Page 37 of Wildfire
"Huh?"
"Wrangler is my nickname for Renée."
"I call her Wildfire."
"Wow. That's… don't take this the wrong way, but that is sexy. You do like her, don't you?"
I shift in my chair. I should be having this conversation with Renée, not her friend. But here I am, and I can't deny it.
"I do."
She nods like we've just finished a business deal, stands up, and marches out the door, tossing a "see you later" before she disappears.
I'm so royally fucked.
Chapter Eighteen: Renée
Callie and I finish the boat with a couple of days to spare. When I take the pictures to add to the online portfolio Zoe said she'd build for me, I cry. I actually cry. Learning to make the specialized cuts required to finish it was never something I'd thought I'd do, but now that I've done it, I can see myself moving into wooden boat work someday. I'm sure some small marinas that do building and repair are still in the beach towns along the Southern California coast.
Zoe is still plugging away at the library, so I walk home after work. Cole isn't home, so I decide to work on the song I am writing for him. I'll be leaving in less than a week. I want the song to be something special that he can remember me by and hopefully feel is adequate payment for everything he's done.
Maybe I'll be famous soon and he'll be able to have his song as a memento.
Before I work on it, I count the money Callie paid me for the previous week's work. It is enough to get me to Los Angeles with some to spare to buy groceries and gas for a few weeks. I am going to need a job as soon as I land.
I tuck the cash in my duffel bag and pull out my guitar. As I start strumming, the music takes over, and I lose myself. I dissolve into the rhythm and sound, and the words start flowing. I'm under a spell, forgetting myself and everything that has happened. When these words spill out, I shock myself back into the room.
"I can't see you without seeing me by your side."
What?
I put down the guitar and stare at the page I'd scribbled on. There is no doubt about it. I am writing a song about love. This wasnevergoing to see the light of day. I will buy him a thank you card and write something nice. I can't let my hormones stop me when I'm so close to reaching my dream.
I put everything away and take a shower—nothing like a cold splash to bring you back to reality.
Zoe bangs up the stairs while I'm getting dressed, and when I let her in, she flops on the bed in exhaustion.
"That bad, huh?"
"Building an e-commerce website from the ground up while learning how to build an e-commerce website from the ground up. Yeah, it was bad. I usually feel like the most clever person in the room, but today, I felt like an idiot."
"I know something that will make you feel better."
"What's that?"
"The last two slices of pie."
"I demand a fork this instant!" She points in the air and then lets her arm fall at her side. "Can you just shove it in my mouth? I don't feel like sitting up."
I grab the pie and the last of the whipped cream out of the fridge, spoon the cream over it, and bring it to the bed.
"Here you go, Princess. Never say I didn't do anything for you."
"Love you forever."
"Love you always."
We eat silently, except for the moans emanating after each bite. Then I grab the remote and turn on one of my mom's favorite movies from the eighties,Say Anything. She said Lloyd Dobler was the perfect Golden Retriever Boyfriend, and I agree.
