Page 61 of Rich Girl
I waited for about twenty minutes before texting Cal and asking him to get a hold of his woman and see what was going on inside the shop.
She is working on the arrangement she fought with yesterday, came the answer from Cal, leaving me as confused as ever.
At the end of the work day, she just walked back to my shop and walked up the stairs to my apartment, like this was our normal life. She even waved at me and blew me a kiss when she noticed me standing in the doorway to my office.
Today is two weeks later. She does the same thing every day. I am at a loss for words, but I’m not asking what the deal is either.
“Do you think you’d have time to give me a ride into the city tomorrow?”
I just sat down on the couch after taking my shower after a gruesome day. Her question hits me like a ton of bricks. Here it is, I tell myself. She’s finally leaving. The thought is sickening but realistic.
“Sure,” I answer without hesitation. “When do you want to leave?”
The question is clear in my head, but her answer is not.
“I was thinking we could go whenever we’re up in the morning. Most of my stuff is still packed, so it won’t take long. Then we can grab lunch on the way back.”
I turn my head to stare at her, not knowing how to act. What is she saying?
“I’m not sure where to put my clothes,” she continues. “The dress I want to wear to the party will need to be steamed. Is there a place around here that can do it?”
I blink once, twice, and on the third time, I shake my head to clear it.
“Evie might know.”
Her smile lights up the room. “Good idea. I’ll talk to her about it. We’re both excited about going.”
“What party?” I force myself to ask.
Hayden starts giggling like crazy. “The Cinco de Mayo party, silly. It’s in three days!”
“Wow,” I swallow although my mouth feels dry. “It’s coming up fast.”
“Right?”
She continues talking like this is normal. None of it is. I don’t know why she hasn’t gone back to Boston yet, or why she still wants to live in my small apartment. She hates it, I know she does. But now she’s bringing all her stuff here, and she’s asking me where to put it. What the actual fuck.
“I also need to shop for some shoes,” she informs me. “I’d love to find the same model I’ve been wearing. They’re my favorite, and the soles are looking rough from all the walking back and forth.”
“Why don’t you just buy some cheap walking shoes for that?”
To me, that would be an obvious solution, but she’s staring at me like I just discovered plutonium.
“That is a great idea, Ray!”
She runs to the couch and drops in my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“You are so smart,” she tells me in between open mouthed kisses.
I sit here and let her do whatever she wants to me, unable to process anything anymore.
“I want to order some things online,” she continues. “Evie showed me how to do that.”
I pull my head back. “You’ve never shopped online?”
She looks somewhat embarrassed by my question, but she recovers quickly.
“I never needed to,” she shrugs. “People just sent things to my house.”
