Read Online Suspicious Minds (Squeaky Clean Series, Book 2) by Christy Barritt - Free Book Online
Authors: Christy Barritt
Ads: Link
Did I have no pride?
"You could set some trends alright" He chuckled.
At least he didn't seem embarrassed, like some other unnamed man.
"I'm at your service. What do you need?"
I pulled out another suit from my van. "Put this on first. Otherwise, your clothes will be ruined"
As he climbed into the suit, I pulled the paint cans out. I motioned for Riley to grab a couple and follow me inside.
"Wow, this place reeks" He scrunched his nose up.
I fought a grin. "Yep"
"How can you stand it?"
"It's just part of my job"
We deposited the cans in the hallway. Then I instructed Riley that we needed to move the entertainment center. As we began inching it into the hallway, my fingers burning under the cabinet's weight, I found myself asking, "How was church?"
"It was great. I wish you could have come."
"And what did you learn about today?"
"Why humans need God"
We worked in silence for several minutes. I wondered if I would have gotten anything out of the sermon. I was interested in finding out why I needed God. To get to heaven? That seemed like a pretty selfish reason. Was I supposed to need God because of what he could do for me? Or was it supposed to be about what I could do for him? I didn't want to ask, not yet at least.
"So, did you and Parker make up?"
Did I really want to talk about my love life with someone who had broken my heart? No, but I found myself doing it anyway.
"Not really. I'm supposed to be thinking about it"
"Are you?"
"I guess"
"And?"
"And nothing. I mean, how do you know if a person's the right one for you? And if you don't think a person's the right one, should you be with them? How long does it take to figure it out?"
"I've heard that when you know, you know."
"Maybe I'm supposed to know, but I don't because my emotions are getting in the way. Or maybe I'm looking for someone perfect, and I'll never find that person because he doesn't exist. Or maybe my expectations are too high, and no one will ever be able to meet them because I'm being unrealistic"
"How many cups of coffee have you had today, Gabby?"
"A lot. A whole pot. Why? Am I talking too much?" He couldn't possibly understand how hard it was for an extrovert like myself to work alone.
He smiled. "No, you're not talking too much. Just fast."
Was that his only response? I'd poured out my heart, dug in, and asked the hard questions, and all he had to say was that I talked fast? Why did I even bother?
"I'm not a good one to ask about dating, Gabby," Riley finally said.
"You're not?"
I don't have anything figured out. I'm just as confused as you are"
I remembered the whole Veronica fiasco and mentally agreed with him. Of course he didn't have the answers. He was just as screwed up as I was. For some reason, that made me feel better.
As we started to paint, I even found myself whistling. I loved knowing I wasn't the only imperfect one around here.
EVEN AFTER Riley helped me, I still wasn't finished with Mr. Hermit's house. I'd called the landlord, and he'd offered to pay me to pack up Mr. Hermit's belongings and take them to Goodwill. Apparently, the man had no family or friends, period. Who would attend his funeral? Would he even have a funeral? Didn't everyone deserve a funeral?
The good news was that I'd have a job for the rest of the week and a decent paycheck. I could really use a decent paycheck.
After Riley and I dropped off the contaminated items, I offered to fix him dinner. He agreed. I just had to shower and get cleaned up before he came over. It was the least I could do to thank him-the shower and the meal. Before I hopped under the spray of water, I called a nearby Chinese restaurant for delivery. When I said "fix dinner," he couldn't possibly have imagined I meant I'd cook.
After I showered, applied apple-scented lotion, and put gel in my hair, I threw on jeans and a long-sleeved "Meat is Murder" T-shirt that Sierra had given me for my birthday last year. Ironic when I'd just ordered beef and broccoli.
"You could set some trends alright" He chuckled.
At least he didn't seem embarrassed, like some other unnamed man.
"I'm at your service. What do you need?"
I pulled out another suit from my van. "Put this on first. Otherwise, your clothes will be ruined"
As he climbed into the suit, I pulled the paint cans out. I motioned for Riley to grab a couple and follow me inside.
"Wow, this place reeks" He scrunched his nose up.
I fought a grin. "Yep"
"How can you stand it?"
"It's just part of my job"
We deposited the cans in the hallway. Then I instructed Riley that we needed to move the entertainment center. As we began inching it into the hallway, my fingers burning under the cabinet's weight, I found myself asking, "How was church?"
"It was great. I wish you could have come."
"And what did you learn about today?"
"Why humans need God"
We worked in silence for several minutes. I wondered if I would have gotten anything out of the sermon. I was interested in finding out why I needed God. To get to heaven? That seemed like a pretty selfish reason. Was I supposed to need God because of what he could do for me? Or was it supposed to be about what I could do for him? I didn't want to ask, not yet at least.
"So, did you and Parker make up?"
Did I really want to talk about my love life with someone who had broken my heart? No, but I found myself doing it anyway.
"Not really. I'm supposed to be thinking about it"
"Are you?"
"I guess"
"And?"
"And nothing. I mean, how do you know if a person's the right one for you? And if you don't think a person's the right one, should you be with them? How long does it take to figure it out?"
"I've heard that when you know, you know."
"Maybe I'm supposed to know, but I don't because my emotions are getting in the way. Or maybe I'm looking for someone perfect, and I'll never find that person because he doesn't exist. Or maybe my expectations are too high, and no one will ever be able to meet them because I'm being unrealistic"
"How many cups of coffee have you had today, Gabby?"
"A lot. A whole pot. Why? Am I talking too much?" He couldn't possibly understand how hard it was for an extrovert like myself to work alone.
He smiled. "No, you're not talking too much. Just fast."
Was that his only response? I'd poured out my heart, dug in, and asked the hard questions, and all he had to say was that I talked fast? Why did I even bother?
"I'm not a good one to ask about dating, Gabby," Riley finally said.
"You're not?"
I don't have anything figured out. I'm just as confused as you are"
I remembered the whole Veronica fiasco and mentally agreed with him. Of course he didn't have the answers. He was just as screwed up as I was. For some reason, that made me feel better.
As we started to paint, I even found myself whistling. I loved knowing I wasn't the only imperfect one around here.
EVEN AFTER Riley helped me, I still wasn't finished with Mr. Hermit's house. I'd called the landlord, and he'd offered to pay me to pack up Mr. Hermit's belongings and take them to Goodwill. Apparently, the man had no family or friends, period. Who would attend his funeral? Would he even have a funeral? Didn't everyone deserve a funeral?
The good news was that I'd have a job for the rest of the week and a decent paycheck. I could really use a decent paycheck.
After Riley and I dropped off the contaminated items, I offered to fix him dinner. He agreed. I just had to shower and get cleaned up before he came over. It was the least I could do to thank him-the shower and the meal. Before I hopped under the spray of water, I called a nearby Chinese restaurant for delivery. When I said "fix dinner," he couldn't possibly have imagined I meant I'd cook.
After I showered, applied apple-scented lotion, and put gel in my hair, I threw on jeans and a long-sleeved "Meat is Murder" T-shirt that Sierra had given me for my birthday last year. Ironic when I'd just ordered beef and broccoli.
Similar Books
