Page 44 of Love Unavoidable
“If you aren’t ready for Aaron then date a few other men until you are. Aaron is the one, Sadie Ann. So, just work this out and then come home.”
“Mama, I’m not moving back to Texas. I’m making a new life here in San Soloman.”
“Okay.”
“What do you mean, okay?”
“Just that.”
“Just tell me what you mean,” I’d practically begged.
“I mean nothing. You said you are making a new life there, I said okay.”
“I know, but it’s the way you said okay.”
“Well, I think that’s just in your head. There is no special way to say okay, Sadie Ann.”
“Okay,” I’d said, trying to make it sound as full of hidden meaning as I could.
“See?” she’d replied.
We’d hung up shortly after that. But I couldn’t shake what she’d said about Ethan being a player and constantly craving excitement. What if it were true? How does a girl compete with fire? It reminds me of that movie where the fire chief was a secret arsonist, and fire was his secret mistress. Or something along those lines.
I need a job. Or a hobby. Or both. But I’m still waiting for the all clear from the doctor to start job-hunting. I don’t even know what I’m qualified to do. Back home I taught dance classes part-time and helped out at the ranch. I still lived at home, so it wasn’t a big deal. But now I will need to pay rent and utilities. I have money saved, but not a lot. Luckily, I own my car. Or my daddy owns my car, but he said it was mine when he gave it to me, so I’m keeping it.
I didn’t have much more time to dwell on it since Ethan chose that time to come back inside. I am still sitting in the living room when he walks in.
“Hey,” he says, running his hands through his hair.
“Hey,” I say.
“So, that was a little crazy, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“I don’t want to fight with you,” he says.
“I don’t want to fight with you either. I should probably just go.”
“Go? Go where?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I’m feeling much better, the headaches are mostly gone, the doctor said it would take a couple days at most.”
“Pretty sure he said seven days.”
“I don’t remember it being that long.”
“Well, I’m the licensed paramedic, so—”
“Okay, anyway, I think I need to find a place to live. That isn’t here.”
“Why not here?”
“Because, it doesn’t work for me to live here.”
“Look, I have an extra room, and I’ll even charge you rent.”
“I don’t have a job,” I say.
