Page 19 of Brick Wall
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Chapter Nine
Annie
“Did your brother just lock us in the shed together?” Sebastian scrapes a hand through his hair and blinks in quick succession.
“Yup,” I say, popping thep. After a moment of absolute silence, I add, “I warned you that he wanted to play matchmaker.”
I take a seat on the cement floor and cross my legs. Might as well make myself comfortable for a few. Thankfully, the shed is rather empty at the moment, so there’s enough space for both of our larger bodies plus some leg room.
The old shed smells a little musty mixed with the tang of teenage sweat, a lovely combination, if you can catch my sarcasm. However, the smell isn’t unbearable, unlike this man freaking out in front of me.
“By locking us up in a closet like a teenage girl?” he squeals, like a young girl might, as he’s pacing back and forth in a small pattern.
“Oh! Did a girl lock you in a closet when you were younger?” I say, resting my arms on my knees. I’m totally calm. I’m immune to this kind of stuff at this point in my life. Plus, someone needs to be reasonable here.
“No,” he scoffs.
I pat the cement floor next to me, indicating that he sit. He’s going to make me anxious with his nervous energy. He ignores me and instead tries to find a way out or something.
“Why aren’t you trying to help me escape?” He’s pacing rapidly now.
“Because there’s nothing to do? I’m pretty sure my brother took everything out we could use, including all the rocks.Shawshankis his favorite movie, after all.”
“So, what are we supposed to do? Rot in here until we die?”
I roll my eyes. Why do guys always say women are so dramatic? They are just as bad, if not worse, than women.
“Sure, or in a few minutes, someone will come over and let us out…”
“How can you be so sure?” The pitch of his voice is higher than normal.
“Well, I have almost thirty years of experience putting up with this crap.” I pause. “Also, I sent a text.” I wave my phone in the air.
He raises his eyebrow in curiosity.
“Help will be here soon.”
“I didn’t realize you had a phone on you.”
“Neither does my brother, apparently. But I had my work phone tucked away.”In my bra, but I keep those last few words to myself.
I pat again at the uncomfortable floor, and after a moment, he complies and attempts, slowly, to mimic my crossed legs.
“Remind me to remove funding from his summer camp.”
I smirk at him because we both know he’s full of shit.
He looks extremely uncomfortable. He groans and holds his back. For such an athletic man, he is not very flexible.
“You may need to help me up after this,” he whimpers while holding his back.
“I thought you were a professional athlete.”
“That’s why this hurts so much,” he moans.
I do a little grunt in return. Maybe I’ve spent a minute too long with this guy already.
