Page 72 of Let Me Say It Again

“Great.” And bygreat, I meant holy shit was it anything but great. This was so far outside my wheelhouse.

Once we hung up, I all but ran back to the conference room.

Huffing and puffing, I dropped my hands on my knees. “Thank goodness. . . you’re all. . . still here,” I managed in between deep breaths.

Eyes wide, Perla asked, “Where did you think we’d be?”

“I wasn’t sure if you would’ve—” I waved my hand in front of my face. “Forget it. I need help.” It was rare I asked for help, but I now had confirmation Sherrilyn could be a bitch (thank you, attitude during the welcome sail). I couldn’t screw up again. I feared it’d be my last time, and I really wanted to help Red and his cause, not hurt it.

I explained the planning crisis. When I finished, though, they were all just staring back at me.

“So?” Allie asked.

“So, what?” I all but shrieked.

“Did you get the email yet? How can we help if you don’t know what she wants you to do?” Maria asked.

Could I slap myself upside the head and not look like the biggest idiot ever? Maybe that wouldn’t even be the reason I looked like an idiot. Who knew? Finally catching my breath, I pulled up my email on my phone. “No.”

“Then relax. It’ll be okay. Wait for her email, and we’ll go from there,” Perla calmly suggested.

In between bites, Allie nodded and pointed at Perla. “What she said.”

That made sense, I supposed. “Right. Yeah. Okay.” I turned and searched the table where breakfast was sitting. Nope, no chocolate in sight. I could have used chocolate right about now.

Sinking down on the chair I’d previously occupied, I leaned my head back. This little charade was going to kill me before it was over. “So, what were you guys talking about?” I asked, finally relaxing. Meanwhile, all I could think about was how this was so not me. What the hell had Red done to me to make me actually give a shit about others? Namely, him because, I had to be honest, he was the only reason I wanted to impress Sherrilyn. It turned out, it was a million times easier to not care.

Damn Red for worming his way into my icy heart. I’d even tried to ignore it, to shut him out, and still couldn’t do it. It was too late.

Sitting back, Allie answered, “The magazine, but I was actually about to ask if someone can watch Tipsy tomorrow. Brady and I have a thing, and Dad’s watching Gina, but he isn’t fond of Tipsy, so he asked me if I could get one of you to deal with her.”

When no one raced to come to her rescue, she pleaded, “Please.”

I could take her dog. It was the least I could do to help out. “I’ll do it.”

“Really?” Allie asked, looking almost surprised. I wasn’t sure if that offended me or not, but okay.

I nodded. “Yeah, really. If you don’t want me to, though, then—”

“No! It’s not that. I’m so happy actually. Thank you, Jade.” Allie got up and walked around the table to squeeze my head into a hug against her chest.

Maybe I shouldn’t have volunteered.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Jade

“Why are wewatching your sister’s dog again?” Red asked as he bent down to put Tipsy on all fours again after scooping her up because she was practically humping his leg. Which, by the way, I had to actually stop myself from cracking up over.

If there was ever a reason to laugh, it was over that. But maybe that was just my wicked sense of humor.

“Because she asked,” I answered simply.

“Then maybe I should go into the office. This little rat-dog has it out for me,” he said, eyeing the delicate little Italian Greyhound, who made it crystal clear she just wanted Red. Must’ve been his pheromones. Hey, I wasn’t judging because I knew the feeling, but she wouldn’t understand that, so I couldn’t really empathize with her.

Laughing, I tried to pry her away from his leg. Who knew dog sitting would have proven to be so difficult? “Why don’t I take her for a walk?” She was due for one anyway, and if I made her tired enough, she might just come back and take a nap. And give Red’s legs a break.

I grabbed the leash I’d hung off the doorknob. “Come here, Tipsy,” I called, trying to lure her over. Meanwhile, Red looked like he was going to start pouting any minute. “What?” I asked, not sure I’d ever seen him look like this before. It was not attractive.

---