Page 59 of Just the Tipsy
I roll my eyes. “I know. He’s still trying to text and DM me. I wish he’d just get over me or at least put that energy toward actually getting somewhere with his career on his own. I know my dad has a lot of sway in the industry but he’s not theonlyproducer out there.”
“To be honest, your dad is kind of it. Doesn’t he know everyone? Especially for his kind of pop,” Kaitlyn points out. “And your dad will absolutely go to bat for you. He might get him blacklisted.”
I lean my hip against the counter, vaguely close to where I’ve been keeping dog treats. Sadie walks up to me, her tail whipping back and forth, so I give her a little peanut butter treat just for being cute.
“I mean, you’re not wrong. But maybe it’ll just be harder for him to get off the ground.” I stuff a handful of popcorn into my mouth. Some of it tumbles from my hand and Sadie clears up the bits I drop.
“With his music?” Kaitlyn scoffs. “Bianca, be real. He was fucking awful and I’m so glad I can finally say it out loud.”
“He wasn’tthatbad.” I suppress a smile.
“He was so bad. If he didn’t have such a pretty face, he’d be playing in his bedroom in the basement of his mom’s house,” she says.
“Okay, fine, he wasn’t that great.” I laugh. “But he has to get over me at some point whenever he finds another producer.”
“Just be careful, okay?” Kaitlyn says softly. “I know he’s not particularly intimidating or scary, but desperation does weird things to people.”
“I know. I will be.” If I tell her about Waylon installing cameras of his own volition, she’ll start down a whole rabbit hole of theories about what it might mean.
“I gotta run, but keep me posted on the house sale, okay?” Kaitlyn says. “We can do something fun to celebrate your move when you get here.”
“I will.”
We end the call and I go back to my seat, Sadie trotting behind me. I put her on my lap again and munch on my popcorn as I wake my laptop up again. I have to focus. I refuse to come across as an idiot when we start ramping up the business.
I wolf down more popcorn and hold Sadie to my lower stomach to ease my cramps, working through the dry textbook.Eventually a tap on the back door startles me out of it — it’s just Waylon, his hat pulled low on his forehead.
I let him in. His sweat smells clean, mingling with the masculine scent of his deodorant.
“Want some water? It’s pretty hot out,” I say. “Sit down.”
“That sounds perfect, thank you,” he says, sitting at the table. Sadie squirms out of my arms and goes over to Waylon. “I just needed a little break — the sun is pretty intense.”
I pour him a glass of water and hand it to him. He throws it back and I refill it again.
“Thanks,” he says after taking the second glass.
“It’s no problem.” I sit down at the table too. Sadie looks so comfortable on his lap, looking up at him with her cute little fox eyes. My cramps are killing me and I want her back.
“Am I interrupting your studying?” he asks, gesturing to my laptop.
“No, you’re saving me.” I sigh. “I didn’t love school when I was in it so having to study and actually give a shit about the information all of a sudden is a bit much.”
“Do you want any help?” He shifts closer to me. “I minored in business, but I can’t guarantee that I’ve seen whatever you’re working on.”
“You’re already out there fixing the house. You don’t have to help.” Self-consciousness makes me shift in my seat. I’m not nearly as educated as he is. I don’t want to embarrass myself.
He lifts a dark eyebrow, a small smile coming onto his face. “Believe it or not, I want to help just because we’re friends.”
“Can you first help me out by giving me Sadie back?” I ask. “She’s my hot water bottle.”
“Hm? Sure?” He hands me the dog.
“Period cramps,” I add, sliding down in my seat a little and placing her in the right spot. “Which is also why I haven’t really done anything about the bucket list in a few days.”
“Oh,” he says, not at all freaked out that I dare to have a period. Thank god. Kyler was always squeamish about it, as if it’s not natural. “And it’s fine. I’m following your lead on the bucket list. I don’t want to pressure you into anything.”
“You wouldn’t be. I’d be down with you initiating,” I say. Iwanthim to. This whole thing is fake, but I like being pursued.
