Chapter 6

My arms were weighed down with freshly dry-cleaned garments as I fumbled with my bag, looking for the key to my front door. I'd procrastinated yet again, and the bulky load of clothes was a testament to it. I could barely manage to keep hold of all of it while searching for my keys.

I deposited the garment bags onto my bed before I kicked off my shoes. With a sigh, I opened my closet door and surveyed the space. I picked up the first wire hanger waiting for me on my bed and began my daunting task.

Once my clothes were in chromatic order, I headed to my freezer to pick out that evening's dinner. My options were scarce, so I settled on a Lean Cuisine—Parmesan-crusted fish, to be exact. I picked it up by accident while grocery shopping one day. I was on the phone with a client, and I could have sworn the dinner said ‘Parmesan-crusted chicken.'

The unappealing entree had sat in the back of my freezer ever since.

The microwave hummed while my dinner spun around. It didn't take long for the smell of the fish to seep out of the appliance and into my kitchen. When the timer beeped, I plugged my nose before opening the microwave door. I didn't want to get blasted by the rancid odor and immediately be repelled by my dinner. Though, I kind of already was.

The taste wasn't any better than the smell, and after two bites, I tossed it in the garbage. With few options in my pantry, I settled for a plate of assorted cheese, days-old bread from a local bakery, and kosher dill pickles.

It was the ultimate girl dinner.

An episode of Desperate Housewives played on my television screen while I scrolled through my phone. Social media was a fantastic way to connect with clients, but creating content was exhausting. It had been a few days since I last posted, and I knew I needed to come up with something soon.

Marketing myself was my least favorite part of my job.

I was scrolling through Instagram when a reel of a skateboarder was suggested to me. It wasn't the content I was usually shown, but I wouldn't put it past my phone to have been eavesdropping on my day.

The same verse of a Three Six Mafia song played through my phone's speaker as I watched the skate trick.

I hated to admit it, but skateboarding was impressive.

I still couldn't get over the way the man gracefully rode away on a piece of freaking wood earlier that day. I grew up with skateboarders, but I was never friends with any of them. I had never actually paid attention to the skill.

Though, it was equally dangerous as it was impressive.

I retrieved my broken sunglasses from my bag, fully prepared to throw myself a pity party. When I saw the crumpled receipt with the man's phone number, I pulled it out and glanced at the penmanship. For a man, he had excellent handwriting.

I picked up my phone and texted the nameless skateboarder without giving it much thought.

Me:I believe I am owed a new pair of sunglasses. Are you ready for a shopping excursion?

Just as I expected, there was no response.

Not cool, skater boy. Not cool.

The nameless skateboarder and my broken sunglasses were the least of my concerns, though.

I had Brett to worry about.

∞∞∞

I broke my seven-thirty rule the following morning. The moment my eyes popped open, my right hand searched my bedside table for my phone. When I used facial recognition to unlock my screen, I still had evidence of sleep crusted in the corner of my eyelids.

I groggily swept my thumb across the lit screen and blinked in surprise.

Skater Boy:Tell me when and where.

I regretted texting the skateboarder the night before, but it was already done. I had no other choice but to follow through.

So, I responded.

Me:Saturday afternoon. One o'clock.

Skater Boy:Where?

Me:I'll send you the name and address of the store. It's a boutique owned by a friend of a friend.

Skater Boy:Doesn't surprise me one bit.

Me:It'll be quick, I promise.

I sent him a location pin for the store, but my message was met with silence. Part of me wished he would reply to reassure me that he would be there.

Truthfully, I was surprised he even responded in the first place.

I wasn't going to hold my breath expecting him to show.