Page 80 of Take My Heart
‘Yeah, that’s why I’m calling. That route you came up with is working out great. I’m farther along than I thought I’d be and it’s only noon. I’m taking a quick lunch break and then I’ll get out there again.’
‘You think you’ll be able to finish the route today?’
‘Yeah. I might even have time to make it to the houses you scheduled for tomorrow.’
‘That’s great!’
‘Yeah, so anyway, what are you up to?’
‘I was just doing a little cleaning.’
‘Cleaning? Why are you cleaning?’
‘It’s something I do to relax. You don’t mind, do you?’
‘I guess not, but it seems kind of weird to have you cleaning my house. If you’re bored, just watch TV. Take a nap. Do something else.’
‘When I’m stressed I can’t just sit around and do nothing. I need to keep busy.’
‘Why are you stressed? Did something happen?’
‘I talked to my parents. And then Cam.’
‘And?’
‘Let’s just say it didn’t go well, which is why I’ll go crazy if I just sit here. Is there anything else you need done? You want me to shovel the driveway?’
‘No. I’ll plow it when I get home.’
‘I could do the sidewalk.’
‘This is heavy, wet snow. You’ll hurt yourself if you even try.’
‘I have to do something. What about painting? I found some cans of paint in the spare bedroom. I could paint the walls in my room, and if you don’t like it, you could paint over it later.’
‘Kate, I told you, I’m not working on the house right now.’
‘It’s just paint, and it’s for my mental health. I’ll even pay you to let me do it.’
‘You’re not paying me. If it’s really going to help you, then go ahead.’
‘Oh, speaking of paying you, now that I have my phone I’ll transfer the rent money to you, along with what I owe you from the stuff you bought me.’
‘Yeah, okay. I should get going. I need to get back out there.’
‘Okay. See you tonight.’
I’m excited about painting. It’ll get my mind off all the stuff going on with Cam and his parents, along with all the thoughts I’m having about Brody.
Why am I having feelings for a guy I just met? I didn’t feel anything for Cam until we’d been going out for a month. Maybe it’s a side effect of breaking off my engagement. I’m an emotional mess right now. It’s completely possible I’m only imagining I have feelings for Brody as some kind of attempt to prove to myself that Cam wasn’t the right guy. I’m not sure that makes sense, but I’m going with it for now.
As I’m preparing my room to be painted, I hear the doorbell ring. I freeze, wondering if I should answer it or ignore it. Brody didn’t say anyone was coming over and I’m not surehe’d want me answering his door. It rings again, then I hear knocking.
Going out to the living room, I hear a guy talking. ‘Brody? You in there?’
I walk to the door and open it just a crack. ‘Can I help you?’
There’s a guy standing there. He’s tall and really good-looking. He smiles at me. ‘Hey, is Brody home?’
