but whatever it was, I’m glad I did it.

I looked around our condo, the mid-morning sun shining through the two big windows that overlooked the street. Our condo sat squarely in Harleston Village and I loved it. The location of it, how it was laid out, the design Ophie had given it. When Hank picked me up on Wednesday, I discovered that I lived virtually around the block from his best friend Kolbi. I smiled as I thought of his friends and how they played together for several hours. I loved getting to hear them jab at one another as they played and found myself getting lost in the story they were spinning. Every so often he would stand from his chair and look in on me and I would pretend not to notice him or the way my heart sped up when I knew he was looking at me. A few times I was already looking at him when he stood to check on me and I couldn’t help but swoon. The way he looked at me with a mix of admiration and protection made my heart swell.

The slight ding of a new email hitting my inbox brought me back to reality and I quickly swiped my fingers across the trackpad of my computer to wake it up. My head fell into my hands after I read yet another, ‘Sorry, we’re not hiring right now,’ email from another event planning company I’d contacted to check and see if they were looking for help. The feeling of anxiety and stress started to bubble in my stomach. I needed a steady, consistent job because I knew my current living situation couldn’t last forever. I started to rub my fingernails with mythumb, something I do when I get anxious, when my phone buzzed on the table next to my computer. I smiled as I picked it up and read the notification.

1 New Message: Soldier

Happy Saturday, blondie. What are you doing today?

Would it be too dramatic to say ‘wallowing in my own self-pity’?

Just hanging out. Ophie is out of town for the next few days.

You’re home alone for the next few days? In that big building?

I have a doorman, soldier. No one is going to get me.

You lock the door at night right? Every time?

Yes, every time. It’s even locked right now. Don’t worry about me, I can take care of myself.

The more I texted him, the more my racing heart started to slow. His calming energy having a significant impact on me even through text.

I just want to make sure my girl is safe.

I mean you, you are safe.

He sent the second text immediately after the first, as if he was trying to backtrack on what he’d sent. I hugged my phone to my chest and squealed like a teenager at the fact that he called me ‘his girl’.

Am I ‘your girl’?

I mean…I’d like you to be.

If you want to be…

I squealed again.

I think I’d like that very much :)

I sent it back and watched the screen like a hawk, waiting for the three dots to pop up again. I didn’t think this is how he would ask me to be his girlfriend, but I was okay with it.

It’s settled then. You’re my girl.

And you’re my soldier.

I smiled at my phone and suddenly had an idea.

Hey, do you wanna come over tonight? Ophie is gone so it would just be us.

I’ll never turn down an opportunity to see you or that beautiful smile of yours. How’s six?

Six is perfect!! I’ll see you tonight.

I’ll see you tonight.

I stoodfrom the couch after I heard the knock on the door and went to open it. Before letting him in, I took a deep breath and painted a smile on my face. I didn’t want him to know I was upset, I just wanted to try and enjoy the evening with him.

When I swung the door open my jaw dropped at what I was looking at. Standing in the hallway was Hank, but he was also holding a giant pizza box and an oversized bouquet of flowers. I brought my hands to my mouth and laughed slightly, overwhelmed by his gesture.

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