Page 34 of Georgia: Britain's Story: Part 1
Liam
What the fuck was I thinking?The smell of my own desperation is making me nauseated. I just bombarded her in the driveway because she didn’t respond to myonetext. I’m a fucking idiot thinking there was something there. She’s probably just the first nice and normal woman I’ve been around in a while and my brain and body overreacted. She’s clearly not on the same wavelength as me, and I can be man enough to accept that and leave her alone.
Just the thought of doing that makes me sad, though.Why, Liam? Why the fuck are you sad?Because one woman didn’t fall at your feet like you’re used to? Guess I’m really getting old. At 49, I’ve officially hit the age where women don’t want to be with me for me. They want the houses, the money, the lifestyle. Britain doesn’t need any of that stuff, so why would she choose me? Want me?
Once I’m back inside, I put the charcuterie board back in the fridge. I’ll pick at it while I watch SportsCenter later or something. I’m such an idiot I had my chef, Carly, come over today and cook up meals for two for the week and weekend.For two. I also asked if she’d make a cheese board, since I’d planned to ask Britain over for a drink later. But I won’t be needing that either.
I’m still nursing the sting from our interactions,“That was a date?” Yeah, the best date I’ve probably ever had.My phone rings, pulling me out of my self deprecation. I pull it out anxiously, hopefully. It’s just Matt,fuck. I answer it while I put the wine glasses and wine away. Just the stuff I’d pulled outbeforeI realized how big of an idiot I was.
“Hey, man,” I answer
“Hey, are you avoiding me?”I’m not anymore.
“No, sorry. Just dealing with Tori’s shit, and then I’ve got a new tenant who just got in yesterday.”
“Yeah, Niko called. Said you had a bunny boiler incident.” I laugh at his comment.
“Yeah, something like that. She’s from a different fucking planet.”
“I told you not to date her.”
“I know, I know.” Apparently that’s my toxic trait, being attracted to people I shouldn’t be.
“How’s the new tenant? London, right? Sounds cute.” My blood goes cold, and I don’t say a word. He probably saw the contract I forwarded to the office. Matt starts laughing,
“That hot?” he asks.
“No, uh, not like that. I’m thinking it’s probably time for me to come up to Sonoma. How’s the site coming along?” I ask, hoping to change the subject.
“Yeah, it’s definitely getting to the point I need another set of eyes and ears. We’ve got most of the grading done, and are just waiting on some inspections. But the goal is to pour the foundation for the sales center in like two weeks. Can you be out here by then?” I don’t see why not. I don’t have anything else going on in my life, except work, as usual.
“Yeah, I don’t see why not. It’s probably time to move on from this place. Two weeks, so like May 10th?”
“That’s the goal.”
“Sounds great. I’ll have Gina start getting an apartment set up.”
“Thank god, man. I was wondering if I was ever gonna get to come home and see my family.” He’s joking, but I feel a bit guilty. Then I experience another feeling entirely.
“You’re going to stick around and get me up to speed though, right?”
“Of course. What, am I gonna go home and see Julie?” He laughs and I’m flooded with relief. He needs to stay in Sonoma for the next six weeks.
TWELVE
Britain
May 2, 2023
To Georgia,
I’ve had this little notebook for over a week now, but I’m just now getting around to writing something in it. I don’t really know where to start, but I guess I’ll try and get you up to speed since the notebook came into my life.
I’ve spent the last week in full hermit/lounge mode at my little rental at Spearhead. It got surprisingly cold this past week, and we even got a late season snowstorm over the weekend. (Lol, I guess I’m still talking to you about the weather.) The weather was a perfect excuse to hide out though, from my neighbor. We’ll call him “L.” I haven’t talked to or seen L since I came home from your house a week ago.
He did text me during the snowstorm to see if the heater was keeping the space warm enough, and to make sure I had everything I needed, but that’s been the extent of it. The only place I’ve been going is to the gym below. I noticed he cleaned all the snow off my car, which gave me butterflies. Which is silly because I basically turned him down and have been avoiding him. It’s been easy to not cross paths though. He’s only home late at night, and then is up and out early, even during the snow.
I hate to admit that I was worried about him, even checking out the window for his car every hour or so. He ended up coming in at 10:30 at night and all I could think about was, was he on a date? So stupid, right? I’ve had to stop myself from texting him probably ten times. I just know I shouldn’t. So I don’t.
