Page 92 of Forever Wild
“No. It’s okay.”
“All right.” She hugs me again, then raises a brow in what is probably meant to be a warning as she passes by Jack to go back in the house.
He waits until the door closes behind her to speak.
“Do you really have a date or are you avoiding me?” he asks.
I cross my arms over my chest and ignore the question.
“Fine. Don’t answer that. I don’t deserve to know.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I’m sorry about how things ended between us.”
Him being sorry doesn’t really change anything.
“You look good. Happy.”
“I am, so if that’s all.” I angle my body toward my car. I want to flee but in a dignified manner, like he isn’t the reason and it’s just my fabulous plans I’m eager to get to. I have no idea if I pull it off, but henods.
“I’m glad you’re happy.” He takes a step away and I have to force myself not to call after him or do something really dumb like yell at him. I can be mature and respectful…
“Handsome jerk,” I mutter under my breath. Mature and respectful are both highly overrated.
27
THIS IS HOME
EVERLY
After two months at the internship and I feel like I’m starting to get in the swing of things. I had reservations on coming, but I’m good at this. Still learning, of course, but I feel smart and capable.
“Did you bring the samples for the backsplash I asked for?” My boss, Heather, asks as we enter one of the condominiums in a new building. We’ve sold over thirty units since I started working for her with thirty-five more still being constructed.
“Yes.” I walk to the kitchen in front of her and wave to where I’ve placed them against the countertop.
She stops and eyes them carefully, then picks up the one on the end.
“I know that isn’t one you requested, but I thought it was a good option. It gives the room a little more warmth.”
She’s quiet so long that I fear I’ve offended her byquestioning her choices. Heather is known for her impeccable taste. Who the hell do I think I am by offering another option?
“You have a great eye, but this is out of the price range the builder is offering.”
“Oh. I didn’t think of that.”
She nods and hands me the small square of tile. After looking around the rest of the small apartment, she says, “Good. This all looks good. You can head back to the office and I’ll email over their picks this afternoon.”
“Okay.” I gather my things while admiring the late afternoon sunlight pouring into the large, open windows and the lake just beyond.
The apartment is still mostly a blank slate. No furniture or curtains or artwork to make it feel like a home, but the view and the lighting almost make it unnecessary.
I get back to the office at the same time as Lisa is returning from staging a house across town. We have lunch at our desks and she tells me about the place. Most of our work is on the new condos. Buyers get to pick out a few of the building options, and we run samples and put in the orders, and then make sure it all goes according to plan. There are a few other projects, including some pricey lake homes, other apartments and rentals, and a few commercial spaces, but the bulk of the work is the same.
Lisa helped stage a house that’s going up for sale. I find I’m wildly jealous since I haven’t stepped foot in anything but white wall, empty condos.
“I swear their kitchen is bigger than any apartment I’ve ever had,” she says, eyes lit up with excitement. “And the view from the master bathroom is divine.”
