Page 45 of Blindly Yours

“For me and his daughter, yes.”

“He has adaughter?”

I laugh. “I’ll fill you in later. I’ll text you as soon as I get service back.”

“K, call me if he gets weird or anything.”

“Thanks,” I laugh. “Night.” I end the call and immediately put one in to my mom. She seems a bit worried when I tell her I’m staying with basically a stranger but agrees it’s the safest option and asks me to call her in the morning.

Once I return to the kitchen, Nate and Kara are both sitting at the round oak table with empty plates.

“Oh, you didn’t have to wait for me.” I hang up the phone and slide into an open chair.

“Not a problem,” Nate pushes the chicken in my direction before putting a serving of broccoli and a dinner roll on Kara’s plate.

“How old are you?” Kara asks as she takes a bite of her roll.

“That’s not polite,” Nate scolds. “And don’t talk with your mouth full.”

I involuntarily align my napkin with my fork and then smile as I take a piece of chicken. “It’s ok. I’m twenty-six.”

Kara swallows her bite. “You’re really pretty. My dad’s twenty-nine. He’ll be thirty in July. Not that much older than you.”

“Kara, eat your broccoli,” Nate shakes his head as he puts some chicken on her plate, and then his.

I take a bite. It’s juicy, flavorful, and honestly delicious. It rivals even Helene’s famous garlic basil chicken. “This is really good. Thank you for letting me join.”

“We don’t have guests very often,” Nate says, focusing on his meal.

Kara takes a sip of water. “Where do you live?”

“Downtown,” I reply.

“Oooh, in one of those big, tall buildings?”

I smile. “Yep. I live on the fortieth floor.”

Her eyes go wide. “That’s so cool! I always wanted to live in a skyscraper. But Dad says we’re not moving to the city. He doesn’t like the tall buildings. Even though he works in them every day,” she giggles.

Nate stabs a piece of broccoli. “I think you’d miss your big backyard.”

She sits up straighter. “I’d go on the roof instead!” She turns to me. “Miss Rose, does your building have a rooftop you can go on?”

“I’m not actually sure,” I ponder. “I just moved in a few months ago, and I haven’t checked.”

Kara scoops a piece of chicken onto her fork. “You should definitely find out.”

“I think I will,” I confirm.

“What do you think you’d do on the roof?” Nate asks Kara.

“Build a giant playground with slides and hopscotch!” she exclaims. “Oh, and one of those spinny things.”

“What kind of spinny thing?” he asks, taking a bite.

“You know. Those ones that you stand on.”

“A merry-go-round?” I suggest.

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