Page 26 of Silver Linings
“The room’s ready for you.”
“Thanks.” Seriously, it’s Lapland in here.
He steps into the hallway and drags in a few panels of sheetrock, propping them against the available wall, careful to avoid the ornate molding. Letting him do his thing, I head into my living room and sit down on my pink velvet couch. I attemptto read for a while, but I keep getting distracted by all the noise coming from my bedroom and all the silence between us.
A few hours pass as I distract myself as best as I can. I pick up my iPad to work on content for events we’re planning when Hendrix steps out of my bedroom, a thin sheen of sweat over his face and neck. It is borderline pornographic—and a little insane that my eyes even catch on such a minute detail.
I stand up and trot into the kitchen to grab him a bottle of water to distance myself. He takes it without hesitation and downs half the bottle in one swig.
“I’m sorry. I should have grabbed that for you earlier.”
“I should remember to bring my own.”
God, this small talk is awkward. I’m just going to bite the bullet and?—
“Thank you,” I blurt out before he can leave.
“For what?
“For standing up to Mrs. Evans for me. It’s not easy to shut her down when she gets going on a rant, but you didn’t back down.”
“What she said to you was wrong,” he says, like we’ve been friends for ages and he’s an expert on me and my character.
“You don’t know me.”
“No, I don’t,” he agrees, taking a step toward me subconsciously before he realizes and retreats again. “But I know she’s wrong. I could see it on your face. What she said hurt you, and I couldn’t stand by and let it happen.”
I’m stunned he perceived me so well. My poker face is one of my best hidden talents. People never know when something bothers me, I’ve perfected the art of apathy and adopted ashake it offmentality.
One time in middle school, rumors spread that I gave Billy Jensen an STD because he told everyone I went down on him in the auditorium. I’d never so much as looked at the little twerp,but no one believed me, and from that moment on, I built up skin as thick as dragon hide.
Something about Hendrix hearing Mrs. Evan’s barbs made my stomach drop, though. I didn’t want him to see me the way she did.
“I’m fine.”
“I know, you don’t have to be though.” His words stun me, and my eyes bounce around his face. We’re just sort of staring at each other, not saying anything, when he seems to snap back to himself. “Everything is patched up in your ceiling. I moved your bed back, but the compound needs to set fully before I can paint over it.”
So, he’ll be back at least one more time, and who knows when? Now is the moment to follow Kena’s advice and invite him out.As friends.
“Great. So listen, a couple of us are going to karaoke on Friday night at this place in Midtown. Do you want to come?”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He scratches the back of his neck, inked vines undulating as if they’re dancing on his skin. “There’s a strict no fraternization rule between building staff and tenants.”
“As friends!” I shout at him. “Bring your friends. My best friend Kena and his boyfriend will be there. It’s a totally casualfriendthing. I just thought it might be nice to help you resettle into the city if you met some new people around your age.”
Maybe if I said the word friend enough, I would start to believe it. The invitation sounded casual enough—not at all like I was still picturing licking the sweat off his neck.
“Uhhh…” He trails off, scratching the back of his neck in clear discomfort.
“No pressure. The offer is open if you want to bring someone with you.” This couldn’t feel more awkward.
He nods before gathering up his tools and materials, and I follow him to the door. He steps out into the hallway and slings his tool bag over his shoulder in a way that is so inherently masculine, it makes my thighs clench.
I wave goodbye as he heads towards the elevator, and then I shut the door after him, immediately banging my head against it. I have no idea who I’m becoming in the wake of meeting this man, but I’ve never felt so flustered and nervous around a guy before.
And that confuses the shit out of me.
eight
