Page 74 of As They Are
“Something about how you’re focused on the library. Whatever works. Now, come on. Henry will be here soon.”
I didn’t want to step away from tearing things down, even as my body told me I needed to be done. But we went outside where the library was in the background. Jude stood next to me and Madison told us to start.
“After we finished up last season,” he began, “things changed. Obviously.”
Changed?He was caught kissing someone else.
“But now we’re completely focused on our projects,” I said quickly. “It’s better this way.”
“We’re still friends, though,” Jude added.
I tried not to glower. We weren’t friends. He wanted nothing to do with me.
“Yeah, friends,” I ground out. Madison’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t cut the cameras.
It didn’t take long to finish it up, and I was glad that Jude was many steps away from me. This was far better than the alternative, which would have been trying to stomp out this feeling and force myself to look like I liked him.
He was too perfect and too shallow.
And now I had Henry, who was far too easy to fake date.
15
HENRY
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Atticus Thompson:Need a lawn mower.
Comments:
Kerry Winsor:I thought Simone mowed your lawn?
Atticus Thompson:She made a phallic crop circle so now she’s banned.
Marjorie Brown:You got pics? For science?
Jade Clark:You want pictures of the crop circle penis? YOU?
Marjorie Brown:This is bi-erasure!!!
Jade Clark:You’ve got a good point. Sorry, Marj.
Marjorie Brown:Jk I hate penises.
Kerry Winsor:Do I need to post the admin rules again?
Mid-afternoon came and went.Normally, I still had energy at this time of the day, but my feet were dragging. I’d left early to grab the flowers for Wren and get ready for filming before theclinic opened. Doing that single interview took more prep than I expected, which meant using up more of my energy.
I was more than happy to help Wren. She looked vibrant today, like she was enjoying life, and I didn’t regret saying yes.
I would just need to stick to the rules, go home alone, relax at every moment, and be the perfect man when I left the house.
No big deal.
I debated closing the office for a while so I could eat lunch in peace, but before I could get up and turn the sign, Jade walked in.
I instantly scanned her for injury. Other than her hair now being purple, nothing was new.
