haven’t done it to anyone but my brothers, and the last time I did it was probably ten years ago. But my plumber? Seriously?
He puts his hand on the counter and tries to stand, but he stops partway and just looks at me. “Totally got what I deserved.”
“Yes, you did.” I fold my arms over my chest and try like hell to control my reaction. I should not laugh at physically assaulting the man who still hasn’t finished plumbing my house.
“But at least now I know you were hoping I’m single.”
I shake my head. “You really need to get professional help.”
“How about I just come over to your place, lie on your couch, and tell you all my problems?”
“When?” I ask, ready to take his challenge and meet him head on.
“Tonight.”
I shrug, moving out of the kitchen to go back to my dry wall repair. “Fine. See you at eight.”
“I’ll bring dinner!” he shouts from the kitchen.
I cross the creaky floorboards to the master bedroom. “Indian!” I shout back.
“You got it!”
I smile for the next hour as I picture playing therapist to the hottest plumber in Manhattan. I only lose that smile when I imagine Robinson showing up outside my door and spooking the guy off.
I take out my cell and send him a text, just to be sure. I don’t even think twice about doing it. He has some kind of crazy radar that goes off anytime I’m with another guy.
I hope you don’t plan on any more dropbys. I’m allowed to have a life without you in it, you know.
He doesn’t answer, and I stew over it all day long and straight into the evening. Ten minutes before Jake is scheduled to arrive at my apartment, I sneak downstairs and look out the doors of my building, fully expecting Robinson to be hiding in the shadows. But he’s not there, and the street looks totally empty, save for the cabs that drive by from time to time and slow when they see me standing there. I walk back into my elevator, for some reason feeling very alone. Why didn’t he text me back? Is he really that over me that he can ignore my instructions not to bother me? I feel like I’m in high school again, playing teenage games. Maybe tonight I should lie on the couch and tell Jake all my problems instead of the other way around.
I send a text to my brother James as I ride the elevator back up to my apartment. When I’m in the hallway it goes out.
Is Rob okay? Haven’t heard from him in a while.
Two minutes later, I get a response.
Better to just leave it alone.
My heart crumbles in on itself, and I feel the insane urge to bawl like a baby. Stepping into my apartment, I slam the door behind me. I guess everyone knows what a horrible bitch I am now. Even my own brother is telling me to stay away, as if I’m the one who’s the bad influence.
Why is my own family against me? I’m not the one who did anything wrong. If anything, I’m the only one who did anything right. James was hardly there when Cassie was born. I had to practically force him to take her overnight, and he only did it because he felt guilty. After that, it was Leah who always offered. So why do I feel so horrible about Robinson being okay with staying away and my brother telling me to back off? It was my idea, for chrissake. Ugh, I hate being this confused inside my own head.
The buzzer goes off in the front entrance of my apartment, distracting me from my inner rant. I go over and press the button.
“Hello?”
“It’s your friendly neighborhood plumber, here for intensive couch therapy.”
I press the button, trying to muster up a smile for a guy who deserves none of my bitchy mood. “Come on up.”
I hear the door click and lift my finger from the button. Time to put on my happy face and get through this night with my heart in one piece.
Chapter Seventeen
JAKE ARRIVES WITH A BAG in each hand and a giant smile. It only slips a little when he sees my expression.
“Best Indian food in Manhattan, delivered hot to your doorstep.”
I open the door farther and
He puts his hand on the counter and tries to stand, but he stops partway and just looks at me. “Totally got what I deserved.”
“Yes, you did.” I fold my arms over my chest and try like hell to control my reaction. I should not laugh at physically assaulting the man who still hasn’t finished plumbing my house.
“But at least now I know you were hoping I’m single.”
I shake my head. “You really need to get professional help.”
“How about I just come over to your place, lie on your couch, and tell you all my problems?”
“When?” I ask, ready to take his challenge and meet him head on.
“Tonight.”
I shrug, moving out of the kitchen to go back to my dry wall repair. “Fine. See you at eight.”
“I’ll bring dinner!” he shouts from the kitchen.
I cross the creaky floorboards to the master bedroom. “Indian!” I shout back.
“You got it!”
I smile for the next hour as I picture playing therapist to the hottest plumber in Manhattan. I only lose that smile when I imagine Robinson showing up outside my door and spooking the guy off.
I take out my cell and send him a text, just to be sure. I don’t even think twice about doing it. He has some kind of crazy radar that goes off anytime I’m with another guy.
I hope you don’t plan on any more dropbys. I’m allowed to have a life without you in it, you know.
He doesn’t answer, and I stew over it all day long and straight into the evening. Ten minutes before Jake is scheduled to arrive at my apartment, I sneak downstairs and look out the doors of my building, fully expecting Robinson to be hiding in the shadows. But he’s not there, and the street looks totally empty, save for the cabs that drive by from time to time and slow when they see me standing there. I walk back into my elevator, for some reason feeling very alone. Why didn’t he text me back? Is he really that over me that he can ignore my instructions not to bother me? I feel like I’m in high school again, playing teenage games. Maybe tonight I should lie on the couch and tell Jake all my problems instead of the other way around.
I send a text to my brother James as I ride the elevator back up to my apartment. When I’m in the hallway it goes out.
Is Rob okay? Haven’t heard from him in a while.
Two minutes later, I get a response.
Better to just leave it alone.
My heart crumbles in on itself, and I feel the insane urge to bawl like a baby. Stepping into my apartment, I slam the door behind me. I guess everyone knows what a horrible bitch I am now. Even my own brother is telling me to stay away, as if I’m the one who’s the bad influence.
Why is my own family against me? I’m not the one who did anything wrong. If anything, I’m the only one who did anything right. James was hardly there when Cassie was born. I had to practically force him to take her overnight, and he only did it because he felt guilty. After that, it was Leah who always offered. So why do I feel so horrible about Robinson being okay with staying away and my brother telling me to back off? It was my idea, for chrissake. Ugh, I hate being this confused inside my own head.
The buzzer goes off in the front entrance of my apartment, distracting me from my inner rant. I go over and press the button.
“Hello?”
“It’s your friendly neighborhood plumber, here for intensive couch therapy.”
I press the button, trying to muster up a smile for a guy who deserves none of my bitchy mood. “Come on up.”
I hear the door click and lift my finger from the button. Time to put on my happy face and get through this night with my heart in one piece.
Chapter Seventeen
JAKE ARRIVES WITH A BAG in each hand and a giant smile. It only slips a little when he sees my expression.
“Best Indian food in Manhattan, delivered hot to your doorstep.”
I open the door farther and
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