Page 68 of Burn With Me

“Like I said, a rock star. You know I hate the number-crunching aspect. Well, I can walk out with you. I just need to grab the animals.”

“I love that you bring the animals with you, and yet they don’t come in contact with the tanks,” Judy says.

“I think Ginny would explore if I left the door open, but Penny knows to just stay in the office area or the community garden section by the register. That took several training sessions to do,” I tell her as I gather everything and the animals.

I look around again, mentally making sure I locked all the doors. “Okay, everyone out, so I can set the alarm.”

Kristen takes Penny with her to the parking lot with Judy as I set the alarm and dash out the door, holding Ginny and locking the main door.

“Again, Judy, thank you so much for coming out. I look forward to more feedback, and you’re more than welcome any time. Also, we’ll set up a time to talk about interns or job shadowing,” I say as I put Ginny in her cat carrier.

“Perfect, I’ll email you my schedule, and we can work around that. Also, if you’d like to come talk to the students interested in aqua- or hydroponics. I think they’d love that to see if it’s something they would enjoy doing.”

“For sure,” I tell her as they get into their cars.

With one last wave, I climb in my Jeep, and we all pull out together.

Twenty-Eight

Ameila

Before I go to the store, I swing by the house to drop off the animals. I smile when I see a note on my whiteboard from Luke.

Dishwasher is clean, and the laundry needs to be switched before you head to the grocery store. I made a list of what we need on the counter for you . . . And don’t forget to call Noah :)

I shake my head as I walk over to the laundry room. I grab everything out of the dryer, put it in the empty basket, and take it to the room. Back in the laundry room, I plop everything in the washer—after a sniff test—into the dryer.

I grab my phone and shoot Noah a text, letting him know everything went fine and that nothing was off enough to note, but I was free if he wanted to talk.

I turn to the girls. “I’ll be back in thirty minutes, my loves.”

I climb into my Jeep, plug my phone in, and call Pam.

“Suuup.”

“Not much, just heading to the grocery store to pick up stuff we need,” I tell her as I back out of the driveway.

“Oh, you’re a we now.” She chuckles.

“Whatever, you hoe. He’s been doing most of the cooking, and he packs my lunch most days so I don’t forget to eat. The least I can do is the grocery shopping.”

“I might give you shit because it’s my job, but it’s really sweet. It’s about time you had someone take care of you as much as you’re willing to take care of them. Now for the more pressing information. Is the sex still good, or are you ready to kick him out?”

“I’ve thought about telling him that if he doesn’t want to stay anymore, he doesn’t have to. I feel like I took over his life, and I really don’t think anyone is intentionally harming the farm. However, I don’t have to fake an orgasm with him like I have with almost every other person I’ve slept with, so to be honest, the sex is fantastic.”

“I don’t know why you want to tell him he doesn’t have to stay with you anymore . . . You can just see how it plays out instead of fighting it.” She sighs.

Am I fighting it or being realistic?

I pause to gather my thoughts as I pull into the grocery store parking lot. “I just made it to the store in record time. It’s weird that we just kind of meshed together with our lives. He doesn’t judge me for anything, and he’s so supportive and caring. It’s . . . weird . . . and I don’t know if real life works like this,” I say as I get out of the Jeep.

I put my phone to my ear as I grab a cart and walk through the door.

“You mean like a normal fucking relationship? No one is perfect, but the fact that you’re blown away that someone you’re with can act like an adult breaks my heart all over again.”

I sigh. “I know, I’m trying. I have a therapy appointment tomorrow,” I tell her as I start going through my list and grabbing what I need.

Pam is venting about her dumbass office manager when I feel someone watching me, which is silly. I’m in a grocery store. But I look over my shoulder anyway, and nothing stands out.

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