Page 69 of When Fate Breaks
My head tilts to the side as I run the wrench along the top of the lid.
“Well, if you’re planning to, you might want to get to it,” Steph says. “He’s leaving right after the shower isn’t he?”
“Pretty much. He flies out the following evening,” I confirm, not allowing any emotion into my voice.
“Well, Ann. You’ve got that trade show for Dad all day tomorrow, right?”
“Yep.”
“And then the next day will probably be pure chaos with everyone coming in and getting ready for the shower.”
“Probably,” I agree, continuing to scrape the wrench against the rough trunk, creating an extremely annoying sound that actually comes off as enjoyable compared to the various voices screeching in my head. “Then Remy needs me to help him in town most of the morning after the shower.”
“So, it sounds like tonight’s the night,” Steph says. “Take advantage of this bizarre situation you’ve put yourself in. Talk to him, Annie. If y’all don’t give yourselves a chance to unload all of what’s happened, you’ll probably never get another chance.”
“I think that’s way too big of a load to take on in one night.”
“Well, that’s definitely what she said.”
I nearly fall flat on my ass at the sound of Blake’s voice. I scramble upwards, slamming the toolbox shut and standing to face Blake. It takes a solid five seconds of him staring down at my hand at my side before I realize I’m still holding the wrench. I fling the box back open, quickly shoving it inside and let the lid fall shut again. Blake’s hand raises to rub over his mouth, hiding his smirk.
“Shut up,” I grumble, dusting my blue jeans off.
I register the sound of Steph’s throat clearing through the phone. “I have a feeling I know who that is,” she whispers. I don’t even get a chance to respond before she speaks again. “I’m gonna let you go. Talk to him, Ann. If you hold this all in any longer, you’re gonna bust.”
“That’s what she said,” I mutter, almost inaudibly, before hanging up the phone and slipping it into my back pocket. “Hi,” I say to him, crossing my arms.
Blake crosses his ankles, leaning against the doorway, amusement flashing across his face. “Whatcha doin’?” he asks in a mocking tone, like he’s caught me in an act.
"Oh, just checking out your progress,” I respond casually.
“And is it up to your standards?”
“Still to be determined.”
“Yeah?” Blake plays along, pushing off the doorway and walking straight for me. I take a slight step back, thinking he’s going to slam straight into me until he stops suddenly. “And what’s your determining factor?” he asks, bending over and flicking open his tool trunk just long enough to replace the wrench I haphazardly threw inside to its rightful spot.
I don’t have time to stop the smile that breaks out on my face before Blake stands up again. He’s so close that I can see the beads of sweat sprinkled across his forehead and his damp curls poking out from his baseball cap. I’m suddenly thankful for the inconvenient rainstorm earlier today. It takes Blake’s gaze flicking down to my lower lip for me to realize that I’m biting it. I snap back to reality, letting it slip from beneath my teeth and my smile fall.
“The glass panels,” I blurt out, resuming the game as if it never had a pause. “The ones on the roof.” Blake stands up straighter, his brows pulling together. “Are they set exactly to a 45 degree angle?”
“Why do you ask?” Blake questions.
I walk to the other side of the greenhouse to lean against the only potting table currently in place, feeling the need to put some distance between us. “You know, for optimal chloroform growth.”
“For chloroform growth,” he repeats, straightfaced.
“Obviously.”
“Unless you were planning on getting into the kidnapping business, I think you mean chlorophyll.”
My lips purse momentarily as laughter threatens to escape.Good one, Annie. I quickly recover, continuing the schtick. “Well you know me, always chasing new opportunities.”
For just a split second, I can almost swear I see Blake wince.
Oh.
“Right,” he says, face neutral once more. “Well, I can’t promise you any help in that department, but, I assure you, you’ll have all the chlorophyll you could ever want in a couple days' time.”
